topic Re: Does Your Doctor Do This in Wellness

Does Your Doctor Do This

cuddlesmama — Wed, 08 May 2019 10:06:12 GMT

My DH went for a physical and if you ask your Dr any questions you will be billed an extra co-pay. There is even a sign in the examining rooms stating this. We called the insurance co and they said they know they do this. What a way to make extra money off of people. Make sure everyone here reads your bills when you get them in the mail. The doctor asked him a question and of course my DH answered and he was billed an extra $10.00 . When my DH called the office and mentioned he didn't ask him any questions because of the sign in the office and they say the Dr went over and above and that is why the extra money. We have spoken to the manager several times and she said she will look into it and later called back and said there is nothing she can do. So when we have a physical or any other appointment if you ask any questions you will be charged extra co-pays. What a rip off! What happened to the Dr's where you can ask health related questions and not be charged anything. We are looking for a Dr. not with Steward Medical which is hard to find.

Re: Does Your Doctor Do This

Mom2Dogs — Wed, 08 May 2019 10:33:53 GMT

@cuddlesmama Ridicuous, is all I can say, but I am guessing if the office blocked enough time for just a phsysical, that is all the time you get, anything over that is billed.

I do know that if you are going in for a Medicare Wellness check, you will be billed for the full amount if you discuss anything medical with the doctor. They cannot discuss blood work, treatments, etc.....for the price of the wellness check.

Re: Does Your Doctor Do This

Ladylaughsalot — Wed, 08 May 2019 10:51:10 GMT

None of my doctors, nor DH’s, do this. That is horribly wrong.

Re: Does Your Doctor Do This

mimomof4 — Wed, 08 May 2019 10:54:52 GMT

Is that the way all Doctors in your area are operating? I was able to ask my primary care questions at my physical. If the question is regarding my health the Doctor should be willing to answer. If that results in extra tests or appointments then yes I expect to be billed. IMO billing for questions will result in patients not bringing up any medical concerns and ultimately effect their health negatively.

Re: Does Your Doctor Do This

haddon9 — Wed, 08 May 2019 10:58:34 GMT

I think it's ridiculous and so wrong!

So far my doctor doesn't do this but I am planning on switching to someone new. I will have to ask if the new doctor does charge extra for any questions.

What my doctor does that annoys me is if I go in for a certain issue...he goes off topic and spends more time telling me about all of the routine testing he wants me to do.

Re: Does Your Doctor Do This

godi — Wed, 08 May 2019 11:04:20 GMT

My DH was billed extra for just asking for refills. We are fighting that. I learned when I go to not ask anything. Geez gotta have a degree on right and wrong at the doctors office.

Re: Does Your Doctor Do This

cherry — Wed, 08 May 2019 11:08:59 GMT

Only once did this happen. I didn't mind ,because ,the Dr took a great deal of time, and answered a lot of questions ,and explained many things, to my husband, after his fall

I understood, because ,she could have seen another patient or two, in the time she spent with us

Re: Does Your Doctor Do This

haddon9 — Wed, 08 May 2019 11:09:13 GMT

@mimomof4 wrote:
Is that the way all Doctors in your area are operating? I was able to ask my primary care questions at my physical. If the question is regarding my health the Doctor should be willing to answer. If that results in extra tests or appointments then yes I expect to be billed. IMO billing for questions will result in patients not bringing up any medical concerns and ultimately effect their health negatively.

No kidding! I can see people being afraid that each question asked will result in additional fees.

I was on the ACA unaffordable plan until May 1. My premiums were $940. a month and I wanted to make an appointment with an orthopedist due to knee problems. However I cancelled when I found out that a routine visit would cost me $140.00 (before he took any Xrays) and another $80.00 per session for PT. Ridiculous! I felt that for the amount that I was paying each month I was really only covered for catastrophic care.

I decided to wait until I was on Medicare for my knee issues..seems like our healthcare is only for people lucky enough to have excellent insurance or the wealthy now.

Re: Does Your Doctor Do This

Silver Lining — Wed, 08 May 2019 11:16:56 GMT

@Mom2Dogs, you said exactly what I was going to say about charging for going over the allotted time. I didn't know about not discussing anything like tests, etc during the Medicare wellness check. That makes sense to me in that the doctor will either tell you to make an appointment to discuss and/or treat anything discovered during the wellness check thatneeds to be discussed, referred and/or treated.

Re: Does Your Doctor Do This

tsavorite — Wed, 08 May 2019 11:24:17 GMT

Never heard of such a practice! If your having a annual check up and you can't respond to any questions w/o additional costs why bother going in? Sure they have booked time...but perhaps giving patients more then 5mins and charging 250.00 for that 5mins seems like you should at least be able to tell doctor if something is not going well with you.

"Hello Mrs. Smith how are you doing today" Doc Z asks

"Am I gonna be billed $10 for answering that question Doc Z?" Mrs. Smith replies

"Yes" Doc Z

Crickets chirping........LOL

Go to a different doctor who doesn't do this!

Re: Does Your Doctor Do This

ciao_bella — Wed, 08 May 2019 11:38:21 GMT

Not sure if this practice is happening in certain regional areas of the country or throughout the county. I live in NJ and I haven't experienced anything like this, at least, not yet!

Re: Does Your Doctor Do This

qualitygal — Wed, 08 May 2019 11:53:29 GMT

This is the ME world now. And the relaxed world now. Years to come, when we pass, think we'll be kicked to the curb so to speak and literally.

Re: Does Your Doctor Do This

PINKdogWOOD — Wed, 08 May 2019 12:12:31 GMT

@cuddlesmama I'm confused - what kind of questions, typical questions/concerns about your health? Everyday things we talk over with our Drs?

Why would they charge for each question? I'm confused? Seems like total ridiculousness.

Re: Does Your Doctor Do This

lmt — Wed, 08 May 2019 12:14:22 GMT

I use my primary doctor when I go for my yearly pap. I always get blood work done before I see her so if anything is wrong we can discuss it while I'm there. I have no co-pay for the visit as long as it's just for the pap and to go over the blood work. If I start asking about any other issue while I'm there, I'm charged the usual $30 co-pay.

A few years back, my DH went in for his yearly physical, which also has no co-pay. A few weeks later he received a bill for the co-pay so he called the doctor's office to find out why he was charged. He was told the reason for his visit was for "suspicious mole". Even though he was only there for his physical, the doctor thought he should have the mole looked at and the visit now carried a co-pay.

I've called our insurance to question this practice and was told it's becoming more and more common.

Re: Does Your Doctor Do This

Sweetbay magnolia — Wed, 08 May 2019 12:16:38 GMT

I thanked my doc for her handling of a maintenance prescription dose (after she asked me if I were still taking it), and got an office visit bill (according to the office, we had "discussed" my condition).

I called my ins co and eventually dropped it and paid, but I let them know I was unhappy. I'm going for my annual next week and I am tempted to let them know, up front, that I will only shake my head yes or no.

I like my physician, and the office is only 1 mile away, but she just opened a new facility and I feel like I have been gouged to pay for it.

Re: Does Your Doctor Do This

Boehm Collector — Wed, 08 May 2019 12:18:01 GMT

Absolutely not! This seems not only unfair, but unethical!

Re: Does Your Doctor Do This

Group 5 minus 1 — Wed, 08 May 2019 12:20:53 GMT

I've never heard of this,BUT i have heard that if you ask a pharmacist a health related question you may SOON be billed. There is chatter in the health industry about this. My Mom woulds always ask the "druggist" (as she called him) about many health issues.

Re: Does Your Doctor Do This

geezerette — Wed, 08 May 2019 12:24:41 GMT

I’m scheduled for my Medicare Wellness visit this fall. I suppose if I ask my doctor if he charges for questions, I’ll be billed!😳

Re: Does Your Doctor Do This

wonderfulworld — Wed, 08 May 2019 12:37:32 GMT

The last time (like 3 weeks ago) we had a plumber he seemed more than happy to sit at the kitchen and advise us as to the different types of bath tubs we might choose, price etc.

Then I got the bill...was charged for additional advice! He came to repair a washer in that tub which my husband was having trouble getting the faucet off of. He said the whole unit is getting old and need replacing.

Monday, I went to my PCP to request a measles immunity test and he asked me about my blood pressure medicine (recalled due to contamination) and then we talked about my cholesterol medicine. No additional charge. Office visit.

Go figure!

Re: Does Your Doctor Do This

Dawnie — Wed, 08 May 2019 12:46:52 GMT

Yes! I was charged for asking a question during the wellness visit! I challenged it to no avail. The nurse said their is a sign posted in the office. I may cancel this years wellness visit. The charge was around $20.