God @#%@ I hate our healthcare system

[mizzou]

Just got a bill for $588 and I have good healthcare. I hate how you can go into an office and get a NECESSARY medical procedure completed or evaluated, and you have absolutely no clue what the financial cost will be.

I would have gone to the doctor regardless...but what is the big deal with keeping the cost a secret? Ugggggh


EDIT: I have a $550 deductible and that has already been met. I forgot our company switched from $200 to $550 this year. WHeeee!! My OOP is $1800

 

[gorcorps]

If you knew what it was supposed to cost from the get-go you'd be able to figure out when they make a mistake. We can't have that now can we?

 

[fstime]

Well, I think only 80% of non-hospital medical costs are covered for most insurance plans. So even with employer health coverage, you still need some kind of gap coverage if you expect not to play any medical costs.

 

[PokerGuy]

In order for any market to work effectively, you need to have information. If all consumers had easy access to prices for procedures just like they would for buying any other product or service, they could shop around and get good deals. That's why the prices are virtually impossible to determine up front.....

 

[mizzou]

All I did was get my balls scanned, I didn't ask them to get pulled off

 

[Pulsar]

All I did was get my balls scanned, I didn't ask them to get pulled off

It's been my experience that the brunettes are cheaper than the blondes for that particular procedure.

 

[techs]

Couldn't you have asked the doctor and/or hospital the rates before your treatment? Then asked your insurance company what you would get reimbursed?

It would have probably been a hassle but you could have found out, couldn't you?

 

[Anubis]

TBH you can ask most surgeons what a prodecure will run and they can give you a pretty accurate cost for what THEY BILL

most of the cost comes from the other hospitial bullshit like charging 500$ for a disposiable gown and other stupid crap like a 300$ dose of asprin. - that shit you cant ask about

if you happen to get an itemized bill its pretty insane what they bill for all that crap. its generally not the Doc who is doing the operation who is charging you an arm and a leg

 

[Gunslinger08]

Seriously, how have we not yet required simplified up-front pricing for non-emergency medical care? It should be like buying a car, with a price sheet detailing the base cost and options. Insurance should be simple enough that you can take the base cost and calculate your OOP. Unhappy with the price? Look for another, cheaper provider.

 

[highland145]

My OOP is $10K before we get the 80/20 split....shits are not given.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Seriously, how have we not yet required simplified up-front pricing for non-emergency medical care? It should be like buying a car, with a price sheet detailing the base cost and options. Insurance should be simple enough that you can take the base cost and calculate your OOP. Unhappy with the price? Look for another, cheaper provider.

There ought to be a better way but remember people aren't cars and often one person needs more care for a particular ailment.

 

[malbojah]

I'm glad I have good insurance when I had my gall bladder pulled last month. Hospital charged $31k, insurance agreed to $19k, my OOP is $1k.

Going to be fun at the end of the year when I go for shoulder surgery to see that bill.

 

[highland145]

There ought to be a better way but remember people aren't cars and often one person needs more care for a particular ailment.

Could post the contracted rate by the insurance companies. That would help insurance shoppers too.

 

[JM Aggie08]

All I did was get my balls scanned, I didn't ask them to get pulled off

Ah, the ol' warm jelly and ultrasound routine, eh? I had that done in high school. Luckily it was/is a benign cyst.

 

[Thebobo]

All I did was get my balls scanned, I didn't ask them to get pulled off

Is it cheaper if you only have 1? half price?

 

[brainhulk]

Well how else are they gonna pay for all my overtime...duhhhh!

 

[gorb]

Yes, the prices need to be more clear up front. My insurance isn't as bad as others I've read about though.

single coverage:
Annual premium $1428
Deductible $2000 (company provided health fund: $800 + $125 for getting a physical and + $75 for doing an online health survey), so only $1000 OOP. the health fund rolls over if you don't use it up.
Coinsurance $1500 in network (90/10), $3000 out of network (70/30)
Max annual OOP $3500 in network, $5000 out of network (it's just the deductible + coinsurance)

The insurance sucks a lot more once you get married/have dependents though. Premiums/deductibles/max OOP go way up.

I already met my deductible for this year...back on january 27th :/

 

[Red Squirrel]

The American system is a huge mess, so glad our system is better in Canada.

 

[RockinZ28]

Do they not tell you, or not know what the price will be if you have insurance or what? Haven't seen a doctor with insurance since I was a teen.

I had a couple months without insurance after changing employers earlier this year, decided to roll the dice and of course that was the first time in years I had to see a doctor. Made them tell me the cost of everything before they proceeded. Luckily it was under $200 and I just used my HSA from previous employer.

 

[gorb]

Do they not tell you, or not know what the price will be if you have insurance or what? Haven't seen a doctor with insurance since I was a teen.

I had a couple months without insurance after changing employers earlier this year, decided to roll the dice and of course that was the first time in years I had to see a doctor. Made them tell me the cost of everything before they proceeded. Luckily it was under $200 and I just used my HSA from previous employer.

In my experience with various surgeries, the surgeon and/or facility will usually present you with some sort of estimate and upfront costs. However, you generally don't have a consult with the anesthesiologist or whatever prior to the procedure and they will bill you separately.

Regarding the ER - I've gone twice recently and you have zero idea of what sort of bill you'll be getting. Depending on what you have done, it might be just two bills. One from the hospital and one from the doctor.

 

[nickbits]

The American system is a huge mess, so glad our system is better in Canada.

Both systems are unsustainable.

 

[Mxylplyx]

The American system is a huge mess, so glad our system is better in Canada.

Most Americans would disagree. They have no idea why they would disagree, they just would. You know, socialism and stuff.

 

[IEC]

Most Americans would disagree. They have no idea why they would disagree, they just would. You know, socialism and stuff.

I disagree on the basis of having extensive professional experience in the healthcare industry. Canada is not objectively "better" overall - they've got their own share of problems.

Both countries' systems could use a whole lot of improvement.

For America, #1 would be to fix all the BS associated with billing and claims. It's like playing roulette submitting a claim which may or may not be denied by a payer. That uncertainty and sometimes high rate of nonpayment is a big reason behind why costs are out of proportion to the care provided in some instances.

 

[ImpulsE69]

They can't scam and give different prices based on insurance if they had one set up front cost that you could see before hand.

 

[Slew Foot]

the doctor usually has a general idea of what they will charge but they have no clue as to what the insurance company will cover and how much you have to pay. The hospital in general, has no clue as to anything and will send random bills in random amounts to different people and hope someone pays.