Somewhat related

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Hospitals Have Started Posting Their Prices Online. Here's What They Reveal

When I was going to have an MRI done on my shoulder I decided not to when I discovered that the place my Dr. sent me wanted $2K above the $2K my insurance would pay. My shoulder seems to have taken care of itself so I am glad I put it off.

While that was going on I discovered a website (can't find it now) that listed the cost of procedures like shoulder MRI's from most expensive to least expensive all over the state. It turned out that the place I was sent was the most expensive in the state and there was an MRI facility some 30 miles away that would do the work for about $600 total.

I called the surgeon's office and the nurse told me that they would be fine with using an MRI from the less expensive place, but to be sure and get the disc as the printouts from little places like that aren't always the best.

I wonder if there is a resource like that for cataract surgery.

So I bailed...

Back to square one!

Another mess on this long one was the surgical center sent out paperwork which listed a clinic to go get a COVID test... I checked there and found it would be $250 or something, so I checked back with the surgical center if another clinic would do. They asked if I was vaccinated and said I could just send an image of my card!

If I hadn't asked and just followed directions...

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If I hadn't asked and just followed directions

I hate it when information is not presented in a thoughtful and helpful way and you only get good info by asking just the right questions!

To me it says they are not putting the patient's experience or well-being at the top priority.

With COVID, it seems that protocols have been evolving/changing over time and providers are not always keeping current. I imagine they have a fair amount of stuff that they're juggling.

Glad ron thought to ask!

And then there is the question about how the deductible works for insurance...

When I was retired from the school and had to purchase insurance on the open market, I always treated it as a catastrophic plan, looking at the high deductibles. The year I had a hip replaced, I knew I would be going over, so went ahead and had other things checked.

But here's the question which even stumped the person I talked to at the insurance company yesterday:

I've noticed while getting estimates from medical providers that the price will drop when they run my insurance, even though I am nowhere near my deductible... It's almost as if they have a discount price for some insurances, even though they aren't getting paid by them??

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Originally posted by rontuner:
I've noticed while getting estimates from medical providers that the price will drop when they run my insurance, even though I am nowhere near my deductible... It's almost as if they have a discount price for some insurances, even though they aren't getting paid by them??

My dentist's office does that as well. I have no idea why.

It's because the insurance companies have negotiated lower prices with some providers.

My dentist's office drops the price even though they don't take my insurance.

Very odd.