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Message
Unreasonable medical bill
Posted on 6/12/13 at 1:41 pm
Posted on 6/12/13 at 1:41 pm
My wife took our son to an afterhours clinic for a cough and a fever. Doctor spent no more than 5 minutes with him and wrote a prescription. No tests were done. Wife paid the $30 co-pay and left our insurance information. Insurance denied the claim as an out of service provider and the afterhours clinic sent us a bill for about $500. I was cordial and told the clinic there must be some mistake with the billing for it to be so high. They agree and said they would send another bill. Got a new one for $430. I've told them i refuse to pay such an outrageous claim for service provided. I'd probably pay about $150 even though that is a rip-off. They've submitted it to a claims agency. Anyone have experience with something like this?
This post was edited on 6/12/13 at 1:45 pm
12
Posted on 6/12/13 at 1:43 pm to C
quote:
My wife took our son to an afterhours clinic for a couch
Not a bad price for a couch.
Posted on 6/12/13 at 1:43 pm to C
quote:
Anyone have experience with something like this?
Your insurance doesn't cover any part of OON services? I'd be a little pissed there, but the contract is the contract.
As far as the HCP, this doesn't suprise me. I'd call and tell them I'll pay you $70.00 more as payment in full. When you send the check write in the memo "PAID IN FULL IF CASHED."
The only thing you have to worry about is that even if they agree to this over the phone, the billing office may not know or may not care and may ding your credit and/or ask for the remainder. And that's a whole nother hassle.
eta: not legal advice.
This post was edited on 6/12/13 at 1:45 pm
Posted on 6/12/13 at 1:44 pm to C
Healthcare is expensive brah.
Seriously, its really expensive.
My finger surgery that lasted an hour was billed at over 20,000 dollars. Yes, 20,000 dollars.
Seriously, its really expensive.
My finger surgery that lasted an hour was billed at over 20,000 dollars. Yes, 20,000 dollars.
Posted on 6/12/13 at 1:51 pm to rmc
quote:
When you send the check write in the memo "PAID IN FULL IF CASHED."
means absolutely dog shite
Posted on 6/12/13 at 1:54 pm to C
quote:
I'd probably pay about $150 even though that is a rip-off.
lulz, you can't walk in the door for $150 unless you ain't got no jobs.
Posted on 6/12/13 at 1:58 pm to iAmBatman
quote:
means absolutely dog shite
I'll disagree. What'd you make in negotiable instruments?
Posted on 6/12/13 at 1:59 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
quote:
Yes, 20,000 dollars.
yikes.
My credit is excellent so I think I'll just take the hit and not give them any more money but it seems odd that people out there would actually pay something so outrageous.
Posted on 6/12/13 at 2:05 pm to rmc
Posted on 6/12/13 at 2:10 pm to C
If you buy a house or car in the next 10 years, it'll cost you a frickTON more than 400 dollars FWIW if you do that.
What's messed up here is the bill after services model.
You aren't given an opportunity to decline really.
What's messed up here is the bill after services model.
You aren't given an opportunity to decline really.
Posted on 6/12/13 at 2:11 pm to C
Pay the bill. You used a service which is always going to cost more so you owe the money.
You should be angry with your wife for overreacting over a simply cold and fever. A visit to the regular doctors during regular business hours would have cost the $150 (probably more) you are saying is a rip-off.
You should be angry with your wife for overreacting over a simply cold and fever. A visit to the regular doctors during regular business hours would have cost the $150 (probably more) you are saying is a rip-off.
Posted on 6/12/13 at 2:11 pm to rmc
quote:
I'd call and tell them I'll pay you $70.00 more as payment in full. When you send the check write in the memo "PAID IN FULL IF CASHED."
This does absolutely nothing. You can't unilaterally change a contract.
quote:
I'll disagree
Disagree all you would like, but you are wrong.
Posted on 6/12/13 at 2:12 pm to C
Yes, that sounds familiar.
In the Woodlands almost every after-hours clinic is out of network. We go to the St. Luke's clinic which I think is the only one that is in network.
A couple of years ago my wife went to one of those clinics late at night to get a shot of cortizone and a refill on her prescription. The bill was $1100 for a quick in-and-out visit.
They refused to budge on the price but let us pay $100 per month for the next 11 months. I hope all of those people burn in hell and we definitely learned our lesson.
I don't mind paying a reasonable price for a service, but they have to soak us to cover all of the people who don't pay.
In the Woodlands almost every after-hours clinic is out of network. We go to the St. Luke's clinic which I think is the only one that is in network.
A couple of years ago my wife went to one of those clinics late at night to get a shot of cortizone and a refill on her prescription. The bill was $1100 for a quick in-and-out visit.
They refused to budge on the price but let us pay $100 per month for the next 11 months. I hope all of those people burn in hell and we definitely learned our lesson.
I don't mind paying a reasonable price for a service, but they have to soak us to cover all of the people who don't pay.
Posted on 6/12/13 at 2:21 pm to C
Did you have the bill looked at by someone who would know to see what services they had coded on it, to be sure it matched what was actually done?
Posted on 6/12/13 at 2:30 pm to Bubba Bexley
Not directed at bex: My wife's a nurse so spare the lecture on the situation. Like i said, the doctor spent five minutes on the diagnosis. If they charged me $100,000 should I just pay it? They are just looking to take advantage of people. I don't buy cars or anything other than a house on credit.
This post was edited on 6/12/13 at 2:31 pm
Posted on 6/12/13 at 3:02 pm to C
quote:
Like i said, the doctor spent five minutes on the diagnosis.
I understand what you're getting at but the time spent with the patient has nothing to do with their fee structure. As the husband of a nurse you should understand this.
Posted on 6/12/13 at 3:05 pm to C
I feel you man. My first wife once spent a frantic hour driving around rural Mississippi looking for an after hours clinic because the baby, basically, bit her lip. We didn't even get a stitch. She got, I shite you not, a popsicle. 
We had to pay out of state rates but at least the insurance chipped in some.
I would recommend reading this article from Time Magazine from February or March of this year. It talks a lot about these ridiculous rates which are the supposed "list price" of medical care even though insurance companies (including Medicare) pay pennies on the dollar compared to this rate. The people who get screwed are the uninsured who have no bargaining power. It is a real eye opener. Quite long though.
LINK
We had to pay out of state rates but at least the insurance chipped in some. I would recommend reading this article from Time Magazine from February or March of this year. It talks a lot about these ridiculous rates which are the supposed "list price" of medical care even though insurance companies (including Medicare) pay pennies on the dollar compared to this rate. The people who get screwed are the uninsured who have no bargaining power. It is a real eye opener. Quite long though.
LINK
Posted on 6/12/13 at 3:05 pm to PurpleAndGold86
quote:
This does absolutely nothing. You can't unilaterally change a contract.
First, I'll back track and say I don't know what will happen in Texas considering C is in Texas.
Second, in La. if you put them on notice that you are sending a check for payment in full, write it on the check and they endorse it, I'll take my chances on that side of the case all day.
quote:
Disagree all you would like, but you are wrong.
I know you must have a lot more experience then myself in such matters.
This post was edited on 6/12/13 at 3:06 pm
Posted on 6/12/13 at 3:06 pm to C
is there any kind of fee dispute program for doctors like there is for lawyers?
Posted on 6/12/13 at 3:07 pm to rmc
quote:
When you send the check write in the memo "PAID IN FULL IF CASHED."
lol
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