Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Ugh...another blog talking about healthcare
I usually try to steer this blog clear of hot topics. I take it personally when people stop following and though I tend to lean to the liberal side of things I usually keep most of my opinions to myself.
Until today.
Today I'm pissed off.
Why?
Because my daughter's pediatrician's office is gouging my insurance office and it is pushing me over the edge. Let me explain. My daughter had a wart on her foot. It wouldn't go away after numerous treatments from various over the counter medications.
I took her to the doctors.
They froze it. The entire process took less than 1 minute.
It didn't go away. They told me we had to return.
We returned. They froze it two additional times. Each time the office visit lasted less than one minute.
They billed my insurance nearly $500!
They coded these procedures as "surgical".
I find this insulting.
The best part....I paid $45 in co-pays but now my insurance is saying, "Hey, this is way more than our allowable amount and so you are responsible for the rest."
My doctors office is now billing me $193.00 for my share of the costs to freeze off a wart from my daughters foot.
You have got to be fucking kidding me?
The kicker of all kickers. This is written at the bottom of the bill
Payment is due by May 10, 2010. If payment is not received by the above due date your account will be assessed a monthly $10 re bill fee.
So not only are you billing me nearly $200 bucks for a wart I've already paid $45 for (plus the cost of all the over the counter stuff I tried first) you are now insulting me further by telling me that if I don't pay you that you will in turn start charging me interest just for the privilege of being billed.
I am seriously considering getting another doctor. Of course, this will just cost me more money because I still owe the $200 bucks and they won't copy my kids records until it is paid and then they will most likely charge me a per sheet fee to copy the documents.
Seeing what they charge for wart removal, I'm guessing it will be about $5.00 a page to have my records copied.
Healthcare needs reform. Am I saying that the Obama administration is going about it the right way. No. But at least the issue is on the table. At least it isn't being swept under the carpet like it has been by so many Presidents before.
Doctors should not be allowed to classify a procedure that takes less than one minute to perform as "surgical" and those who do should be ashamed of themselves.
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About Me
- kisatrtle
- I'm a 41 year old (gasp) freelance writer, school cafeteria manager, wife and mother. I have three children and one anxious and overweight beagle. I use my blog to make others laugh, to share some cool crafts, to document my lunchlady adventures and to lament about the challenges faced by us all on the journey called life. Thanks for visiting. Please leave some crack...um...I meant some comments.
4 random thoughts:
Kisa,
Not only is this insulting...It should be criminal!! To label this a a surgical procedure is blatent gouging! Good luck to you in dealing with these idiots.
Just a tid bit of info: I am disabled and on Medicare. I have to go to a pain management clinic once a month to get my prescriptions. These scripts not only help keep my pain under control, but prevent seizures. When I go in, the nurse comes in takes my temp, pulse and BP. She then sends the doctor in. The doctor asks "How is everything going? Is your pain under control?" He then says as he is hitting the door, "The nurse will have your scripts when you check out."
He gets paid for his 2 minutes...are you ready...$225.00....Are you serious! Really...
Then to top it all off, I have a co-pay, then am billed for whatever MC doesn't cover. If I have a balance (Even $2.00) they will REFUSE to make me an appointment for the next month until it's paid. REFUSE....So, the prescriptions I need to function (that should not, by the doctors orders, be stopped cold turkey (or seziures can occur) can't be given to me because they will refuse to make me an appointment because I have a balance that isn't paid.
WOW! Does anyone else here smell shit?
Sorry for the long rambling comment, but something HAS to change. I hope you have some luck with your Dr's office.
Thanks,
ScatteredScrapper
I read this and cringed.....I am going through it right now with my doc and inssurence...OMG,,,,it can drive ya to drink.
Wow! Just wow! That is absolutely crazy.
Yes, something needs to change in the healthcare system. I am not thrilled with Obamas health care plan at all BUT something does need to be done differently. We are being ripped!
Amen, sister. Amen.