Thankful for
Today, I am thankful that I am doing well enough financially that even when my health plan doesn't cover things, I don't have to panic and worry where I'm going to get the money.
For instance, routine tests sent by my primary doctor to a lab that's not on my insurance's preferred list. When the lab billed my insurance and got nothing, they actually lowered the rate by $70 to their "Self-Pay" amount. Why are the amounts different? That seems like a scam. Why would they charge the insurance company more than they charge me as an individual? Is it because the real cost of the procedure can be billed to the insurance companies but not to the public because so many can't afford it? Or is it just because some loophole in the system means they can charge more, so they do? Can anybody explain this to me?
What I can tell you is that living in NY and trying to have NY doctors while working in VT with a VT health plan with a high deductible is kind of a pain.
For instance, routine tests sent by my primary doctor to a lab that's not on my insurance's preferred list. When the lab billed my insurance and got nothing, they actually lowered the rate by $70 to their "Self-Pay" amount. Why are the amounts different? That seems like a scam. Why would they charge the insurance company more than they charge me as an individual? Is it because the real cost of the procedure can be billed to the insurance companies but not to the public because so many can't afford it? Or is it just because some loophole in the system means they can charge more, so they do? Can anybody explain this to me?
What I can tell you is that living in NY and trying to have NY doctors while working in VT with a VT health plan with a high deductible is kind of a pain.