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My son's pediatrician gave us a 40 percent discount for paying cash. As she explained, even with the discount it was more than she'd receive from Medicaid and some insurance payments PLUS it meant she got the fee paid immediately and didn't have to wait. Makes sense and I was very grateful!
But my rheumatologist will not give any sort of discount for cash. I've asked, and it's $200 firm. I wouldn't mind so much if he was an exceptional doctor and spent a lot of time examining me and reviewing my status and options but he's not in the room for 10 minutes! LOL, I've decided if he's going to charge big-city prices, I might as well go to a big-city doctor who's tops in the field!
My son's pediatrician gave us a 40 percent discount for paying cash. As she explained, even with the discount it was more than she'd receive from Medicaid and some insurance payments PLUS it meant she got the fee paid immediately and didn't have to wait. Makes sense and I was very grateful!
I am 100% against universal healthcare but I'd be a fool to say our system does not have some major problems. As mentioned above, doctors are growing tired of jumping through hoops for the carriers and they are more than happy to deal with customers on a cash basis. The amount of time it takes to process a claim, bill the carrier and ultimate collect the payment takes a huge portion of the doctors profits. Why not cut out the middle man and deal directly with the patient? The carriers really need to find a way to cut through the red tape and streamline operations. Not only would this benefit the patient and doctors, it would probably result in increased profits for the carriers.
Yeah.. my choices are this
I have a small busines.. really just run by me and my husband. Doesn't really qualify as an insurable "business" because I don't have employees! So.. I have a choice.. either lie and make up that I have employees so that i can pay almost $800/month to cover me and my son (and not my husband because the "family plan" is well over $1000 and we can not afford it). OR.. I DON'T lie and buy it privately and pay over $1000 for just me and my son.
Sure..I can have a choice of paying less.. like maybe down to say $600.. but then the things i need covered AREN'T covered!!! PLEASE..
What you are saying is not even remotely true. You should check out the National Association for the Self-Employed. Every business, no matter how small is insurable, and for a fraction of what you are currently paying.
I am 100% against universal healthcare but I'd be a fool to say our system does not have some major problems. As mentioned above, doctors are growing tired of jumping through hoops for the carriers and they are more than happy to deal with customers on a cash basis. The amount of time it takes to process a claim, bill the carrier and ultimate collect the payment takes a huge portion of the doctors profits. Why not cut out the middle man and deal directly with the patient? The carriers really need to find a way to cut through the red tape and streamline operations. Not only would this benefit the patient and doctors, it would probably result in increased profits for the carriers.
I agree that we've got some major problems... but let's identify all of them before we make decisions. Check out the CATO publication on the hidden costs incorporated into healthcare.
Every business, no matter how small is insurable, and for a fraction of what you are currently paying.
We had a business. It fluctuated between 4-20 people. We tried to get an insurance plan, no deal. Because my children have a chronic health issue (totally manageable, no occurance for 5+years) it drove up the cost of the plans offered to us.
Most of the plans were $1000+ a month, per family. The lowest was almost $800, and that was lower because there was no maternity/prenatal care. The highest was almost $1600, BTW. And this would be the cost not only for us, but for any of our employees as well.
Sooo...we went 5 years without insurance. I hoped and prayed whenever someone's throat hurt that it wasn't strep cause I couldn't afford to take them to the Dr. If it were H or I, forget about it, we stuck it out.
How can I find these doctors? I bet they don't exist where I live!
Have you looked? That statement reminds me of the kid on here who claimed that they couldn't afford college because it was 40k per year... who based this upon what his family told him. Just like the people I worked with years ago claiming the same things, who never got up and investigated while my sister attended school and paid no tuition whatsoever.
Have you looked? That statement reminds me of the kid on here who claimed that they couldn't afford college because it was 40k per year... who based this upon what his family told him. Just like the people I worked with years ago claiming the same things, who never got up and investigated while my sister attended school and paid no tuition whatsoever.
College? Pffft...who needs college?
Signed,
Bill Gates
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As she explained, even with the discount it was more than she'd receive from Medicaid and some insurance payments PLUS it meant she got the fee paid immediately and didn't have to wait. Makes sense and I was very grateful!
