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Question to somebody who might know as this seems like a relevant thread to ask in. If a person wants to pay directly in cash/credit-card for services rendered
by logicalmonster 4y ago
Question to somebody who might know as this seems like a relevant thread to ask in.
If a person wants to pay directly in cash/credit-card for services rendered by a doctor, do doctors' agreements with insurance companies generally prevent them from offering a cash discount to cash-paying patiences lower than the insurance company negotiated price?
- coredog64 4y agoIf a doctor accepts Medicare patients, that sets a price floor for cash. Legally, if you accept Medicare money, you cannot offer anyone a better price than you charge Medicare.
- yardie 4y agoYes, not only do they offer it but some insurers will give you credit card gift cards to help pay for treatment. That is how dysfunctional our medical system is at this moment. Providers will lock insurers at one rate, negotiate a different rate for self-insured that could be lower/higher. And insurers get wind of this and try to sneak pay the self rate.
- Consultant32452 4y agoI use one of the "health share" providers instead of insurance. They have negotiated rates with providers but they literally instruct you not to reveal that, get the cash price invoice, and then they will take care of further negotiations if applicable. Presumably getting the cash price first lets them pick which they would prefer to pay: cash price or the negotiated rate. "Oh yeah, our customer forgot to inform you they qualify for this negotiated rate."
- pishpash 4y agoSometimes they aren't allowed to offer a cash option at all, if you've told them you have insurance.
- jjeaff 4y agoI have come across quite a few doctors that will not treat you at all if you don't have insurance.