General Discussion

Nine

(1,741 posts) Fri Sep 20, 2013, 08:53 AM Sep 2013

$325 through the doctor, $21 on Amazon [View all]

Ok, so as long as we're talking about the f'ed up medical system in this country, let's discuss the exorbitant prices for medical equipment. I've been having plantar fasciitis for a while. I went to a podiatrist to address that (along with a recent ankle sprain that I thought had not healed properly). I had seen night splints on Amazon, and the one I liked was $21 with free Prime shipping but I figured I would ask the podiatrist first. They wanted to charge $325 for a night splint! Insurance would have covered most of that and my share would have been $65, still far more than the Amazon one. (The most expensive one I could find on Amazon was $83 and Amazon has its own share of exorbitantly priced products.) I've seen many other examples of overpriced medical equipment when dealing with my parents' care. (And when I say "medical equipment," I'm talking about things as basic as a wheelchair pillow). Can anyone explain how these companies get away with charging so much?

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$325 through the doctor, $21 on Amazon [View all] Nine Sep 2013 OP

Because the Insurance is paying for most of it el_bryanto Sep 2013 #1

I wonder what Insurance would have negotiated with them as a final price. n/t PoliticAverse Sep 2013 #30

A bloated industry where vendors AND service providers have conspired with underwriters. NYC_SKP Sep 2013 #2

It's the fault of the insurance companies: DetlefK Sep 2013 #3

Sorry but your Wrong on this one FreakinDJ Sep 2013 #14

That is a very interesting bit of information. truedelphi Sep 2013 #26

Even batteries for medical devices have two prices. MineralMan Sep 2013 #4

Damn! 10X ??...geez....I believe it. incredible. BlueJazz Sep 2013 #9

Yup. A relative of mine, who is no longer with us, MineralMan Sep 2013 #12

Here's another example. Compare the batteries at the two URLs MineralMan Sep 2013 #16

Geez...and what's also rather funny..If you click on the less expensive battery..... BlueJazz Sep 2013 #24

So many layers of bureacracy revolutionbrees Sep 2013 #5

Intersting story. And truedelphi Sep 2013 #28

Yeah..Funny you mentioned pillows. One of my customers told me she paid 87 bucks for her .... BlueJazz Sep 2013 #6

Enron economics. nt rrneck Sep 2013 #7

Free markets are the debbill! Must have law pad corporate coffers to keep us free! Nuclear Unicorn Sep 2013 #8

Medical pricing has very little to do with a 'free' market customerserviceguy Sep 2013 #32

Corruption allows them to get away with this shit. Bluenorthwest Sep 2013 #10

They get away with it because they are essential to pumping the prices as high as possible, Egalitarian Thug Sep 2013 #11

Because when insurnace pays, individuals never look at cost Lee-Lee Sep 2013 #13

...and if you have an HSA card Sheepshank Sep 2013 #15

also best way to get TENS unit refill pads. way cheaper. nashville_brook Sep 2013 #17

My insurance covers DME, which includes TENS unit and pads REP Sep 2013 #36

You can also get a $1,000 Espresso Machine on Amazon, but they have them at Kohl's for only cbdo2007 Sep 2013 #18

Are you kidding? Your comparison has no relevance. Nine Sep 2013 #21

because if you buy a 1,000 dollar item on truedelphi Sep 2013 #29

I'm guessing you're not comparing the same models. Here's what I found: Nye Bevan Sep 2013 #34

the hospital tried to make my husband take their medicine for his daily medications. He refused. It liberal_at_heart Sep 2013 #19

Greed is as American as ... GeorgeGist Sep 2013 #20

My E-stim kit (TNES unit) was $400 as a "prescribed" device... devils chaplain Sep 2013 #22

Because medicine has NEVER truly been 'free market' and cannot be JCMach1 Sep 2013 #23

They'll claim it's because of the cost of the items that end up not being paid for - haele Sep 2013 #25

$125 for a therapeutic prophylactic. Behind the Aegis Sep 2013 #27

Our health system is so fucked up gopiscrap Sep 2013 #31

Not just medical MrNJ Sep 2013 #33

Personally I think it is rigged with the insurance companies. I use a CPAP machine at night.... Hekate Sep 2013 #35

Thanks, Hekate! (nt) Nine Sep 2013 #37