nurse

[kanny]

hi all,

i would like to ask a question regarding health insurance. one of my cousin has no health insurance right now. how much they charge you if someone wants to see a doc....like if a person wants to have a total physical exam?

and what do they charge if for a particular problem...like GI or cardiac?

i mean to say....appointment...physician visit....labs done....? how much does it cost?

TIA

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

She/he needs to call a doctors office to find out. There is no way any one on here would know, all docs charge different.

[TazziRN, RN]

If s/he has no insurance at all, have him/her check into medicaid.

[Becca608]

I am also without insurance, so I know the routine.

Doctor's offices have different rates, so you have to call and the cost will depend on what needs to be done. Count on spending more if you need to have labs, etc done.

Some communities have discount plans available. For example, in our area a group of physicians, dentists, a lab and a radiology practice offer a discount plan that is $70.00 a year for one person, $138.00 for a family. One of the hospitals offers a 10% discount on whatever portion is paid at discharge (so if you owed $10,000 and paid $2500 at discharge, you would receive a $250 discount). As long as you use the physicians involved, you pay the special rates they have set up. For example, a visit to my doctor at his office is $79.00. With the discount plan, I pay only $35.00.

Be aware that these programs ARE NOT SUBSTITUTES FOR MAJOR MEDICAL!!!! They are in place to help defray the cost of high deductibles. They work best for people who are healthy and only visit the doctor for an occassional visit such as a yearly physical.

[Becca608]

If s/he has no insurance at all, have him/her check into medicaid.

Healthy adults can get Medicaid coverage? Even if they work, but don't have health insurance coverage available? My sister's new company doesn't offer health insurance and her Cobra ran out. She's bipolar, has hyperthyroidism and back problems. Only one insurance company would talk to her after finding out she was bipolar and requested over $800/month.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Each doctor has different cash prices for various services that they render. You'll need to speak to these doctors directly to see what they charge.

[jackson145]

We have a cash-only clinic near my home. Because they don't have to employ any billers (they don't take any type of insurance) their costs stay low. They use your income to calculate what they will charge you. If you can't afford insurance but don't qualify for Medicaid it's a great program. All our local Docs refer people w/o insurance to this clinic. You might check around and see if you have a clinic like this in your neck of the woods!

[mizfradd, CNA]

Check with the primary care division of your local health department.

Fees are usually based on a sliding scale income basis, but no one is turned away for not being able to pay. Be prepared to come on a first-come-first-serve visit and sometimes a long wait to see the Dr. and/or NP.

:lvan: