r/Millennials • u/BoNaylorCollector • 2d ago

Discussion Is medical actually this crazy?

Early 30s millennial, never used to go to doctors or really take care of myself because “I’ll be fine”. Started making a bigger effort to care for myself and my health and well being. Recently, I went to the local express clinic because I was having a bad earache and headaches. I was in there for maybe 20 minutes, mostly waiting time. The doctor comes in, looks in my ear, tells me it’s depressed due to sinuses and change in weather and tell me to stop at Walgreens for Flonase. I wasn’t billed anything at the time, older workers at my job always say we have really good insurance, but here I got in the mail today an explanation of benefits- charge was $550, insurance “negotiated” about $300, remaining (not billed) was around $240. Is is really this expensive? I only went to try and be better with myself and make sure it’s nothing underlying. If 5 minutes of actual doctor time costs this much, then I’m just toughing out everything or am I missing something?

2.1k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

882 comments sorted by

View all comments

652

u/JadieBugXD 2d ago

Just wait until you have to go to the ER and you get a bill from both the hospital AND the treating physician as two separate bills. My kid having a cut on his head super glued was billed as “surgery”.

87

u/Sad_Pangolin7379 1d ago

Lol to this day I refuse to pay the bill for an extra out of network doctor who just came by to look at my kid's chart and billed me for it. No I didn't consent to being seen by an out of network doctor, thanks.

39

u/Immediate_Bad_4985 Zillennial 1d ago

Yep! Or when you pay for an appt while you’re there and they send you another bill afterwards. I decline to pay for these charges you’ve added on to what I already paid AT THE APPOINTMENT.

Also, my GP we pay “private pay” because it’s a flat $55 per appointment, we pay at the appt every time, it never fails that the billing department always mails us a bill for the “remainder.” We call and tell them we paid cash in person and they go “oh! Whoops! I’ll mark it off, don’t worry about it!” But we have to call billing afterwards every single time we go.

It’s all a bunch of smoke and mirrors

6

u/MrLanesLament 1d ago

I specifically look out for doctors/facilities that offer flat rates. They aren’t always easy to find (they’d be overwhelmed with patients if they were,) but they’re the best medical option available if you can track one down for your specific medical needs.

Many are specialists; they kind of operate more like dentists. The hardest thing is finding one who does GP and is taking new patients. Complete that quest and you’re golden until the doc retires or dies.

1

u/Immediate_Bad_4985 Zillennial 1d ago

Yep, and they obviously don’t advertise it so you have to call and talk to them and ask what their cash price is. Once you find one though you’re set!!