Legal medical scam

Platapus · 05-29-24, 05:02 PM

Sheesh, and I wonder what is wrong with US healthcare.

Well another couple of birthdays came around and once again it is time for my old man internal exam. (yea!)

I called up the previous officer that checked out my pooper and they pulled my records. I told them I had a referral from my GP for another swell time.

They told me that before I could make an appointment, I had to have a telemedical appointment with the doctor?

When I asked why, since my GP has already ordered the procedure, I was told that it was their office policy.

Well, I could not do a tele meeting but I could do a phone call. So the doctor called me and talked to me for about 10 minutes. He discussed the prep and went over the procedure. I had been there done that a few times. At the end of the 10 minute phone call, I was told that someone from his office would call me to make the appointment. That was about 3 weeks ago.

Today, I received a medical bill from this office. Now remember, the only contact I had was two phone calls, one with a doctor for about 10 minutes.

The bill was for $542.00

Fortunately my insurance paid $497.00 of that but that still leaves me coughing up $45.00 for a frickin phone call!!!

WTF?

$542.00 just for a phone call. Billed as an "office visit". This is not for the procedure, just the phone call.

That is so messed up. I can just imagine the doctor's bill for when he actually does something. This colonoscopy will probably run about $50,000

This is insane!

/rant

mapuc · 05-29-24, 05:17 PM

Makes me glad that I pay more taxes than you do.

Here it is free to visit doctors and getting treatment(It is paid over the taxes)
Only thing who cost money is medication-Even here you pay some percentage the rest is paid over the tax

Markus

Skybird · 05-29-24, 06:37 PM

Reece · 05-29-24, 07:24 PM

Good grief Thomas, I feel for you, something should be done about the medical system over there!!

Here in Australia it is similar to what Markus describes over in Denmark, thank God!

August · 05-29-24, 07:24 PM

My old doctor would have me come to the office for an annual health exam then she would order the same standard blood test screens that she did every year, then she would call me back to the office to discuss their findings and charge me for second visit. I finally told her I wouldn't do two visits for the same thing any more and made her put in for the blood tests a couple weeks in advance of my annual physical so the results would be back before I went.

Now my new doctor just mails me the results after my physical. Then I got him to change all my prescriptions to 90 day supply instead of just 30. Saves me two thirds the annual copay fees.

GoldenRivet · 05-30-24, 12:45 AM

Its all BS, and i doubt there is a doctor alive in the USA who truly gives a damn about anything outside the confines of his wallet.

d@rk51d3 · 05-30-24, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reece

Good grief Thomas, I feel for you, something should be done about the medical system over there!!

Here in Australia it is similar to what Markus describes over in Denmark, thank God!

It's changing though, and not for the better.

It's become a right little money spinner.

Reece · 05-30-24, 03:59 AM

Lets just hope it doesn't ever get as bad as it is in the US.

05-29-24, 05:02 PM	#1
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 18,985 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Legal medical scam Sheesh, and I wonder what is wrong with US healthcare. Well another couple of birthdays came around and once again it is time for my old man internal exam. (yea!) I called up the previous officer that checked out my pooper and they pulled my records. I told them I had a referral from my GP for another swell time. They told me that before I could make an appointment, I had to have a telemedical appointment with the doctor? When I asked why, since my GP has already ordered the procedure, I was told that it was their office policy. Well, I could not do a tele meeting but I could do a phone call. So the doctor called me and talked to me for about 10 minutes. He discussed the prep and went over the procedure. I had been there done that a few times. At the end of the 10 minute phone call, I was told that someone from his office would call me to make the appointment. That was about 3 weeks ago. Today, I received a medical bill from this office. Now remember, the only contact I had was two phone calls, one with a doctor for about 10 minutes. The bill was for $542.00 Fortunately my insurance paid $497.00 of that but that still leaves me coughing up $45.00 for a frickin phone call!!! WTF? $542.00 just for a phone call. Billed as an "office visit". This is not for the procedure, just the phone call. That is so messed up. I can just imagine the doctor's bill for when he actually does something. This colonoscopy will probably run about $50,000 This is insane! /rant __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

05-29-24, 05:17 PM	#2
mapuc Fleet Admiral Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Denmark Posts: 18,104 Downloads: 37 Uploads: 0	Makes me glad that I pay more taxes than you do. Here it is free to visit doctors and getting treatment(It is paid over the taxes) Only thing who cost money is medication-Even here you pay some percentage the rest is paid over the tax Markus __________________ My little lovely female cat

05-29-24, 06:37 PM	#3
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 40,647 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	__________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert. Last edited by Skybird; 05-29-24 at 06:55 PM.

05-29-24, 07:24 PM	#4
Reece CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Down Under Posts: 32,822 Downloads: 171 Uploads: 0	Good grief Thomas, I feel for you, something should be done about the medical system over there!! Here in Australia it is similar to what Markus describes over in Denmark, thank God! __________________ *Sub captains go down with their ship!*

05-29-24, 07:24 PM	#5
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 22,711 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	My old doctor would have me come to the office for an annual health exam then she would order the same standard blood test screens that she did every year, then she would call me back to the office to discuss their findings and charge me for second visit. I finally told her I wouldn't do two visits for the same thing any more and made her put in for the blood tests a couple weeks in advance of my annual physical so the results would be back before I went. Now my new doctor just mails me the results after my physical. Then I got him to change all my prescriptions to 90 day supply instead of just 30. Saves me two thirds the annual copay fees. __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

05-30-24, 12:45 AM	#6
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,718 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	Its all BS, and i doubt there is a doctor alive in the USA who truly gives a damn about anything outside the confines of his wallet. __________________

05-30-24, 03:59 AM	#8
Reece CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Down Under Posts: 32,822 Downloads: 171 Uploads: 0	Lets just hope it doesn't ever get as bad as it is in the US. __________________ *Sub captains go down with their ship!*