Do people ask for a quote and or bargain with your doctors?
Reason I ask is I have an HSA, Health Savings Account plan. Basically most of my minor medical expense are in one way or another out of my pocket. I’d like to get some tests done, but would like to know up from cost and potential for other tests, costs etc.
Not sure if this is an acceptable approach in the medical field or not but it seems everyone else has to live by these rules including myself so why not doctors.
~Matt
Everything is negotiable. Not saying you will see favorable results but it’s worth a shot. My career in electronics manufacturing has really opened my eyes to what can be negotiated.
Not negotiable really, but some clinics will offer a “time of service” discount. I offer a very nice TOS discount but my fees are non-negotiable. Contact some independent doctors clinics and ask them about a TOS discount or a “cash” discount.
I think if you get lab tests done you are billed by the lab, not your doc.
i ask what the costs are up front. we pay for our own healthcare, with high deductable, so i need to know. also, telling the doc up front, “hey this is my own pocket” has helped with costs; as they are generally happy to help us get care with the best financial advantage.
Matt, are you sure it matters if you negotiate a discount?
HSA’s after all are still insurance plans run by insurance companies and governed by the negotiated rates they have established. For example, BC/BS says it will pay $100 for a mammogram. (this is a for instance) If you negotiate a cheaper deal than $100 I am not sure that money is going to make it into your pocket. Insurance company is still going to bill you $100 and pay $100 to the doctor.
I am on shaky ground here, but I think you may want to check this with your insurance company.
Come on doc, I’ll give you a kidney if you do a bang up job on my wife’s tummy tuck. That is my final offer.
I’m walking away…
see me walking away?
I’m really walking away this time!
Thats a good point as the insurance company still pays the bill but then removes the amount from my account. I guess what I’m shooting at is the “Quote” part so I can make a determination if the testing is worth it or not as it’s not a life and death situation.
~Matt
Not really like that, but I would like to know going in the cost and hgold them to it rather than “Well lets do this, well that didn’t work, lets try this, well that didn’t work” then 10K later you still have no answer for something that may not be worth 10K to you.
In essence it’s my money. I want to know up front, just like everything, what it’s going to cost me and why. I honestly don’t think that’s asking to much.
~Matt