High-deductible health care plans become widespread, survey finds

[CseMgr1]

Many more workers this year have health benefit plans with a deductible of at least $1,000, a new employer survey has found.

Those hefty deductibles, along with the steady rise in health premiums, have combined to squeeze consumers, the survey sponsors said.

http://www.ajc.com/gwinnett/content/business/stories/2008/09/25/high_deductible_insurance.html

[Jolie, BSN]

I am going to try and negotiate a price like that when I go for my prenatal exam next week, since I am pretty much paying up front with cash. I never even thought that I could do that, thanks for putting the idea in my head.

Congratulations!!

Ask for an appointment with the office manager to discuss financial arrangements for your care. I suggest doing the same very soon with the facility where you plan to deliver. Most hospitals will accept a payment plan for a negotiated price for delivery care. Some offer early DC options to save on expenses (23 hour stay). Others will even promise you a quoted price regardless of whether your delivery becomes a C-section or whether you or baby have an extended stay for complications, but the catch is usually that the payments must begin in advance of your hospitalization.

Best to you!

[Katie82, RN]

The hospital is also billing her a special charge because her physician rents office space/equipment from the hospital. Most MDs, dentists, veterinarians, and other professionals set their fees to help cover the cost of things like rent/equipment. Or they consider it an overhead cost as a part of doing business. I think it is really bad form to have someone bill you a separate fee and then let you know that it is to pay your rent!

Not sure of an absolute answer, but it is going to be hell trying to get there.

I'm assuming this is legal in your state, wouldn't be in many, but in any case I would find another provider who has his own office.

[Katie82, RN]

I understand your point, and agree with you.

I think high-deductible plans are a step in shifting responsibility for routine and predictable expenses back to the consumer and help the consumer make their money go farther. But I firmly believe that removing insurance from the equation (with routine health care) is necessary for the system to work.

I think you're right about this trend of placing more responsibility on the patient. As a Practice Administrator, and now as a case manager I see so much waste in healthcare, much of it as a result of demands by the patient. Let's get back to a few basics. We don't need to go to the doctor for a cold (much of my appointment day was filled with patients insisting they needed to be seen for a common cold that they have had for 3 days). The doctor can do nothing for a cold but give you a script for cough medicine and charge you for a visit. OTC meds work just as well. I have patients now who go to the ER for insect bites - just the bite,,, no cellutitis, widening rash, allergic reaction...just itching. Makes me furious, but all I can do is educate them about the benefits of Calamine Lotion.