It does seem like it’s engineered towards making profits in extremely unethical ways?
I get they need to make money, but many times it seems like hospitals/doctors sent out bills just hoping people will pay.
Me, and my father used to have great union insurance (Cadillac plans). For years their were no problems. That started to change in the late 90’s.
1. I once got a $900 lab test from a hospital. They knew I had insurance. I called multiple times, and told don’t worry about it, but I still got the bills. Lather I saw what the the hospital charged my insurance company, and it was $90 for the test. I paid $9 for my premium. Isn’t in the hospitals interest to send out bills just hoping I might pay $900?
2. My mom is sent so many bills even though she has the same plan.
My point is there are no laws against sending out bills. Hospitals/doctors might not have it written down anywhere, but just send out a bill, and let the patient clean up the mess with their insurance company seems like a good strategy—for the heathens?
My mom had a bad tooth a few years ago. Went to her dentist, and he demanded cash upfront—conveniently on a Friday, and he knew she had great insurance. She paid because of the pain. She called up a few weeks later, and asked for a refund. She gave $2500, and insurance (Delta Dental) paid 90% of the bill. She kept calling the dr’s office, but always was told we need to contact the insurance company. I finally got on to a Delta Dental worker, and started to explain the situation. The work seemed to know exactly what I was trying to say. In thirty minutes, after Delta called the doctor, a highly apologetic money manger said we are sending off your check today. (I won’t publicly saw what the representative implied here of the doctor here.)
3. My father once went to Marin General for a routine hernia surgery. My father was beyond a hardened man. I saw him close to crying once, and it over taxes. Well he woke up after the surgery, and their was a Teddy Bear, and bouquet of flowers waiting for him. It wasn’t me, I told him. Anyways it was a mystery until he got his bill. Beyond the typical $12 Tylenol’s, there was a $330 psychological enrichment fee. Yes—that was the hospital charging my father, and insurance for the unasked for gift.
So it is it seems like it’s in their best financial interest to overcharge, do unethical things, and hope people just pay?
Is that engineered—-in my book yes.