Does Your Doctor Do This - Page 5

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

My doctors office does not do this, although there is a medical office in this area with signs posted regarding the extra charge for questions “outside” the scheduled office visit.

The intended purpose in that office is for patients to come to their appt prepared to ask their questions, not call back to the office with the “I forgot to ask this”, “I forgot about a refill on my prescription”, etc. For awhile, the office would make you schedule another appt to get those questions answered, now they know it’s a billable charge.

Deree · ‎06-30-2018

I have never heard of this anywhere. The only marginally related thing I have heard of is if you go into a specialist for a particular issue let's say for a specific minor outpatient procedure. At the end of the procedure you ask about something else unrelated to that procedure then yes you could be charged extra if the doctor evaluates your second issue at that visit. I do know of doctors who require that you have your first appointment for an exam and at the same time get blood work but then they require that you schedule a second appointment to discuss the resuilts of that blood work. I had one doctor who did that. All I did was ask for a copy of my results to be sent to me.

I would look for another doctor. That's pretty outrageous.

Wear a mask. Social distance. Be part of the solution - not part of the problem.

blackhole99 · ‎08-22-2013

I belong to a non profit HMO for my medicare supplement and so far thay do not bill for questions. A wellness check up with my HMO doc is 30 minutes and if I don't have any problems we just chat for the remainder of the time. Health care needs to be not for profit IMO. If you think you get better and faster care from a private doc and hospital, think again.

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

@Isobel Archer wrote:
@Carmie wrote:
@on the bay wrote:
I don't see any benefit really from a medicare "wellness" visit.
It is not a physical, just getting history and giving information about all the tests etc you should have at each age.
You might as well just schedule a physical if you want one. They ask you all those history/med questions with the nurse before you even see the doctor.
I don't even go for the physical, just when something is wrong. The dr ends up talking about other things you should do and asks questions there anyway
I've never heard of this practice of extra charge for questions that are asked of the doctor. I would get another doctor if that ever happened.
I agree with you. A Medicare Wellness visit is a waste of time, it's a good thing there is no charge for it. It's only a visit to get your medical history and set up a plan for preventative services and update that info yearly.

Medicare does not cover routine physical exams, so if you have Medicare, you better ask questions during the visit making it a " sick visit" or you will get charged for the total cost of the physical.
As I said earlier, I have Kaiser too, so I guess that's why I can ask questions. But if Medicare charges for every question and we go to Medicare for all and lose our other insurance, it sounds like this will not be the good deal we're being sold.

Medicare and every other insurance does not charge for asking questions. Doctors bill for charges. Some of them are looking for every angle they can to make more money. Medicare, Medicaid and other government programs do not allow, nor pay the doctors very much for their services.

The payments are so low that many doctors will not accept any more new patients. If we go national health care, it's going to be bad. I am just hoping that those with private insurance will be allowed to keep it if they want to.

The doctors are not charging for asking questions...they are charging for the extra time to answer them or to give advice or treat more than one condition.

In some states, such as Pennsylvania, if you have Medicare, doctors are not allowed to charge you more than the Medicare allowance. I don't have to worry about that, thank goodness.

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

That's really funny because that is NOT how co-pays work...LOL Doctors don't CHARGE co-pays. The co-pay is your out of pocket expanse after the insurer pays. So there is no way that any doctor can charge anyone a co-pay. If you have a $100 visit and you have a 20% co-pay, that means the insurer pays the doctor $80 and you owe $20. Good try but obviously....there's not a lick of truth to it.

speedy girl · ‎06-03-2018

This has happened to me too. I go in every year for a physcial and also like to us that time to discuss my overall health and then I get zapped with the co pay. I think it is all set by the insurance companies, not our Doctors. But really it's a small price to pay for keeping up with our health.

Flatbush · ‎07-18-2015

Never heard about such a thing. Wonder who is responsible for this wild idea?

reiki604 · ‎03-09-2010

@Carmie wrote:
@reiki604 wrote:
I guess with the constraints being taken off the insurance companies, they do not pay the docs enough to compensate them for their time. Profits over people right? I have never seen the situation described here but if my doc had to charge me an extra copay to answer all my questions, who am I hurting by not asking? This situation is all about the insurance companies and the almighty dollar. Doctors and patients are caught in the crosshairs of greed.
Just wait if we go with the " Medicare for All" Plan. Everyone will have medical coverage, but there will be no doctors to go to.

Did you know that most of the major health insurance companies in America are non profits?

They may call themselves non profits but if that were true the average Health Insurance CEO would not be making over $20 million/year while so many struggle to pay their premiums.

Some medical schools are trying to address the doctor shortage by eliminating tuition for medical school like NYU. There is also a push for nurse practioners and physician's assistants. Both professions are fully capable of caring for many of the conditions patient's have.

'I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed man'.......Unknown

Fifi1 · ‎03-10-2010

Been happening in our clinics for several years! When calling to make appt they ask the reason and ask if there is anything else, as you will be seen for the primary reason, and any other concerns will need to be addressed at a future date. Keeps dr on schedule.

gloriajean · ‎03-10-2010

Not where I live. I can ask him anything I want during my wellness check up, I can also get answers from him on My Chart, Free. I'm 79 and on Medicare. I have a very good doctor and very fortunate to have him.