Basic medical expense question

[Rajah]

If you aren't paying copay and have to pay the full visit amount, how much should a general check-up with an adult's GP (not a specialist) generally cost for them to do nothing more than take your blood pressure, weight, and temperature, come in and say hello, and refill 2 prescriptions (as in write the slip for you to take to the drug store and get filled)? No labwork, no extended visit, no emergency.

With copay it can be anywhere from $5 to $20 or something like that. But what if you have to pay the full office visit?

Yes, there is a reason for this question, but I want to see what some answers are before I post the rest.

Thanks!!

 

[Crankyshank]

My Dr charges $75 for an office visit.

 

[janette]

Some charge more for new patients, also may give a discount for cash. If it isn't their regular Dr they may also want to run additional tests before filling perscriptions.

I think the standard charge for my kids is $70 and that is if they are sick. More for a well check up.

 

[kilee]

I do medical billing. The fee does vary doctor to doctor. However an average office visit will run someone about $80 here. If it's extremely brief (which would mean no medications-- because that is extra documentation in the chart) then $50. If you haven't been seen in awhile they have to document more then it can run easily $125-150. A physical, which could also be demanded if you haven't been seen in awhile (before refills would be given) could run in the $200 range.

 

[Talking Hands]

My doc charges $50 for a visit. He is cheap around here. I am going to hate it when he retires.

 

[my3kids]

The cost on the receipt is $65.

 

[winniedapooh]

I think when we get our "this is not a bill statement" in it says around 70 dollars.

 

[Serena]

It would be about $65 for mine, but the blood work would add more to that.

 

[ILOVEPOOH1]

I'm a practice manager for a Family Physician we charge $75 for a basic office visit, but if you have no insurance we charge $40... since the insurance company has us write off a certain portion anyway.... very few doctors will discount. What people don't understand is that most doctors with small practices don't really make that much. I do payroll, and our dr. gets $200/week. He does write off most expenses to the practice, but after overhead...esp. malpractice ins and payroll... our monthly profit is only $1000-$2000. Not much considering all the schooling he had to go through

 

[carole88]

ILOVEPOOH1 - Did I understand correctly what you wrote? Your doctor gets paid $200 per week. Is that pretax? I can't imagine that the figure could be so low. How large is the practice?

(Sorry for going off topic)

 

[The Mystery Machine]

There are different "levels" of the visit which changes the cost, level 1-5. The receipt I have is a level 3 visit and it was $64.00.

 

[Rajah]

Okay, thanks everyone.

The reason I ask is my mom is on a different insurance now and has to reach her deductible before even copays take effect.

She went in for the first time in about 6 months, for nothing more than to get a prescription refilled. She was feeling fine. They didn't do any tests, the doctor didn't look at anything, all they did was take her temperature, take her blood pressure, and the doctor asked her how she was doing and how the medications were working out for her, then wrote her a prescription.

They charged her $150 for that.

A visit to her *specialist* two weeks prior only cost her $95.

Are we the only ones who think the $150 was a bit much?