Doctor discount

[manning]

I was at the doctor the other day and saw a sign that read. "Patients paying cash will get a 25% discount" I never noticed this before.

 

[DisFam11]

Lots of doctors do this. They get their money without the cost of paying a billing person. And they probably still get more than the insurance pays them in the long run.

 

[manning]

Lots of doctors do this. They get their money without the cost of paying a billing person. And they probably still get more than the insurance pays them in the long run.

Does anyone know if it would be cheaper than using insurance?

 

[bumbershoot]

Does anyone know if it would be cheaper than using insurance?

That all depends on what your insurance has worked out with percentages of standard amounts they pay.

 

[LJSquishy]

In most cases, paying a cash price will not be less expensive than going through your insurance. But, it never hurts to check.

For instance, a standard office visit may be $100 (just using easy numbers here). For a cash-paying person, they would owe $75. If you have typical health insurance, you would generally pay a $25 or so copay and insurance would cover 100% of the cost (aside from the copay). Some insurance plans may have you pay a $25 copay and they will cover 80% of the office visit, making your total cost $45. Some insurance plans pay nothing until you've met your deductible. So, it just depends...but I'd say in most cases you're better off going through your insurance.

I'm doing infertility treatment and my insurance covers zero, so everything is out of pocket for me. The clinic I previously went to did give a small discount for certain things (ultrasounds and IUIs) but now I'm going to an actual infertility clinic which is more expensive. It's $325 just for an office visit.

 

[wendow]

We may be losing our insurance so I've been asking everywhere what cash prices are and we've been going for all the check-ups while we still have insurance. Most doctors have just handed me a sheet with their cash prices listed. None have been less than my copay but certainly far less that our copay + insurance premium (which is over $800 a month). I told our pediatrician the situation today and she said not to worry, they'd work with us and just to remind her we are paying OOP. But we've been patients there for 12 years and all my kids see her.

 

[wiigirl]

Lots of doctors do this. They get their money without the cost of paying a billing person. And they probably still get more than the insurance pays them in the long run.

My dentist does this...

 

[lauradis]

Our dentist does, and doctor office has discount rate for cash patients.

So I called the doctors office billing department and asked if we could use insurance for things like preventive care and then cash discount for sickness they said yes.

Not sure what our insurance will be next year since ours has been cancelled as of 1/1/2014

The rumor is no more co-pay flat deductible first then insurance kicks in.

So since we normally don't have large illnesses, it looks like it might be cheaper to get cash discount, just like at the dentist office

 

[tvguy]

For instance, a standard office visit may be $100 (just using easy numbers here)..

Clearly only easy numbers.

My 25% co-pay was more than $100 for my last visit with my primary care doctor.

 

[1buckeyegirl]

The hospital I work for gives a 10% discount if you pay your bills with in 30 days. This is with or with out insurance.

 

[bbak3030]

We may be losing our insurance so I've been asking everywhere what cash prices are and we've been going for all the check-ups while we still have insurance. Most doctors have just handed me a sheet with their cash prices listed. None have been less than my copay but certainly far less that our copay + insurance premium (which is over $800 a month). I told our pediatrician the situation today and she said not to worry, they'd work with us and just to remind her we are paying OOP. But we've been patients there for 12 years and all my kids see her.

In my experience, they definitely will. Just remind them that you are paying OOP. That will make them think twice about treatment, procedures, etc. we are good friends with our pharmacist and he will often recommend something OTC or generic if applicable. And I've gotten discounts up to 40% for offering cash on the spot.

 

[kathie859]

My DD, a healthcare professional, gave me a tip about paying hospital bills. DH had a one night stay several months ago for a planned heart related procedure, it cost over $88k for one night!!!!!! After insurance paid, we owed $4000. DD said to call the billing office and ask for a discount if we paid in lump sum. They knocked off $700!!!! I asked if they wanted a check or credit card (thinking they'd want a check) but they said it didn't matter so I put it on a credit card for the points and will pay it off next month.

 

[LaurLaur04]

They cannot legally have a different set prices for cash patients but they can offer a discount for up front payment in full or in a certain number of days. Having a separate fee schedule is fraud. I worked in a medical office that did this....big no no!

 

[disneymom2003]

I needed a procedure done. It was cheaper for me to pay cash than put it through my insurance. They called the Friday before and informed me I could not pay the cash price as I had insurance. What a scam.

 

[Swimalie]

My dentist does this...

My dentist as well. But it's only 10%.