Doc office wants CC on file??

[PrincessDadx2]

You seem to have some need to justify a practice that many of us find obnoxious, unnecessary and detrimental to the doctor-patient relationship. Fabulous.

Yes, problems happen in many situations in life. That doesn't mean I'm going to willingly additionally expose myself to ridiculous, unnecessary risk for the convenience of a doctor. Your fast food analogy is just bizarre and irrelevant.

You are making a mountain out of a mole hill. If you want to do business with the Dr. then give them the card. Otherwise move on. The Dr. has a right to run their business as they want and on their terms. They take many different kinds of insurance, some pay 100%, some pay 80%, some pay 0%. Many times people want treatment that is over and above what is covered - like porcelain crowns. If the Dr./provider wants proof of ability to pay then that is their business.

As PP has stated YOU are responsible to pay, not your insurance company. If you insurance denies the claim then it is YOUR bill and you agree to this everytime you get treatment.

If a Dr. abuses your credit card. Then dispute it with your CC company. It is no different than fighting with your insurance company over declined treatments, medicines, etc. We have disputes with our insurance on a regular basis. Unfortunately it is just a consequence of our sick healthcare system.

Vote with your feet if you do not like the terms, but don't expect the Dr. to change. They already have enough deadbeat patients and are apparently not going to risk to taking on any more. As they said in the Godfather, nothing personal its just business.

 

[tcp_dpm]

You seem to have some need to justify a practice that many of us find obnoxious, unnecessary and detrimental to the doctor-patient relationship. Fabulous.

Yes, problems happen in many situations in life. That doesn't mean I'm going to willingly additionally expose myself to ridiculous, unnecessary risk for the convenience of a doctor. Your fast food analogy is just bizarre and irrelevant.

What I find obnoxious, unnecessary and detrimental to the doctor-patient relationship is the failure to take responsibility for a bill. Nothing more.

I'm not justifying the practice, just trying to help others see the reasoning behind it. I, myself, don't practice that way, but can see why one would want to cover themselves.

The fast food example is just to show how a "small" mistake might spiral. A "small" mistake is made that causes an appointment not to be cancelled in the computer as one PP mentioned. One "small" mistake can lead to thousands of credit card #'s being exposed. Just an example. Maybe irrelevant, but it made sense in my head.

 

[Hannathy]

As I and several others keep saying the Dr. is running a business and he has the right to run it the way he wants to. You don't HAVE to go to him. If you don't like what he wants you to do find another Dr. If you want to see him play by his rules.

I really think it is lousy to agree to his rules but then cheat on them (canceling card) and expect him to be straight with him. setting yourself up for a terrible patient Dr. relationship. Plus don't be surprised if he doesn't see you without the card on file. Sounds like he isn't hurting for patients so he can afford to not see you.

 

[bumbershoot]

Slightly off topic but...
It is the patients responsibillity to pay - not the insurance company. Any paperwork I have signed said the patient must pay what the insurance company doesn't cover.

If you told your insurance company about this, they might want to have a little talk with the doctor's office.

Regardless what WE sign, THEY have a contract if they are a preferred provider, and they are NOT to charge over what the insurance pays.

How many times do we hear of an online retailer being compromised by hackers?

Actually, not that often. Generally the bad guys get big loads of CC numbers because someone at the company finds them and sells them.

WOW. 2 days is not the norm for insurance payment. They have had to pass laws regarding how long an insurance company has to make payment on a "clean claim" because they would traditionally delay payment.

I didn't say the office got payment in 2 days. I said they generally finish the EOB inside of 2 days, and probably within a week they put the info of when the payment was sent. Aetna seems to be really really good at paying providers.

I was illustrating that doctor's offices aren't all that bright, or they are lying, because I've had a few offices tell me that they don't get the EOBs for months. (this is when I was calling two MRI places every few days, trying to get a payment to them, and it's been about our chiro, and a couple other issues) I know that Aetna is sending it straightaway, and I can see when th payment was sent out. So either the business people aren't noticing payments or they aren't opening mail on time.

Right now I'm dealing with a provider who insurance first said was part of the deductible. I called them for 2 months, and they finally sent a bill, for half of what we should have paid, probably 9 months later (they share a billing office with our chiro, who just sent a bill out including an October visit, do you know how FRUSTRATING that is when you have the money sitting there?). I paid, thinking it was weird that they billed for only half, but maybe they thought they were doing us a favor. At the end of '09 (the visit was in '08), I saw a new EOB on aetna.com, and it showed that the office was now paid by Aetna! I waited a few days, seeing if I would hear anything, then I called. Aetna reviewed the claim, realized it shouldn't have had a deductible, and sent the portion of what the allowable charge was, therefore, that provider was paid, and we only owed $12. The rep was able to tell me the check number AND when it was cashed. Well, since we'd already paid a much larger amount, I'm waiting on that provider to refund me. And waiting and waiting.

 

[angwill]

What concerns me is that someone without a credit card won't be able to recieve services. Does that mean only people with a credit card deserve medical care?

 

[Mrs. Charming]

My Reproductive Endocrinologist did this... and now I'm really REALLY second guessing this... Ugh.

 

[skw444]

As far as PP with co-insurance, then this is indeed a different beast altogether. There are work arounds to this though. IF the doctor knows his contractual allowances are and knows what code he is charging for office visits and procedures, then the staff should be able to figure out a co-insurance cost (ie 20% of approved charges). Again, to prevent bad debt, it would not be unusual to be asked for this at the time of visit. The costs of billing, re-billing, etc is more than people think. One bill alone could cost for envelopes, statements, time of re-billing, stamp, toner etc. For all of those with laser printers out there, you know that a refill can cost $100 or more for a new toner. Going through 12 a year in a medical practice is not unusual. It might be $3-4, which doesn't seem to be that much, but multiply that over 200-400 patients per month and you can see how it can add up. We're on the budget board for crying out loud, why can't doctors try to keep their costs down?

Again, just trying to help all of those with open minds see the other side of things.

I don't have a co-pay but have co-insurance. My insurance card specifically says that no money is to be collected at time of service. Since the doctor has agreed to contract with my insurance company, they agree to this as well. I have had several doctors try to collect money at the time of insurance and each time I show my insurance card where it says no money is to be collected. In each case, they have to bill me after insurance pays.

 

[bumbershoot]

I don't have a co-pay but have co-insurance. My insurance card specifically says that no money is to be collected at time of service. Since the doctor has agreed to contract with my insurance company, they agree to this as well. I have had several doctors try to collect money at the time of insurance and each time I show my insurance card where it says no money is to be collected. In each case, they have to bill me after insurance pays.

Same here.

 

[Halbleib1]

tcp dpm I agree with what you said.

The Dr. is a business and has the right to set the rules for his operation just as Disney can set their rules. If you don't like them then you have the right to not go to him. Either go by his rules or go somewhere else it is pretty plain and simple to me.

Maybe so but there are still state, local, and federal laws that they have to follow. They can not just do anything that they want.

 

[sydneysmom]

Personally, I wouldn't give them your card to keep on file. If they have a dispute w/ your insurance company, that's between them and the insurance company and if there's a charge the insurance company doesn't pay, then they should bill you directly. NOT assume it's okay to run whatever through on your credit card. Because here's the thing... they will get lazy and not run through stuff on your insurance because they have your card. then it will be up to you to get that refunded from your insurance company.
Simply, I would tell them that you spoke to your insurance company and they recommended that if there's a problem, they can call the insurance company. No one should ever require that your CC be kept on file. Hold your ground on this one..... your privacy and your credit are too precious.

 

[Halbleib1]

I have no insurance and my son sees a specialist for his galactosemia and we have never been asked to have a credit card on file. If they were to ask I would tell them no and if need be I would be looking for another Dr. That being said his bills are paid for through a grant. If for some reason the grant did not go through they would bill us the same way any other clinic/hospital would. I have had to go to the emergency room myself on several occassions and have never been asked for a credit card nor for any money at time of service. I have always been billed later.

 

[Halbleib1]

Personally, I wouldn't give them your card to keep on file. If they have a dispute w/ your insurance company, that's between them and the insurance company and if there's a charge the insurance company doesn't pay, then they should bill you directly. NOT assume it's okay to run whatever through on your credit card. Because here's the thing... they will get lazy and not run through stuff on your insurance because they have your card. then it will be up to you to get that refunded from your insurance company.
Simply, I would tell them that you spoke to your insurance company and they recommended that if there's a problem, they can call the insurance company. No one should ever require that your CC be kept on file. Hold your ground on this one..... your privacy and your credit are too precious.

Not to mention how would they know what a persons credit limit was or how much money was in their bank account. They can not just run a charge through without getting authorization for it.

 

[Hannathy]

I have no insurance and my son sees a specialist for his galactosemia and we have never been asked to have a credit card on file. If they were to ask I would tell them no and if need be I would be looking for another Dr. That being said his bills are paid for through a grant. If for some reason the grant did not go through they would bill us the same way any other clinic/hospital would. I have had to go to the emergency room myself on several occassions and have never been asked for a credit card nor for any money at time of service. I have always been billed later.

An ER has to see you, a private Dr. has a choice.

I guess I'm the only one old enough on here to remember when you always paid the Dr and then it was up to you to get reimbursed by the insurance. Dr's filing the insurance for you is a fairly recent added convenience and it really is a convenience to the patient.

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

If you really want to see the doctor, could you make an arrangement to deposit some sort of cash into your account? Maybe the amount they charge for a routine office visit? Like a retainer? I would call the billing manager and inquire about this scenerio if you feel strongly about not giving them the credit card. I know there are people out there that plain don't have any *plastic*.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I've never heard of keeping a cc on file with a Dr.'s office. I understand the rationale, but I don't like it. The rationale would not apply to me. I would choose a different doctor before I'd have my cc on file.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Not to mention how would they know what a persons credit limit was or how much money was in their bank account. They can not just run a charge through without getting authorization for it.

I'm wondering if an authorization is embedded in the many papers that are required/signed as a new patient. Now that would be interesting.

 

[Kriii]

If you don't like how the doctor does business, go elsewhere. The doc has the right to run his business as he chooses. He is ensuring that he gets paid if insurance rejects the claim or get paid for services not covered but agreed upon by the insured. If insurance rejects the claim, it is the PATIENT'S responsibility to dispute not the doctors. Like it or not folks, that's how it works. Sorry if this sounds harsh, but I've spent too much time running after non-payers who whine that insurance "should have" covered my speech therapy services or expect me to spend hours on the phone arguing with the insurance company.

 

[badblackpug]

I absolutely understand that Md's frequently aren't reimbursed. But I have NEVER met an MD who has required a credit card to be "on file." Even my plastic surgeon. I wonder what would have happened if you had told the office you didn't have a credit card?

 

[mrsklamc]

At least they told you they were putting it on file. Almost 2 years ago I bought something from a small and rather specific company for my job. Earlier this month a charge showed up on my credit card for almost $200. A company with a similar name had charged something from them. and they billed MY credit card for it even though I certainly never gave them permission to keep it on file.

 

[lawsonsontour]

wow im so glad we have the NHS in the uk....this sounds like a knightmare