CC on account for medical?

[AquamarineSteph]

I have a high deductible plan with an insanely high OOP (out of pocket) amount on top of that. Unless the doctor's office presents me with a breakdown where they have submitted estimated expenses to the insurance, I am not required to pay anything up front to a covered provider except the copay. The provider's office is supposed to send a bill for anything else afterwards.

 

[havaneselover]

I have a high deductible plan with an insanely high OOP (out of pocket) amount on top of that. Unless the doctor's office presents me with a breakdown where they have submitted estimated expenses to the insurance, I am not required to pay anything up front to a covered provider except the copay. The provider's office is supposed to send a bill for anything else afterwards.

They aren't asking you to pay up front. The way I've seen it is they swipe your card, bill arrives several weeks later, card is charged a few weeks after bill arrives.

 

[melanielll]

They aren't asking you to pay up front. The way I've seen it is they swipe your card, bill arrives several weeks later, card is charged a few weeks after bill arrives.

No - they are essentially asking you to leave them your credit card and allow them to charge whatever they want on it. An unknown amount to be charged at an unknown date. I would pass.

If you felt you had no other choice than to give them the card, you could let them take the card and then call the credit card company and put a block on them.

 

[havaneselover]

No - they are essentially asking you to leave them your credit card and allow them to charge whatever they want on it. An unknown amount to be charged at an unknown date. I would pass.

If you felt you had no other choice than to give them the card, you could let them take the card and then call the credit card company and put a block on them.

I don't really agree. They are asking you to leave a card. They tell you what the charge will be. They tell you when they will make the charge. If you have a concern you can contact them. It's not that you cannot stop them from charging your card. It's just the default position.

 

[smiths02]

I think this is similar to being charged for a service prior to the service. Seems to be the norm now? My mom had an epidural earlier this year and she was required to pay her portion up front. I thought it was crazy! Then a few months later I get a bill for my baby that I have yet to deliver. That's when I realized this is the new norm.

I still haven't paid it. I think it's really silly to charge for something that can have SO many variables. What are they going to do, push the baby back in if I haven't paid? I just hate how our insurance has declined in the last several years (and by our, I mean my family's). I didn't get one bill for either of my sons nearly 9 and 7 years ago (except for the voluntary procedure for boys). Premiums are higher, deductibles are outrageous and now they want prepayment for something that can vary by several thousands of dollars! In fact, they sent me the bill while I was still in the first trimester in which there's so much uncertainty at that point!

So while I've never been asked to leave a credit card, I've been asked to prepay!

I don't think paying upfront for having a baby is that unusual or new. I have a friend (whose husband's employer is a hospital!) who had to pay upfront for both of hers...the children are 10 and 6

 

[smiths02]

Also, while the credit card is new...our son had some complications at birth...we went to many specialists (11 years ago). The paperwork to guarantee payment was like filling out a security clearance for my husband's job. It was references, employers, social security numbers of me and my husband...they want to get paid. Leaving a credit card almost seems safer than that

 

[AquamarineSteph]

They aren't asking you to pay up front. The way I've seen it is they swipe your card, bill arrives several weeks later, card is charged a few weeks after bill arrives.

No. In this situation, the card is charged AT THE TIME OF SERVICE for the amount they're saying the insurance company won't pay. I know this because I've had it happen this year already. Either you pay up front or you don't receive service. I am okay with that ONLY when the provider has already contacted the insurance company, but they don't charge the card later. They charge it RIGHT THEN.

 

[havaneselover]

No. In this situation, the card is charged AT THE TIME OF SERVICE for the amount they're saying the insurance company won't pay. I know this because I've had it happen this year already. Either you pay up front or you don't receive service. I am okay with that ONLY when the provider has already contacted the insurance company, but they don't charge the card later. They charge it RIGHT THEN.

Okay, that is different from what I have experienced.

 

[havaneselover]

I don't think paying upfront for having a baby is that unusual or new. I have a friend (whose husband's employer is a hospital!) who had to pay upfront for both of hers...the children are 10 and 6

I paid upfront for both of mine. They are 14 and 12. The first one cost $10 but the second one was > $2000. They did it so you weren't hit with a huge bill after delivery.

 

[kymom99]

I paid upfront for both of mine. They are 14 and 12. The first one cost $10 but the second one was > $2000. They did it so you weren't hit with a huge bill after delivery.

My 18 year old "baby" cost me $10 too.

 

[SharonZ]

I had a procedure done at a surgery center, and I had to pay the balance of my deductible prior to the surgery. No payment, no surgery.