Anonymous wrote:He's not that into you. Are you a bad patient? Not paying up in time? No show for appointments?

NP here. Are you 12? It is clear you have limited life experience.

This would rub me the wrong way too OP. I would offer to pay any co-pay up front before the visit, or on my way out. I would offer to pay a reasonable deposit or estimation for things that might need insurance authorization. I would even offer to let them make a one time $100 charge on my credit card, so that I am always running a net positive balance. But I would not give them a credit card number.

Two problems. One is that if they are getting paid anyway, they are less likely to push hard on insurance, be diligent about billing correctly or pursue insurance claims after an initial denial. They can get paid now or resubmit a claim form with an error. Which do you think they will do?

Second, is that I am a lawyer, and have seen what happens when lawyers get into a financial hole and decide to “borrow” from their trust fund. You may only authorize up to $100, but they are not limited to charging that amount. And then you have to go after them, which is a hassle.

If you can’t work out a compromise, I would walk. Because if you give them a different guarantee of being paid, why do they need your credit card?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are people without credit cards supposed to do in this scenario?

Prepaid credit cards are easy to get for small amounts. Or they could pay the money before the visit.

Also it doesn't have to be a credit card, it can be a debit card that can be run as credit.

Anonymous wrote:What are people without credit cards supposed to do in this scenario?

Prepaid credit cards are easy to get for small amounts. Or they could pay the money before the visit.

Anonymous wrote:what do you mean a "minimum" of "up to $100"? This would mean they always charge you $100, NO more, NO less... which makes no sense.

Not OP but the PP that also has a ped with this policy: it authorizes them to bill my credit card for up to $100 if, after insurance kicks in its share, there is a balance for me to pay. So rather than waiting for me to receive the bill and pay the bill, they can just bill my credit card for the balance up to $100 and send me the bill afterwards. The "minimum" is that they are requiring us to set the limit for what they can charge at $100. It's an authorization form that states "I give practice xyz permission to charge up to $_____ (fill in blank with some number that is at least $100). So we have to authorize at least $100 in charges but that means they can only charge up to your authorization amount but can charge less if the balance is less.

Does that make sense? Clearly I haven't had enough coffee today, I think I'm speaking gibberish.

Anonymous wrote:
I’m inclined to stand my ground, because I have been billed erroneously doctor’s offices, and once they have your money it’s hard to get it back.

How is it hard to get it back? With all my credit cards, it's really easy to initiate a chargeback -- I can even do it online without having to call and sit on hold.

How do so many people have such low copays? The "best coverage" my employer offers is $30 for primary care and $40 for specialists.

What are people without credit cards supposed to do in this scenario?

My gyn practice (Women's Health Specialists) requires you to give them your credit card info to have on file. I'm not sure about the $100, though.

It's annoying but my card has never been charged, so they haven't abused the practice. I pay through my HSA .

My GP has a sign about $100 deposit or something to that effect. They didn't ask for it from me, but I presume it's because I've never had any billing problems in the 18 years I've been seeing him.

Anonymous wrote:I would drop the doctor and recommend to all my friends to drop the doctor.

Nothing wrong with this. Nothing wrong with office changing the policy, either.

If a given medical office isn't a good fit anymore, you should change.

what do you mean a "minimum" of "up to $100"? This would mean they always charge you $100, NO more, NO less... which makes no sense.

I would drop the doctor and recommend to all my friends to drop the doctor.

It sucks but if you refuse the doctor doesn't have to treat your kid. So you kind of have to weigh the hassle of finding a new doc (who may soon have this policy too).

I would say no. You should get to see the bill first.