Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Huh.....I can think of at least two reasons. 1) immediate payment 2) less paperwork and hassle. Give me a little time and I can probably think of more.
Wouldn't it be nice if it actually worked that way. However, as the poster pointed out, the uninsured get charged (considerably) MORE for the same services than do the insured. It seems that insurance companies are getting a "bulk" discount.
Healthcare: Paying cash cost me less than paying my deductible.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't you doing both? Since you hadn't yet met your yearly deductible, wasn't the cash you paid applied to your deductible?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't you doing both? Since you hadn't yet met your yearly deductible, wasn't the cash you paid applied to your deductible?
What's the point of this thread?
You have not been keeping up.
The point is, the hospitals charge insurance more than they would charge you personally.
The theories are so far are:
1.) they do it because they can.
2.) they do it to make up for the people that don't pay.
3.) they double bill when in fact your insurance did pay them.
The point is, the hospitals charge insurance more than they would charge you personally.
The theories are so far are:
1.) they do it because they can.
2.) they do it to make up for the people that don't pay.
3.) they double bill when in fact your insurance did pay them.
I think that depends on the hospital and the health care provider.
Some will charge uninsured people more than they charge the insured.
Some will charge the same.
Some will discount.
The deductible calculation only matters if you are confident that you will not need medical care that will cost more than your deductible.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't you doing both? Since you hadn't yet met your yearly deductible, wasn't the cash you paid applied to your deductible?
What's the point of this thread?
Some hospitals may give you a discount if you pay them directly and leave the insurance company out of it.
I think that depends on the hospital and the health care provider.
Some will charge uninsured people more than they charge the insured.
Some will charge the same.
Some will discount.
The deductible calculation only matters if you are confident that you will not need medical care that will cost more than your deductible.
Exactly, if it is December and I am far from meeting my deductible, I am going to try to work a cash deal and forego the insurance. Not sure about those who say cash costs more or the same, maybe it is a state law thing, but frankly makes no sense that provider would not discount for reasons I stated earlier.
There was a Harvard study a few years ago that found the uninsured were billed on average about 300% of what insurance companies were billed for the same hospital services. NJ uninsured were the 'winners' at 454%
Why would you get a discount for not going through the insurance company?
Actually, I get what he's saying..........my husband has been getting blood test for Grave's disease, we didn't have insurance last month so we paid cash. The test with the insurance cost us $159.00, without insurance it cost us $112.00, yeah I wondered why. He now has insurance, but I think we won't say anything and get the cheaper price, even though it goes toward the deductible.
Number 1 reason we need universal health care, right here. So we can't let kids go over to their friends' house for fear that they hurt themselves and the property owner doesn't have sufficient insurance?? No wonder we're all fat and lazy.
You only buy property insurance if your the owner, I don't think many people who rent take out extra insurance to secure their childs playmate's. So, how do renter's pay for the injuries???
Just to throw something in there...count your blessings, doctor's don't HAVE to bill insurance. I had a bad fall at work, broke my ankle, femur, and tore up my knee. Five operations later and my knee was replaced. The surgeon set up for surgery, the hospital set up for surgery, scheduled everyone, I pre-registered, etc. Few days after surgery, I am still in the hospital and friend is picking up my mail, and I get a registered letter from the Anesthesiologists saying they do not bill insurance and charging me over $3200. First it is a Workers Compensation Claim, not insurance, but they are rejecting that too. Bottom line there is nothing in any AHA or anywhere else that says provider MUST bill insurance.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
