What? Can It Be Real? Hospital Prices Are Going Public

originally posted by: RealityIsAbsurd
a reply to: NarcolepticBuddha


I feel ya there. I went to get a MRI scan last year, and paid out of pocket as I do with all my medical expenses(except for work related injuries). And they told me I was looking at having a specific part of my body replaced in the next five to ten years. So, I asked how much that would cost out of pocket and they quoted it as being around $100,000. I said "Well damn, which doctor is getting a new Porsche" The technician said it sure as hell wasn't him.

I can budget that money aside no problem, but damn. That's money that I won't have. Sure I'll live a bit more comfortably maybe, but the crazy thing is that if I used insurance for that it would cost even more in the long run. It's ridiculous.

Tell me which ditch you're going to go make peace with the maker in, and I'll bring some licqour and a deck of cards to kill the time.

What body part?

Let's say I gave you information that saves this body part and in fact heals it.
Will you pay me 5%?

Don't go to your ditch yet.
If my plan doesn't work I'll join you guys and I'll bring smokes.

originally posted by: seeker1963

originally posted by: olaru12
The insurance companies, pharmaceuticals, scanners, the entire health for profit industry is so closely aligned with the DC political infrastructure; nothing will change. Lobbyist with billions of $$ to bribe the politicians for votes and after the politicians retire, sweet positions on the health care boards of directors at a cool mil. a year and free health care for themselves their family for life, and that includes vision and dental.

We don't need no stinkin socialism....MaGa, MaGA, business is what makes America strong. Work, consume and STFU why don't ya!!!

WTF does that even mean, other than you support Socialism comrade?

Your first paragraph I could agree with, but then you went full crazy with your socialism nonsense.

It's a requirement. He'll be shunned and have his liberal card taken away if he forgets to make his hatred for Trump crystal clear in every single post. The hatred is a requirement for membership in his elite hollyweird circle.

Just being an ATS Member disqualified him from becoming a Full Member of NXIVM, and he's gonna have his Guest Privileges removed if he doesn't remember to show his loyalty, loudly AND proudly.

originally posted by: Elton
I believe many facilities charge full price for self-pay and a discount price for medicare reimbursement.

It will be interesting to see the difference in pricing if hospitals actually comply.

The prices they charge is up to the individual office or practice. Some charge the full price as presented to the insurance company while some will make a deal to take what the insurance company would pay. I found this out by being one of those "self-pay" patients and actually asking the questions prior to treatment. Some offices just say, "We don't want to deal with self-pay so you'll have to pay the entire amount." Upon hearing this I questioned the doc, "So, you would rather that your staff has to do all the paperwork and then you have to wait 30 days or so to get your check. Really? When I walk out of here your staff has no paperwork to do and cash in their hands for you and yet you prefer the insurance company's money to mine?" He had this glazed look in his eyes----and finally mumbled, "Yeah, that really doesn't seem to make sense does it?" I knew then that this was not a doc I wanted to be treating any ailment of mine. Critical, logical thinking is more my cup of tea.

"Self-pay" people actually cost less to treat simply due to the paperwork and waiting for money factors. I actually know of doctors and a couple of dentists who give discounts for paying cash at the time of service.

originally posted by: diggindirt

originally posted by: Elton
I believe many facilities charge full price for self-pay and a discount price for medicare reimbursement.

It will be interesting to see the difference in pricing if hospitals actually comply.

The prices they charge is up to the individual office or practice. Some charge the full price as presented to the insurance company while some will make a deal to take what the insurance company would pay. I found this out by being one of those "self-pay" patients and actually asking the questions prior to treatment. Some offices just say, "We don't want to deal with self-pay so you'll have to pay the entire amount." Upon hearing this I questioned the doc, "So, you would rather that your staff has to do all the paperwork and then you have to wait 30 days or so to get your check. Really? When I walk out of here your staff has no paperwork to do and cash in their hands for you and yet you prefer the insurance company's money to mine?" He had this glazed look in his eyes----and finally mumbled, "Yeah, that really doesn't seem to make sense does it?" I knew then that this was not a doc I wanted to be treating any ailment of mine. Critical, logical thinking is more my cup of tea.

"Self-pay" people actually cost less to treat simply due to the paperwork and waiting for money factors. I actually know of doctors and a couple of dentists who give discounts for paying cash at the time of service.

Yes, this is what I was talking about with Vision insurance.
One year I skipped vision insurance and needed glasses. I was shocked when I realized it was much cheaper not to have insurance. The eye place also gave additional percentages off if you didn't have insurance!! I discussed this with them and they said in a lot of cases it is cheaper! It may not be cheaper in all cases, like if every single person in your family needs glasses, but since the self pay costs, vs insurance costs aren't advertised it is hard to tell without asking.

a reply to: DBCowboy

My personal experience has been that paying cash often means you pay half as much as someone with insurance. Case in point: a couple years ago my sister had orthopedic surgery on her foot. She paid $1500, cash, no insurance. A month or so later she found out one of her friends had just had the exact same procedure; it cost the friend, who had insurance, $3500. Of course I only have a couple handfuls of case from my own area to go by, but the above seems to be par for the course where I'm at.

a reply to: diggindirt

I do too. I understand it's a fairly common practice now.

a reply to: infolurker

Healthcare does need fixing. Perhaps this policy will be a start to "fixing healthcare without nationalizing it."

There should be transparency with pricing on healthcare. How else can the consumer make informed choices? This would be a first step towards reigning in high healthcare costs, but it's not possible that it can be the final answer.

a reply to: infolurker

Long overdue.
What you might try doing is checking out the price for the same procedure on a large animal clinic (Horses get better care than people) and see how badly the insurance company is raking us over the coals for substandard care.

a reply to: infolurker

Dear Americans,
You deserve better.
Signed, The rest of the civilised world.

It'll be interesting to see. Just got the bill for gall bladder surgery I had in November. I'm not going to complain too much, we have good health insurance, so my portion is around $700. But the bill showed that the less-than-one-hour that I spent in the operating room was charged at $14,895. Just for the operating room!!

originally posted by: Mountainmeg
It'll be interesting to see. Just got the bill for gall bladder surgery I had in November. I'm not going to complain too much, we have good health insurance, so my portion is around $700. But the bill showed that the less-than-one-hour that I spent in the operating room was charged at $14,895. Just for the operating room!!

I was cured of prostate cancer using a method called brachytherapy. Out of pocket expense? About $36 in parking fees. Is it free? No...it comes out of taxes. Do we suffer for that? No...our standard of living is at least as good as yours.
Demand better, folks!

originally posted by: Mountainmeg
It'll be interesting to see. Just got the bill for gall bladder surgery I had in November. I'm not going to complain too much, we have good health insurance, so my portion is around $700. But the bill showed that the less-than-one-hour that I spent in the operating room was charged at $14,895. Just for the operating room!!

My son cut a tendon in his hand and the surgery was $18,000.




Thankfully insurance covered the first $6,000 of that, so instead it was a super manageable $12,000 bill. (/sarcasm)