so i was going thru my mail yesterday, and opened up an envelope from some lab i have never heard of. enclosed was an invoice for $120 bux. apparently, my physician sent in some blood, urine, to get some tests done. i remember going to the doctor for a check up, but i never signed up for this $120 dollar lab work.

in fact, everytime i go to the doctors, i always ask, "is this gonna cost any more money than my dectuctible of $10" and the answer i got was "no, just the 10 dollars". so imagine my surprise when i get this invoice. i dunno who to blame because i asked the receptionist (person in charge with coordinating with insurance) and i asked the doctor, if there were going to be any additional fees on top of the 10 bux, and they both said no. can a doctor just rack up a bunch of fees and then bill you, like in my case? i never agreed to anything more than i was willing to spend. in my case, all i wanted is what insurance would cover, nothing more.

imo, its pretty unethical on the doctors half misinform a patient and then make them eat the outrageous doctors bill.

anyone else encounter this?

 

Same thing happend to me a few years ago. I went to the doctor, paid me co pay of 15 bucks, got a bill in the mail for like 90 dollars from the hosipital for the visit.

I wonder what the point of having medical insurance is if I have to pay for the visit anyway.

 

it just pisses me off that they did not tell me the real cost up front. its pretty deceptive how they said it was just gonna be my copay of 10 bux. had i known it was going to be 130 + 10 for rx - out the door, i woulda said ****it, i will go score some black market drugs and treat my own damn self or let my body heal itself for free.

this is the same doctor that took 25 bux for me for 5 mins of his time only to tell me i needed to go see a specialist. then it was another 25 bux for the specialist to look at me for 5 minutes to tell me he wanted to see me in 2 weeks. i go back in 2 weeks, costing me another 25 bux, and he refered me to a surgeon. then the surgeon asked me for 2 more apointments, which costed me another 50 bux. the whole thing is rediculous the games doctors play with insurance companies and the patients. meanwhile, the doctors know they "gotcha" and there is nothing you can do...

 

have you contacted the docs office? (specifically the person that told you there would be no additional charges)

 

^no but i will tomorrow. I am definitely going to to my best to get out of paying $120 bux. problem is the doctor isnt billing me, its the lab...

 

1. Doctors are criminals.
2. Your health is not worth paying more than 10 dollars out of pocket.




Seriously, I'd contact your insurance company first.

 

^

1. i am not accusing the doctor of willful malice, but something is wrong here, since i did ask him if there were going to be any additional fees and he says no. i just think he should be upfront with the fees and should at the very least tell me he is not sure and give me the option to proceed with the treatment. not just lead me on, provide the treatment, then hit me with a bill.

2. thats 10 dollars out of pocket on top of the 760 i pay out each month for the health insurance.

 

i got 2 of them last week. $170 for a scan that is covered by my insurance...i got i before and i have great insurnance. then $90 for my yearly contacts....wtf. i never pay for contacts. i have full dental and vision....i pay my deductibles and they even double check for me.... now i got to fight everyone.

 

You can thank Hilary Clinton for that bill, and no, I am not kidding.

 

- You have 3 options as I see it:

1. Move to Canada. No co pays and you get free healthcare. There might be some delays but its free(which it seems is the most important thing for you)!

2. Move to Mexico - No insurance, less testing but its much cheaper.

3. Get off insurance and do the black market thing. To me that is the best option. You don't have to move. You get to drive your S2000 and What idiot needs health insurance. Those F*&king doctors screw too many people as it is. Screw them - you don't have to play their game.