Health Care Question - No Insurance

I am about to raise bloody hell with my Dr. office for fraudulent charges. If this isn't too personal, would you mind answering this?

If you don't have health insurance, how much do you pay for your annual woman's exam?


My doctor billed my insurance company $500 for my pap, and my lab company billed over $200. I am flaming mad right now. They billed 2 doctors visits and over $200 each and ran a ton of labs on me that were not even necessary.

I just called and yelled at them. I asked how they expect a woman with no insurance to pay $700 for an annual exam, and that I they were over billing my insurance.

First of all, how is it legal to bill for 2 office visits when you only went once. She said because we talked about things outside of my annual exam. SAY WHAT?

So, if I bring my kid to the doctor for a check up and he is has an ear infection, she is going to charge me twice?

Sorry.... Health care stinks.

[Nic902]

I do not have health insurance so I just dont go to the doc

I worked for a doc, so I handled insurance billing and the reason they over-bill is so they get paid. Insurance only pays a portion so they bill AS MUCH as possible to cover the visit. Is it shitty...yeah but at the same time, insurance companys look for ANY reason not to pay so its the docs way of making sure they get something out of them.

[BeanBabe]

That is brutal....hearing this post makes me thankful I live in Canada. We go to the docs and we don't see a bill at all.

I know about over billing. My husband works in cancer treatment. But, being that I have top of the line insurance, I can out of this with over $200 in out of pocket expenses. Now, that is robbery.

[Nic902]

Originally Posted by kjdavis

I can out of this with over $200 in out of pocket expenses. Now, that is robbery.

Gotta love US healthcare

[amberella]

The last time I went and didn't have health care, my doc charged my a flat $145 for paying at the time of visit no bills after. And the lab billed me I believe around $100 once I explained it was a private pay situation.

Originally Posted by amberella

The last time I went and didn't have health care, my doc charged my a flat $145 for paying at the time of visit no bills after. And the lab billed me I believe around $100 once I explained it was a private pay situation.

Wow, very insightful. My hubby and I are seriously thinking we are better off without insurance. Besides the what-ifs, we don't use it. And pay over $300 a month for it, on top off all the bills we get. Ugh.

[Mloveb]

This is how ins works. Charges are higher to ins than an individual and if you were paying out of pocket they would ask what tests you wanted to have done.
Also, price is VERY nego at any time inculding when paying out of pocket - most people don't know that.
Additonally it depends on your state laws on charges: Fee Schedule, Usual and Customay, Billed Charges.
Sadly, the prices they are charging your ins are perdetermined and they KNOW what they are going to be charged. AND it's not your MD offices that does 2 charges your insurance company sees it as such and requires them to bill that way. I am not too familiar with AZ state law but I know many of the other states and this is how it's established. Although, I am becoming quite familiar with AZ laws as my company is moving into AZ.

Originally Posted by Mloveb

This is how ins works. Charges are higher to ins than an individual and if you were paying out of pocket they would ask what tests you wanted to have done.
Also, price is VERY nego at any time inculding when paying out of pocket - most people don't know that.
Additonally it depends on your state laws on charges: Fee Schedule, Usual and Customay, Billed Charges.
Sadly, the prices they are charging your ins are perdetermined and they KNOW what they are going to be charged. AND it's not your MD offices that does 2 charges your insurance company sees it as such and requires them to bill that way. I am not too familiar with AZ state law but I know many of the other states and this is how it's established. Although, I am becoming quite familiar with AZ laws as my company is moving into AZ.

Hmmm. I still don't understand how I ended up a with an out-of-pocket bill equal to what Amber pays for her visits. Plus the $300 a month I pay to my insurance company AND then $35 copay.

[Nic902]

Originally Posted by kjdavis

Hmmm. I still don't understand how I ended up a with an out-of-pocket bill equal to what Amber pays for her visits. Plus the $300 a month I pay to my insurance company AND then $35 copay.

Its possible that your insurance doesnt cover the services you had.

[dbroncofan]

Did you use an out of network provider?
Do you have a co-insurance?