I have to go to the doctor (rash from a bee sting and other things, nothing bad) and called up the campus medical plaza. I have travel insurance, which from my understanding is they will repay me the costs after the visit. When I made the appointment, as I would be a cash patient, they told me the facility costs would be between $140 and $375 depending upon what's needed.
Is this a reasonable price? The travel insurance will pay me back but it's a lot of money to pay out not long before Christmas.
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Wow..that seems a bit high. At least in my opinion. I know Doctors do charge you a bit more if you are a first time patient with them, but the office visit is usually between $90-120.00 for a first time visit. Of course other charges could add up depending on what you need. Then again, every doctor and state charges differently.
Posted 3 years ago by cricketsmama #
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Oh, Airy - that's just way too high a charge. To treat a rash? I would try to do a little research on what is the "reasonable and customary" fee for an office visit for this sort of thing. To me, as a nurse, it kind of sounds like they are prepared to take you to the cleaners because you have insurance.
Posted 3 years ago by WillowandWindismom #
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You might also check with another clinic and ask them for a ballpark estimate of what the office visit and treatment charges might be. They wouldn't be able to give you a definite amount unless they saw you and determined the treatment. But they would be able to tell you what a standard office visit charge is, as well as a rough approximation of the total charges.
You have to be a bit careful with clinics and be your own advocate. Don't let them order tests, lab, etc. that you feel would have no value to your treatment. Because they might try, simply because you have insurance.
Posted 3 years ago by WillowandWindismom #
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Airy, you would think seeing a doctor would be easy..but it can be a challenge that is for sure. If you don't have to use the campus medical then shop around and if your friend can suggest somewhere to go, by all means do it. I wish I was still in California to help you out.
Posted 3 years ago by cricketsmama #
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Listen to Jcat.... a rash is the first sign of an allergic reaction.... put me in the hospital..... My son goes to UF and when he had to go the to the Univ. clinic, they charged him only $20... we had insurance, and that was our co-pay. Do you know what kind of plan you have, and what your co-pay might be? Those figures don't sound like any coverage to me.
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Airy, is there an Urgent Care facility close enough to campus or where your apartment is? They are usually easier to get into, don't cost quite as much per visit, and I have found them easier to deal with.
Posted 3 years ago by AZDEBRA 5/27 & crew #
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Airy, when I first moved tothe States, I had travel insurance as well. I'd go to the doctor and they'd reimburse me. They even - eventually overed over $3,000.00 worth of me getting my tonsils out!. Anyway, since you have to pay them anyway, just tell the doctor's office you don't have insurance, and chances are they'll charge you less. I went to several doctors and they all charged me pretty reasonably when I told them I didn't have insurance.
I still don't, by the way, and that last couple of walk-in clinics I've been to have been $75.00 one place and $110.00 the second - that's for a new patient and it's less when you're an existing patient. A regular doctor is cheaper still - I pay $55.00 per regular visit - more if I have to have something done. -
It's not an urgent thing. I was stung by the bee about 2 days ago, I had an initial rash and this is a secondary rash. I think it's a mild infection. I have been using an ice pack to keep the selling down and a topical antiseptic, and the rash is reducing. I have had similar rashes from infections in the past and know what to look for.
I have international travel insurance so it's not like normal health insurance here in the states. They just reimburse me the costs after the visit. -
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I wonder if Benedryl would help the rash...WWM or Buttercup might be able to help there.
Posted 3 years ago by cricketsmama #
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Ok I didn't mishear. I rang them and they said the visit fee is $49 but the full cost is $330, which I will be billed later.
I don't get why they're so expensive.
Does anyone know of a good search tool that lets me find doctor's near me, this is driving me insane as I don't know any of the medical center's around here. -
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I don't know if this might help Airy..I did it from your address...
Posted 3 years ago by cricketsmama #
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Have you tried taking a benadryl and putting some cortisone cream on it?
Posted 3 years ago by KYKAT 12 23 #
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I know what you mean, Airy. My insurance had promised to pay for my tonsillectomy, but once I sent them the receipts for them to cover, they claimed they'd never said they'd pay and that this was a pre-existing condition. It took me 10 onths, but they did finally refund me the $3,000.00 they owed me - and then hurried up and dropped my coverage.
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I found a place that provides Urgent care and primary health care 7 days a week. I could see them about the rash but I'm wondering about my other non urgent stuff I wanted to discuss with the doctor, including getting a repeat prescription. Can you go to urgent care about stuff like that?
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You might be able to Airy...they could give you a 3 month prescription till you find a physician you like..that gives you a bit more time. Call and ask them.
Posted 3 years ago by cricketsmama #
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I'm a little hesitant to advise you to take a Benadryl, Airy. Although that is what I would do myself. Have you ever taken it? If so and you had no problems then it would be fine. I think that it would be fine to use Benadryl lotion, which you can buy at any pharmacy or even Wal-Mart. Or a hydrocortisone cream would probably help.
Posted 3 years ago by WillowandWindismom #
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Airy, yes, the urgent care/primary health care provider should take care of any problem you have except injuries/illness that require hospitalization, i have gone to a urgent care clinic for a number of years and the only time they sent me to someone else was when i was so sick i got dehydrated and they no longer did iv's in the office, and they urged me to go to the ER because i couldn't get the nausea under control with the medication they prescribed. i took one son in for a broken wrist and the other for asthma and they were able to take care of them both.
Posted 3 years ago by KarenCentennial #
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Thank you everyone for your help. This is so much more complicated than in NZ, I love government funded health care.
I'll have to keep looking as finding a nearby female doctor (my preference) seems a hard task, as I travel by bus.
Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions. -
Is it common for a doctor to work out of a medical center but to not be working with a firm, say on their own. I have found some doctor's at a nearby medical center but they have individual numbers listed and no affiliation that I can tell, except they all work in the same medical complex.
I'm searching under General practice and Family Practice doctors. general practice doesn't turn up many doctors, so is family practice the right choice? -
Ok, I have found a female dr, nearby (30 mins by bus) but the practice shut early today for xmas party, so not sure of fee. I decided to cancel my original $330 appointment, I know of one place further away that's only $110 so I will go there if I have to. I also have the number and address of the urgent care place (also 30 mins away by bus) in case my rash gets worse over the weekend.
I guess i'll have to wait till monday to find out the fee.
Thank you all for your help, this is waaay more complicated than in NZ :)And for a medical update, my rash has gone from a red to a light pink now :)
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Airy, it wouldn't be at all unusual for a doctor to practice at a clinic only, or perhaps only in a "Doc in the Box". That way they don't have the overhead of a private practice and sometimes it gives them less of a liability threshold.
Posted 3 years ago by WillowandWindismom #
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Airy, I am so sorry you are having such a hard time. This is a prime example of how broken our medical system is. A family practice doctor is a good start. A lot of urgent care centers use nurse practitioners and they are great. I use a doctor at our urgent care clinic or the nurse practioner if the dr. is not in. It is common for dr.'s to be clustered in medical complexes especially if they are close to a hospital. I would utilize the campus clinic if they are going to charge you $49 and then bill the balance. Then you could submit the bill to your insurance company, get your reimbursement, then pay the bill to the clinic. If you start a relationship with the campus clinic, they can get to know you and your health issues and it is easy for you to get there.
Posted 3 years ago by tinafishfrombirthplaceofElvis #
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