General Discussion

csziggy

(34,189 posts)

38. Before I had insurance I had to pre-pay for operations

Wed Feb 17, 2016, 12:53 PM

Feb 2016

When I got my left shoulder rebuilt, the MRI center, surgeon, anesthesiologist and surgery center all gave me discounts because I was paying in cash ahead of time. I think they gave me a 20-25% discount. One advantage of pre-paying was that when they found out that the damage in that should was much more extensive than the MRI showed and the operation took four times as long as expected, they did not bill me for any more costs. I know their costs were much higher the original estimates, but they didn't come back to me for more money. Maybe they felt sorry for me.

Even after I had insurance if I pre-paid my copays the various medical entities gave me discounts, usually not more than 10%. If I had needed to pay over time, the costs would have gone up more than the original estimates.

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How to Cut Your Health-Care Bill: Pay Cash [View all] Recursion Feb 2016 OP

Completely broken system, ridiculous article. Warren Stupidity Feb 2016 #1

I've always found that argument ridiculous Recursion Feb 2016 #4

I shopped around for my orthodontist services when I needed braces jamzrockz Feb 2016 #10

99.9999 not ER? Care to back that up? Warren Stupidity Feb 2016 #11

Clearly 99.9999 was hyperbole; it's 2% of national costs Recursion Feb 2016 #12

This message was self-deleted by its author LanternWaste Feb 2016 #19

seeing the discounts associated with insureance this sounds like bs to me dembotoz Feb 2016 #2

Our problem with healthcare is one of price discovery Recursion Feb 2016 #5

........ daleanime Feb 2016 #3

As always, the answer to financial problems is "have more money" Orrex Feb 2016 #6

For some people, sure Recursion Feb 2016 #7

Of course that only works if they know about it in advance Orrex Feb 2016 #8

People really overstate how much medical expenses are unexpected Recursion Feb 2016 #9

That's foolish. You're telling people to plan only for a best-case scenario Orrex Feb 2016 #13

The unexpected costs are why we have insurance Recursion Feb 2016 #15

Again, the advice is "have more money" Orrex Feb 2016 #16

. Iggo Feb 2016 #27

Insurers are not trying to save you money. bemildred Feb 2016 #14

They don't even seem to be trying to save *themselves* money Recursion Feb 2016 #21

High prices increase their cut. Duh. bemildred Feb 2016 #23

So, I should pause my heart attack and negotiate prices first? Wounded Bear Feb 2016 #17

Of course not. Orrex Feb 2016 #18

FFS this is such a ridiculous strawman Recursion Feb 2016 #20

If you can't see it... Wounded Bear Feb 2016 #22

So, nothing? Recursion Feb 2016 #24

I've read three specific answers to that particular question in this thread. LanternWaste Feb 2016 #25

Can you point to them? I see "ZOMG PEOPLE ARE TOO POOR TO PAY FOR IT" Recursion Feb 2016 #26

My daughter cost $5,000 a pound. jeff47 Feb 2016 #28

So, UCSF did a study last year Recursion Feb 2016 #29

Because they are not known-in-advance costs. jeff47 Feb 2016 #30

Well, hell, having insurance is also unworkable for anyone who isn't wealthy Recursion Feb 2016 #31

Golly, it's almost like we need a single-payer system. (nt) jeff47 Feb 2016 #32

That wouldn't fix price discrepancies (in some ways it makes them worse) Recursion Feb 2016 #33

Only if that single-payer system can not negotiate. (nt) jeff47 Feb 2016 #34

If Medicare can't, why would a universal system be able to? Recursion Feb 2016 #35

Because Medicare doesn't negotiate much. jeff47 Feb 2016 #36

Did you even bother to google? Recursion Feb 2016 #37

Before I had insurance I had to pre-pay for operations csziggy Feb 2016 #38

Personal experience says .... GeorgeGist Feb 2016 #39