Doctors charging crazy rates

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You probably have a high deductible policy, and bc you don’t have a lot of medical issues, you don’t hit the out-of-pocket max before the policy kicks in.

Annual check up is free even with a HDHP.

OP didn’t say it was an annual exam. She said every time she and/or her kid have a doc visit they get a big bill. High bills are what happens for us w our HDHP when anyone goes to the dermatologist, allergist, ENT, sick visit, etc etc. so yeah, annual exam is “free,” but every other doctor visit is $$$.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We also live in Va. We have BCBS Standard plan. I have not noticed much change in the regular care like annual check ups, mammo, sick visits to pediatrician. One exception, an ophthalomolgy consultation at No Va Ophthalmology Assoc for Strabismus (eye misalignment) was over $300! I checked and they are supposed to be in-network. I would hate to see how much it would be for out of network!

Only their Fairfax location is in network for BCBS FEP - changed last year.

They should be notifying patients if they are now out of network.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We also live in Va. We have BCBS Standard plan. I have not noticed much change in the regular care like annual check ups, mammo, sick visits to pediatrician. One exception, an ophthalomolgy consultation at No Va Ophthalmology Assoc for Strabismus (eye misalignment) was over $300! I checked and they are supposed to be in-network. I would hate to see how much it would be for out of network!

Only their Fairfax location is in network for BCBS FEP - changed last year.

They should be notifying patients if they are now out of network.

They did - lots of notice two years ago when the change was made and even last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You probably have a high deductible policy, and bc you don’t have a lot of medical issues, you don’t hit the out-of-pocket max before the policy kicks in.

Annual check up is free even with a HDHP.

OP didn’t say it was an annual exam. She said every time she and/or her kid have a doc visit they get a big bill. High bills are what happens for us w our HDHP when anyone goes to the dermatologist, allergist, ENT, sick visit, etc etc. so yeah, annual exam is “free,” but every other doctor visit is $$$.

Here is what she said: The insurance company pushed us to get check ups so I dutifully took my daughter to a doctor recommended on their website. Apparently, we get "rewarded with a $25 gift card" if we do. Even though that seemed like a kickback to me, I took DD because she hadn't seen a doctor in over a year. Then I got a crazy bill.

This does not sound like a sick visit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You probably have a high deductible policy, and bc you don’t have a lot of medical issues, you don’t hit the out-of-pocket max before the policy kicks in.

Annual check up is free even with a HDHP.

OP didn’t say it was an annual exam. She said every time she and/or her kid have a doc visit they get a big bill. High bills are what happens for us w our HDHP when anyone goes to the dermatologist, allergist, ENT, sick visit, etc etc. so yeah, annual exam is “free,” but every other doctor visit is $$$.

Here is what she said: The insurance company pushed us to get check ups so I dutifully took my daughter to a doctor recommended on their website. Apparently, we get "rewarded with a $25 gift card" if we do. Even though that seemed like a kickback to me, I took DD because she hadn't seen a doctor in over a year. Then I got a crazy bill.

This does not sound like a sick visit.

She also said: “Every time I see a doctor these days (or my child), I get hit with a $500+ bill after insurance. It seems crazy to me”

If you have specialists, you’re supposed to check in at least annually as well (especially if you have meds prescribed by that doctor, as OPs child does in one example she used), but that’s not a covered annual physical. I’m not here to debate, just offering an explanation bc we receive high bills for every doctor visit except annual physical.

[Anonymous]

I can’t believe how many of you are defending the medical/insurance complex in this thread. Going to a doctor should never be this expensive even without insurance, and it obviously shouldn’t be this complicated (and expensive) WITH insurance.

The fact that so many of you have the instinct to jump all over OP and figure out what SHE is doing wrong is a perfect example of just how f—ked this country is…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe how many of you are defending the medical/insurance complex in this thread. Going to a doctor should never be this expensive even without insurance, and it obviously shouldn’t be this complicated (and expensive) WITH insurance.

The fact that so many of you have the instinct to jump all over OP and figure out what SHE is doing wrong is a perfect example of just how f—ked this country is…

Because it's not that hard. You have to know your policy.
We have 3 kids, a basic Blue cross plan and only every go to in-network doctors and have never, ever paid more than the copays. It's not rocket science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe how many of you are defending the medical/insurance complex in this thread. Going to a doctor should never be this expensive even without insurance, and it obviously shouldn’t be this complicated (and expensive) WITH insurance.

The fact that so many of you have the instinct to jump all over OP and figure out what SHE is doing wrong is a perfect example of just how f—ked this country is…

Because it's not that hard. You have to know your policy.
We have 3 kids, a basic Blue cross plan and only every go to in-network doctors and have never, ever paid more than the copays. It's not rocket science.

Unfortunately one day you will learn it’s in fact rocket science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand what kind of insurance you have, because check ups should be free under Obamacare rules

This. Checkups are free unless you are going to a doctor who doesn't take insurance. my GP doesn't take insurance and my bill is $1400 with bloodwork but my kids are free as long as I don't ask about anything besides check up stuff.

Most check-ups aren't 500$. Probably OP is looking at specialist care for her kid and maybe it's out of network? I have an out-of-network specialist for one of my kids, and do have to pay a substantial copay and a surcharge because the doctor's rate is well over what my insurance company allows. But even that doesn't add up to 500$ AFTER insurance, so maybe OP just has a high deductible plan with some terrible exclusions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are in Virginia. Every time I see a doctor these days (or my child), I get hit with a $500+ bill after insurance. It seems crazy to me. The insurance company pushed us to get check ups so I dutifully took my daughter to a doctor recommended on their website. Apparently, we get "rewarded with a $25 gift card" if we do. Even though that seemed like a kickback to me, I took DD because she hadn't seen a doctor in over a year. Then I got a crazy bill. I assumed it was just that one place. So then, my other daughter needed a refill of a medicine she takes and I took her to another place. For the 15 minutes we were there, another $500 after insurance! That is crazy.

Who can pay for this? It's on top of the huge amount I already pay monthly. Thank god we are healthy because I can't imagine if I had to see a doctor regularly! Are people just paying 1/4 of their salaries for healthcare?

are you going in network?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe how many of you are defending the medical/insurance complex in this thread. Going to a doctor should never be this expensive even without insurance, and it obviously shouldn’t be this complicated (and expensive) WITH insurance.

The fact that so many of you have the instinct to jump all over OP and figure out what SHE is doing wrong is a perfect example of just how f—ked this country is…

Because it's not that hard. You have to know your policy.
We have 3 kids, a basic Blue cross plan and only every go to in-network doctors and have never, ever paid more than the copays. It's not rocket science.

Unfortunately one day you will learn it’s in fact rocket science.

+1 If you/your child needs care for a hard-to-access specialty, you may be forced out of network rather than wait 12 months to get off of a waiting list to see someone.