Insurance...Co-Pays....and Other Money Stuff
On the WebMD boards, people start off by saying: "I don't have insurance, so I can't go to the doctors, so please help me." Hey....doctors will take money or credit cards, just like the grocery store...or auto repair place. No insurance will pay for mechanical repairs on your car or put food on your table, but yet, people will withhold their own medical treatment over a few bucks.
Every day in my clinic, I am asked to see a patient who does not have a five dollar co-pay, or forgot their wallet with the credit cards, or whatever. Although I will never turn away a sick person for five bucks, it does become annoying as they drive away in their Lexus. And knowing that it costs more than five dollars in employee time to send out a bill for five dollars, it becomes ridiculous. Another clinician in our office told me one day to just say NO...offer to reschedule the appointment when they have their wallet or money in their pocket, so I did it one day, and guess what? The startled man suddenly found some "money" in his car. Miracles.
Have you ever gone to a fast-food place or grocery store and expected to get your purchases without a means to pay? Why can't medical establishments be more like other businesses?
The average cost of an office visit for us is about $75. My car repair place charges $86 per hour; and I rarely leave the grocery store without dropping a hundred dollars or more. And, now with the price of gas, it costs about $50 or more to fill my tank. Everything is expensive.....not just medical care. It costs big bucks to run a medical practice and we take some incredible risks with the health and lives of our patients everyday. Malpractice coverage costs would shock you, and disgruntled people will sue you for about anything, including Acts of God. So, next time that you have an appointment for your doctor, take your wallet....and your insurance card....and the money for the co-pay. If you do not have insurance, bring cash or a credit card and expect to pay that day.....just like the grocery store.
That reminds me....I have an appointment with my OWN doctor in about an hour. I better stop off at the ATM first.
Related Topics: US Healthcare fails women, Malpractice hurts healthcare
Every day in my clinic, I am asked to see a patient who does not have a five dollar co-pay, or forgot their wallet with the credit cards, or whatever. Although I will never turn away a sick person for five bucks, it does become annoying as they drive away in their Lexus. And knowing that it costs more than five dollars in employee time to send out a bill for five dollars, it becomes ridiculous. Another clinician in our office told me one day to just say NO...offer to reschedule the appointment when they have their wallet or money in their pocket, so I did it one day, and guess what? The startled man suddenly found some "money" in his car. Miracles.
Have you ever gone to a fast-food place or grocery store and expected to get your purchases without a means to pay? Why can't medical establishments be more like other businesses?
The average cost of an office visit for us is about $75. My car repair place charges $86 per hour; and I rarely leave the grocery store without dropping a hundred dollars or more. And, now with the price of gas, it costs about $50 or more to fill my tank. Everything is expensive.....not just medical care. It costs big bucks to run a medical practice and we take some incredible risks with the health and lives of our patients everyday. Malpractice coverage costs would shock you, and disgruntled people will sue you for about anything, including Acts of God. So, next time that you have an appointment for your doctor, take your wallet....and your insurance card....and the money for the co-pay. If you do not have insurance, bring cash or a credit card and expect to pay that day.....just like the grocery store.
That reminds me....I have an appointment with my OWN doctor in about an hour. I better stop off at the ATM first.
Related Topics: US Healthcare fails women, Malpractice hurts healthcare
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