General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI am pissed at healthcare and billing practices...........
I recently had a brain MRI with and without contrast. The office where I had it done billed my insurance company over $2000. With contracted prices, etc. the insurance company will pay $489 and my responsibility is $951.
I checked the Healthcare Blue Book pricing for this procedure in my zip code and find that it is $771. This is for the procedure and interpretation.
The Blue Book shows that the pricing for an MRI without contrast is $536 and if I had one with contrast it would be $581.
I was charged three times the Blue Book fair price and which according to Blue Book Price includes the total amount for both physician (interpretation) and technical (imaging) fees. Sometimes the test will be billed in two parts but they should add up to the listed price.
I've already started my letter to the office requesting that they either resubmit the bill at the lower price, or subtract the $489 paid by insurance from the $771 leaving me with a payment due of $282. Wish me luck on that.
yellerpup
(12,254 posts)Let us know how this turns out.
mrmpa
(4,033 posts)Lasher
(27,641 posts)I have found that to be an effective tactic.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)Especially with those quotes there.
Lasher
(27,641 posts)And they charge more than once for the same procedure. Health care providers are obligated by contracts with insurance companies to charge only the contract price.
mrmpa
(4,033 posts)we have a family friend that is a VP for this company. I may call him for advice.
Lasher
(27,641 posts)You might be pleased with the result.
customerserviceguy
(25,183 posts)that is sold with so much disparity in pricing for the same damned thing is airline seats.
HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)Whether there's contrast or not doesn't change it much, but Technetium-99m is more expensive than gadolinium. Either way, I still end up with a $1000 hit every time whether it's in the hospital or an outpatient center. All I get back from it is a "meh".