Doctors office insurance question

[senelcoolidge]

Excuse my ignorance. Maybe someone can explain something to me. I don't have insurance for my son yet. My son is behind in his vaccines, so every month I take him to the pediatrician to get his shots until he catches up. I told the doctor and nurse that I don't have insurance at the moment for my son until later in September or October. I have absolutely no problems paying out of pocket, but they insist on me getting the insurance. Are they losing money by me paying them out of pocket? I guess they can bill the insurance higher and that's how they make their money. I'm not sure, maybe it's my paranoia. But they seem really pushy about the insurance even though I can pay them out of pocket.

[Godzuki]

if you're in America they're trying to help you. even if you're not they're most likely trying to help you. government healthcare should pay for it.

i've found most doctors offices are really trying to help people out more than make extra money for themselves. i guess probably because they already make a killing.

i also think in general doctors tend to be more altruistic than people from other professions.

[BigNBAfan]

Insurances dont pay much actually... in fact on average it's 70% on the codes. So here, i bill for vestibular testing and it runs around 700 dollars, but i can also add a facility fee that's negotiated of 80 dollars. What it breaks down to is roughly 570 dollars for 2 hours of testing.

In order for insurances to pay more, prices are inflated to account for how much they pay. Who's the loser? Those that have to pay that inflated price out of pocket. It's also illegal to lower prices on any testing you do for someone if you charge that amount to insurance.

However there are some loop holes, like you can alter something small and insignificant and charge the 570 instead of 700.

I hope that makes sense.

[KevinNYC]

I'm not sure, maybe it's my paranoia. But they seem really pushy about the insurance even though I can pay them out of pocket.

But what happens, if God forbid, something happens.

That's why it's called health insurance.

I went to bed healthy one evening and woke up to a 5 day hospital stay that cost 20K. Fortunately, I had insurance.

[Nanners]

did you ever consider maybe its not a money issue and they are genuinely concerned about what would happen to your son if he had a major medical problem while uninsured?

maybe you can pay for vaccines, but can you pay out of pocket for a broken bone? can you pay out of pocket for emergency surgery? can you pay out of pocket for leukemia treatment? shit happens, anybody can be unlucky. get your son some health insurance.

[bladefd]

I assume your son is a baby? They are most susceptible to sicknesses since they lack natural body immunities yet. Imagine if he got pneumonia - do you know how much it would cost for a few days in the hospital to treat him? Emergency room costs, treatment costs, separate doctor bills for every doctor that walks in even if it is for 30secs, insane food cost (usually included with overall bill), medical supplies bill, doctor appointments after release from hospital.

Look, I can attest to it when I was in hospital for 5 days after a hip fracture. They sent me a bill for $55,000 (no operation because they told me it was too risky as I have other medical issues). My insurance paid 80% and they sent me a remaining bill for 11,000. I was a college student at the time and didn't have $200 in bank let alone 11,000. It wouldn't be fair to ask my parents to pay it as they were already paying my tuition. I was forced to apply for charity. Luckily they approved me after they saw my situation and saw my insurance paid most of it.

Even if you have million dollars, still get insurance for your boy. It will help. Look on Healthcare.gov or maybe if you have insurance from work, add the young fellow!

[GimmeThat]

Excuse my ignorance. Maybe someone can explain something to me. I don't have insurance for my son yet. My son is behind in his vaccines, so every month I take him to the pediatrician to get his shots until he catches up. I told the doctor and nurse that I don't have insurance at the moment for my son until later in September or October. I have absolutely no problems paying out of pocket, but they insist on me getting the insurance. Are they losing money by me paying them out of pocket? I guess they can bill the insurance higher and that's how they make their money. I'm not sure, maybe it's my paranoia. But they seem really pushy about the insurance even though I can pay them out of pocket.


they think you suck at managing your money probably. they might think insurance companies better offs the future of those cash flows not just for you but the future of other patients.

or they believe that giving health care providers the money gives the health industry an advantage in lobbying for what's better for the health care industry. all while not having to ask for your opinion of course.


in other words, doctors and nurses probably don't treat people who walks through their door without any health insurance to be that of someone who knows how to manage money better than the average people, or understands how the health care industry ought to be ran better than those in charge. and so they treat you as so.

[senelcoolidge]

Thanks. I was planning to get insurance for my son. I'll get it through my job.