The Medical Scam

[slick4591]

Due to some Obamacare crap last year the wife and I decided to roll the dice and not sign up this year wanting to pay cash as we go. I just got back from having a CT scan and paid $220.00 dollars because I had cash in my pocket. I'm now looking over a document that was given to me by the place and if they would have billed insurance the amount would have been $1670.00. Now, if I had insurance that amount would have been applied to my deductible and I would have had to pay that amount.

 

[M.Magis]

The entire industry is a racket, mostly due to how insurance works. It's legalized fraud.

 

[Kingfisher]

A nickle says your cash wasn't accounted for either.....

 

[TexasBred]

Due to some Obamacare crap last year the wife and I decided to roll the dice and not sign up this year wanting to pay cash as we go. I just got back from having a CT scan and paid $220.00 dollars because I had cash in my pocket. I'm now looking over a document that was given to me by the place and if they would have billed insurance the amount would have been $1670.00. Now, if I had insurance that amount would have been applied to my deductible and I would have had to pay that amount.

All very true except you got a deal on the scan even if you had the insurance and deductible paid. Mine a few weeks ago was more than double that and a PET scan was $8000. How did you get past the Obamacare BS when you took your taxes to get them done? First ??? they asked me was all about insurance, who it was with etc. etc. etc. Figured they were gonna penalize me if I didn't have it.

 

[slick4591]

We had Obamacare last year, so no penalty. For this year we'll pay the penalty and If nothing goes terribly wrong we'll save approx $12,000.

 

[TexasBred]

We had Obamacare last year, so no penalty. For this year we'll pay the penalty and If nothing goes terribly wrong we'll save approx $12,000.

That's good,....AND as long as you keep telling them "Patient Pay" you'll get those good realistic prices much if not all the time. Good job. !! :clap:

 

[slick4591]

We investigated our medical avenues before making the decision. Three of my doctors have no cash terms, but two are not unrealistic. Had one specialist that was bringing me in often and her price was $250 per visit. Last time she and I talked was last year when I was insured and her office has called me twice this year to make appts. I told them both times I'd be back as soon as she makes some realistic cash prices.

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

I'd be scared to death of something catastrophic happening to me that would wipe out my bank account.

 

[M-5]

I'd be scared to death of something catastrophic happening to me that would wipe out my bank account.

You just sign back up with Obama care. Prexesting condition is excluded

 

[Dave]

I had a CAT scan a month or so ago. It cost me about $200 after the insurance picked up their share. Sad thing is after going through all of that they never found a single cat.

 

[dun]

I had a CAT scan a month or so ago. It cost me about $200 after the insurance picked up their share. Sad thing is after going through all of that they never found a single cat.

It's a cat that does the scanning, not looking for cats.

 

[TCRanch]

We have some friends, fully insured, that racked up a $10K hospital bill. They went to the billing department to arrange a payment schedule & the hospital negotiated the bill down to $5K if they could pay in full. Done deal. Clearly there is a lot of "wiggle room" but I suspect, at least for this hospital, it's because so many people never pay their bill or not in full.

As far as paying the penalty, you may very well come out ahead, dollar-wise. BUT as a Rancher (or Farmer, small business owner, etc) I personally avoid anything that would draw attention to my finances.

 

[TCRanch]

I had a CAT scan a month or so ago. It cost me about $200 after the insurance picked up their share. Sad thing is after going through all of that they never found a single cat.

It's a cat that does the scanning, not looking for cats.

:lol:

 

[Son of Butch]

I'd be scared to death of something catastrophic happening to me that would wipe out my bank account.

You just sign back up with Obama care. Pre-existing conditions are not excluded. (They are covered)

Don't fear the unknown Tennessee, if it's really catastrophic you might "Get Lucky" and it'll just kill ya.
As a dear old uncle would say "What do you wanna be.... the richest man in the cemetery?"

A cousin and I are on the same prescription. He has drug coverage, I do not.
His co-pay is $5 per month more for the exact same prescription than me plus he pays an added premium for
the drug coverage to boot. Health care in the USA is really screwed up.

 

[boondocks]

Ok, Son of Butch and TT, now I'm really confused. Is it really true that you can now, regardless of income/assets, just not get insurance (under the ACA); private-pay for any minor expenses during the year (and pay the penalty for not having insurance); then just jump right in on an ACA plan if you, say, need bypass surgery; or are in a car wreck with massive injuries; or get diagnosed with cancer? Assuming you have assets, aren't the premiums pretty high then?
Seems like a pretty big loophole (or, depending on how you view it, great way to game the system???). What am I missing????

 

[Kingfisher]

We had Obamacare last year, so no penalty. For this year we'll pay the penalty and If nothing goes terribly wrong we'll save approx $12,000.

Don't that feel good?

 

[Kingfisher]

We have some friends, fully insured, that racked up a $10K hospital bill. They went to the billing department to arrange a payment schedule & the hospital negotiated the bill down to $5K if they could pay in full. Done deal. Clearly there is a lot of "wiggle room" but I suspect, at least for this hospital, it's because so many people never pay their bill or not in full.

As far as paying the penalty, you may very well come out ahead, dollar-wise. BUT as a Rancher (or Farmer, small business owner, etc) I personally avoid anything that would draw attention to my finances.

No it's because lots of small town or regional hospitals like lots of business are poorly managed and somebody there wanted to make payroll that week. 5k pays a few hospital workers this week.

 

[Son of Butch]

There are penalties to pay...can never say which is the absolute best way for each scenario until after the fact.
So I'm not going to advise anyone I don't personally know, but....
A very effective close on insurance objections is "Would you rather have it and not need it, or need it and not have it?"

Insurance is just legalized gambling. Most often sold on fear of risk.
(I bet I'm gonna need it, I bet you're not.)
Then the odds are calculated and set to take in more than paid out.
Some win, some lose, but all end up in the cemetery.

 

[Son of Butch]

We have some friends, fully insured, that racked up a $10K hospital bill. They went to the billing department to arrange a payment schedule & the hospital negotiated the bill down to $5K if they could pay in full. Done deal. Clearly there is a lot of "wiggle room" but I suspect, at least for this hospital, it's because so many people never pay their bill or not in full.

As far as paying the penalty, you may very well come out ahead, dollar-wise. BUT as a Rancher (or Farmer, small business owner, etc) I personally avoid anything that would draw attention to my finances.

No it's because lots of small town or regional hospitals like lots of business are poorly managed and somebody there wanted to make payroll that week. 5k pays a few hospital workers this week.

No.
It's because the average retail price or medical bill is 3-6 times more than the actual price negotiated in advance and received from insurance companies. It's darn near impossible for a consumer to get a shop rate from any hospital to comparison shop anything. Dealing with American medical system is worse than dealing with used car salesmen.
The vast majority of all medical insurance fraud is perpetrated by doctors and hospital billing departments.

 

[M.Magis]

It's because the average retail price or medical bill is 3-6 times more than the actual price negotiated in advance and received from insurance companies. It's darn near impossible for a consumer to get a shop rate from any hospital to comparison shop anything. .

This is it exactly. Rates are artificially inflated to account for insurance negotiations.