Negotiating fees at GW?

[Anonymous]

Have you done this? How did you bring it up? And when? Was told by a person there that I should bring it up since we are looking at doing PGD. Have you and how did you broach the subject? It just seems so odd to be talking medicalese and then all of sudden to go to "Oh, by the way, can you do 20%?"

[Anonymous]

I didn't bring up costs with the doctors. I talked with the center's financial coordinator. You should definitely bring it up; you have nothing to lose and quite a bit to potentially gain.

[Anonymous]

Really? It was the center's financial coordinator who told me to bring it up with the doctor, which is why I'm asking here for advice.

[Anonymous]

Oh...now that's strange. Hm! My experience with Dr. F was that he said "we don't deal with the money stuff." So I talked to the financial person, I think his name is Brian? He walked me through the costs of everything that Dr. F was proposing for my case and then said they could offer me a package deal and discount as a "professional courtesy" because I was coming from another clinic in the area.

I'm sorry to have steered you in the wrong direction? I agree with you about the awkwardness of negotiating directly with the doctor on these issues. Has one of the physicians developed a treatment plan for you?

[Anonymous]

I don't understand why you expect a discount...why should someone give you a break for providing a service to you and working hard for you? I am an IVF patient paying 100% out of pocket. Yes, it is expensive. Yes, it sucks. But why would you expect someone to work for you for less? The last thing this doctor/clinic want to hear is that you want tippy-top care but expect to barter for it. This is not a garage sale. Pay the fees as stated and please don't be annoying.

[Anonymous]

Snotty much, pp? I was told by Brian, the financial guy, that I should bring it up with the doctor, which struck me as odd. IME, docs in all kinds of practices keep themselves out of the billing end so as to avoid conflict. To be clear, I never asked about this. The issue was brought up to me. And look at this way, any savings I get on round one, if it doesn't work, can be rolled over into a second attempt. There is no need to be nasty. If you don't have anything helpful to contribute, move along. If there's a way to save 10 or 15 percent off the cost of 15,000$ then yes, I'm going to research it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why you expect a discount...why should someone give you a break for providing a service to you and working hard for you? I am an IVF patient paying 100% out of pocket. Yes, it is expensive. Yes, it sucks. But why would you expect someone to work for you for less? The last thing this doctor/clinic want to hear is that you want tippy-top care but expect to barter for it. This is not a garage sale. Pay the fees as stated and please don't be annoying.

Um, I'm not sure the source of the outrage here. I have insurance coverage, and I can tell you that my insurance reimburses far less than what's billed. And even with my coinsurance payments, the total reimbursement to my clinic is far less than the oop fees. Medical service providers are just that after all...service providers. I do not expect sub-par treatment from my physician just because my insurance negotiates infertility treatment costs. [Aside: If I've learned anything from my father who's a private practice physician in a lucrative specialty, it's that there is no such thing as a situation in which there's no room to negotiate.] If they are willing to treat you for less than their printed "rates", then that's their decision. No one's forcing a clinic to do anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why you expect a discount...why should someone give you a break for providing a service to you and working hard for you? I am an IVF patient paying 100% out of pocket. Yes, it is expensive. Yes, it sucks. But why would you expect someone to work for you for less? The last thing this doctor/clinic want to hear is that you want tippy-top care but expect to barter for it. This is not a garage sale. Pay the fees as stated and please don't be annoying. [/quote

I agree with this poster. Just engaging in a negotiation puts the service provider in an awkward position. I would never do it. I want my RE to know I think he is worth it. He is not providing me with a medically necessary procedure and this is the price he sets for his service.

[Anonymous]

IVF is $$$$. If you can get a lower price than I say "why not?" Nobody is forcing them to discount simply by asking. Couldn't hurt just to ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why you expect a discount...why should someone give you a break for providing a service to you and working hard for you? I am an IVF patient paying 100% out of pocket. Yes, it is expensive. Yes, it sucks. But why would you expect someone to work for you for less? The last thing this doctor/clinic want to hear is that you want tippy-top care but expect to barter for it. This is not a garage sale. Pay the fees as stated and please don't be annoying.

I sense that you are sorry you did not try negotiating yourself. Shady Grove (for ex.) offers a variety of package deals and discounted rates for people under a certain income level. Many clinics around the country offer different packages of that sort. There are sources for discounted drugs. There are studies that some people can get into that offer discounted rates.

I, too, was an IVF patient paying 100 percent out of pocket. I'm the one who mentioned that I spoke directly with Brian. I'm sorry that you didn't feel comfortable negotiating and that I perhaps paid less than you (but maybe not, who knows). My goal is not to avoid annoying people on this board; I don't really care what other people think about how I spend my money. I am sure that clinics never offer a rate that will end with them failing to make a healthy amount of money on their services. Do people have the same sense of righteous outrage on behalf of the poor car dealer, or for the store owner who is undercut when people seek out cheaper products on Amazon?

You do your thing, and I'll do mine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why you expect a discount...why should someone give you a break for providing a service to you and working hard for you? I am an IVF patient paying 100% out of pocket. Yes, it is expensive. Yes, it sucks. But why would you expect someone to work for you for less? The last thing this doctor/clinic want to hear is that you want tippy-top care but expect to barter for it. This is not a garage sale. Pay the fees as stated and please don't be annoying. [/quote

I agree with this poster. Just engaging in a negotiation puts the service provider in an awkward position. I would never do it. I want my RE to know I think he is worth it. He is not providing me with a medically necessary procedure and this is the price he sets for his service.

Are you two really serious? When you go buy a car, do you automatically pay full price? don't you think that Benz is worth it at full price? But you will still ask is there any wiggle room. And before you go in on a car is not a baby, negotiation is negotiation. Mercedes thinks that car is worth the "fees as stated". Just like an insurance company gets discounts and "breaks" because they negotiated with the physician, why shouldn't someone who is paying 100% out of pocket do the same thing? Can only big business can ask for a discount?

I think my RE is worth it too, but why should I pay $9000-12000 for something that someone with insurance is getting for considerably less. And certainly, me paying cash has less administrative costs than those using insurance. I do think it should be discussed with the finance person, not the doc. But all they can say is no. I just got a great discount with CFA, that saved me $$$$ dollars. All I had to do is ask.

I think it's pretty annoying that you are telling someone else not to be annoying. Fertility clinics are in business to make money, and if you get pregnant, than that's great, and it's all sunshine, rainbows and lullabies, but if you don't, it on the the next. I mean if you don't mind paying full price, hey that's cool, but don't be mad that you didn't have the eggs to ask for a discount and the next person does (and gets it).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean if you don't mind paying full price, hey that's cool, but don't be mad that you didn't have the eggs to ask for a discount and the next person does (and gets it).

ITA. Nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why you expect a discount...why should someone give you a break for providing a service to you and working hard for you? I am an IVF patient paying 100% out of pocket. Yes, it is expensive. Yes, it sucks. But why would you expect someone to work for you for less? The last thing this doctor/clinic want to hear is that you want tippy-top care but expect to barter for it. This is not a garage sale. Pay the fees as stated and please don't be annoying.

I sense that you are sorry you did not try negotiating yourself. Shady Grove (for ex.) offers a variety of package deals and discounted rates for people under a certain income level. Many clinics around the country offer different packages of that sort. There are sources for discounted drugs. There are studies that some people can get into that offer discounted rates.

I, too, was an IVF patient paying 100 percent out of pocket. I'm the one who mentioned that I spoke directly with Brian. I'm sorry that you didn't feel comfortable negotiating and that I perhaps paid less than you (but maybe not, who knows). My goal is not to avoid annoying people on this board; I don't really care what other people think about how I spend my money. I am sure that clinics never offer a rate that will end with them failing to make a healthy amount of money on their services. Do people have the same sense of righteous outrage on behalf of the poor car dealer, or for the store owner who is undercut when people seek out cheaper products on Amazon?

You do your thing, and I'll do mine.

Agreed. Tell 'em how you really feel.

[Anonymous]

PP 16:06 again: to answer your question rather than devolving into an argument, I think I might go back to Brian and ask for suggestions in how you might bring this up. I think you should say you feel awkward talking about this with the doctor, so how does he suggest you broach it. After all, if this was his idea, presumably he would have some thoughts on how to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why you expect a discount...why should someone give you a break for providing a service to you and working hard for you? I am an IVF patient paying 100% out of pocket. Yes, it is expensive. Yes, it sucks. But why would you expect someone to work for you for less? The last thing this doctor/clinic want to hear is that you want tippy-top care but expect to barter for it. This is not a garage sale. Pay the fees as stated and please don't be annoying.

I sense that you are sorry you did not try negotiating yourself. Shady Grove (for ex.) offers a variety of package deals and discounted rates for people under a certain income level. Many clinics around the country offer different packages of that sort. There are sources for discounted drugs. There are studies that some people can get into that offer discounted rates.

I, too, was an IVF patient paying 100 percent out of pocket. I'm the one who mentioned that I spoke directly with Brian. I'm sorry that you didn't feel comfortable negotiating and that I perhaps paid less than you (but maybe not, who knows). My goal is not to avoid annoying people on this board; I don't really care what other people think about how I spend my money. I am sure that clinics never offer a rate that will end with them failing to make a healthy amount of money on their services. Do people have the same sense of righteous outrage on behalf of the poor car dealer, or for the store owner who is undercut when people seek out cheaper products on Amazon?

You do your thing, and I'll do mine.

Agreed. Tell 'em how you really feel.

She obviously did do her thing and doesn't seem to be hanging around here waiting for your post! I have to say that I agree with her. I get the concept that things are negotiable - but I don't think an IVF clinic is analagous to a car dealership. I think it is poor form to haggle over the price with your doctor/clinic. Just pay it and move forward with your treatment. You guys are being super-sensitive about her opinion. Get over it and good luck with your treatment. I am in the same boat and have no insurance coverage for IVF. I wouldn't dream of bartering. I'm just putting on my big girl panties and dealing with it! I have bigger things to worry about that shaving a couple of hundred bucks off of an already whopping bill--would rather put that energy into staying calm and hoping for the best result. The first way I would do that is not to take up someone's valuable time at my clinic with asking for a rate reduction.