I am going to try not to make this into a rant. It's going to be hard, but I am going to try.
I have been self employed the majority of my career. And that whole time, even when I was a twenty something, I paid for health insurance out of pocket. I had my first claim this year. I hurt my back this winter and I went to a physical therapist to recover from it. The therapist really did help me and was glad that I did it. I didn't think my insurance would cover me. And I was right. I have a high deductible traditional insurance plan and an accident only plan to cover some of the gap. I didn't have much faith that the either insurance company would cover me, and they lived up to my expectations. But I figured that going into it and was prepared to pay it out of pocket. I got the bill, I was expecting about $300 an hour, turned out to be $489 an hour after the 20% disconnect for immediate payment. The treatment involved visual assessment and recommendations of therapeutic exercises. No Xrays or other high tech diagnostics. No capitol equipment. I questioned the rate and their response was it's what the state allows them to charge. They are charging me the maximum amount allowed by law. Oh, now I feel better. And as it turned out, my accident insurance denied my claim because it wasn't noted in the diagnosis that the injury was due to an accident.
OK, so I ranted a little. I'll try not to do it again.
I have been self employed the majority of my career. And that whole time, even when I was a twenty something, I paid for health insurance out of pocket. I had my first claim this year. I hurt my back this winter and I went to a physical therapist to recover from it. The therapist really did help me and was glad that I did it. I didn't think my insurance would cover me. And I was right. I have a high deductible traditional insurance plan and an accident only plan to cover some of the gap. I didn't have much faith that the either insurance company would cover me, and they lived up to my expectations. But I figured that going into it and was prepared to pay it out of pocket. I got the bill, I was expecting about $300 an hour, turned out to be $489 an hour after the 20% disconnect for immediate payment. The treatment involved visual assessment and recommendations of therapeutic exercises. No Xrays or other high tech diagnostics. No capitol equipment. I questioned the rate and their response was it's what the state allows them to charge. They are charging me the maximum amount allowed by law. Oh, now I feel better. And as it turned out, my accident insurance denied my claim because it wasn't noted in the diagnosis that the injury was due to an accident.
OK, so I ranted a little. I'll try not to do it again.
posted by MMP at
7:48 PM
2 Comments:
You're entitled to rant - it seems these day you can't win for losing with healthcare.
Hope your back is on the mend and especially glad your kidding is done!
By
Throwback at Trapper Creek, at 9:39 PM
We have had no health insurance for long periods and I have been very careful to question every procedure, hourly rate, diagnostic cost, tests, etc. My doctor would say, "Oh, don't worry, it's covered by insurance." when I would ask if it was necessary to do. I would explain, "I have no insurance. I am paying this out of pocket." A lot of the tests and such were not necessary and those that were I got the price down on. Eliminate all extras. Even when we have had insurance the deductibles have typically been $5,000 to $10,000 per person so I was always very careful.
Glad your back is feeling better!
-WVJ
By
Anonymous, at 1:07 PM
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