Comments on: Dollars And Sense http://thespohrsaremultiplying.com/doctor-schmoctor/dollars-and-sense/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:16:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: | The Spohrs Are Multiplying… | » The Spohrs Go To Washington http://thespohrsaremultiplying.com/doctor-schmoctor/dollars-and-sense/#comment-29894 | The Spohrs Are Multiplying… | » The Spohrs Go To Washington Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:00:21 +0000 http://thespohrsaremultiplying.com/?p=1325#comment-29894 [...] we were both denied because of our pre-existing conditions. I told him and his aide about how our only option for health insurance was COBRA, and how despicable I thought it was that through no fault of her own my child [...] [...] we were both denied because of our pre-existing conditions. I told him and his aide about how our only option for health insurance was COBRA, and how despicable I thought it was that through no fault of her own my child [...]

]]> By: Healthcare Blog Carnival! « MomsRising Blog http://thespohrsaremultiplying.com/doctor-schmoctor/dollars-and-sense/#comment-25934 Healthcare Blog Carnival! « MomsRising Blog Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:11:58 +0000 http://thespohrsaremultiplying.com/?p=1325#comment-25934 [...] is a beautifully-written blog about one family’s experiences with high-risk pregnancies. In a post entitled “Dollars and Sense,” Heather relates how she’s being denied ultrasounds, even though her previous pregnancy [...] [...] is a beautifully-written blog about one family’s experiences with high-risk pregnancies. In a post entitled “Dollars and Sense,” Heather relates how she’s being denied ultrasounds, even though her previous pregnancy [...]

]]> By: | The Spohrs Are Multiplying… | » Heartbeats http://thespohrsaremultiplying.com/doctor-schmoctor/dollars-and-sense/#comment-25793 | The Spohrs Are Multiplying… | » Heartbeats Sat, 12 Sep 2009 12:58:06 +0000 http://thespohrsaremultiplying.com/?p=1325#comment-25793 [...] I had my panic attack in Dr. Risky’s office a few weeks ago, we talked about ways to keep my anxiety under control. [...] [...] I had my panic attack in Dr. Risky’s office a few weeks ago, we talked about ways to keep my anxiety under control. [...]

]]> By: Candi http://thespohrsaremultiplying.com/doctor-schmoctor/dollars-and-sense/#comment-24155 Candi Sat, 29 Aug 2009 01:28:00 +0000 http://thespohrsaremultiplying.com/?p=1325#comment-24155 I hate COBRA. It is a joke. Like you, I think it is great to have the option, but the price is ridiculous! I used COBRA for a short while with my first pregnancy and for just me it was over $500. Then last Oct. my husband lost his job. His company paid for 1 month of COBRA as part of his severance package. After that, it would have cost us $1300 a month. I am diabetic and need ins., but there was no way we could afford it. We live in VA and they don't offer any type of medical assistance to people like me (I know CA had medi-cal). I was either too young or too old....I was able to get state coverage for my kids. Since I knew I was about to be without ins., I stock piled my medication and supplies as best as I could. I looked into insuring myself, but like you, ran into issues with my pre-existing condition. A lot of them said they would accept me, but when I read the fine print, they wouldn't cover anything that had to do with my pre-existing condition. Gee....that really helps me out! Thankfully, my husband got a new job with benefits before my 62 day gap in coverage passed. I did get the notice that we qualified for the reduced rate for COBRA, but that was already after we had ins. .-= Candi´s last blog ..<a href="http://the-carson-family.blogspot.com/2009/08/picky.html">Picky?</a> =-. I hate COBRA. It is a joke. Like you, I think it is great to have the option, but the price is ridiculous!

I used COBRA for a short while with my first pregnancy and for just me it was over $500. Then last Oct. my husband lost his job. His company paid for 1 month of COBRA as part of his severance package. After that, it would have cost us $1300 a month. I am diabetic and need ins., but there was no way we could afford it. We live in VA and they don’t offer any type of medical assistance to people like me (I know CA had medi-cal). I was either too young or too old….I was able to get state coverage for my kids. Since I knew I was about to be without ins., I stock piled my medication and supplies as best as I could.

I looked into insuring myself, but like you, ran into issues with my pre-existing condition. A lot of them said they would accept me, but when I read the fine print, they wouldn’t cover anything that had to do with my pre-existing condition. Gee….that really helps me out!

Thankfully, my husband got a new job with benefits before my 62 day gap in coverage passed. I did get the notice that we qualified for the reduced rate for COBRA, but that was already after we had ins.
.-= Candi´s last blog ..Picky? =-.

]]> By: Jenn http://thespohrsaremultiplying.com/doctor-schmoctor/dollars-and-sense/#comment-23536 Jenn Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:18:49 +0000 http://thespohrsaremultiplying.com/?p=1325#comment-23536 I had an ultrasound on my leg a couple months ago to make sure there wasn't a blood clot and I got a bill from the hospital (which was ultimately covered by insurance) for almost $1400. For something that took 15 mins. I was very upset that it would cost so much for something so simple. I had an ultrasound on my leg a couple months ago to make sure there wasn’t a blood clot and I got a bill from the hospital (which was ultimately covered by insurance) for almost $1400. For something that took 15 mins. I was very upset that it would cost so much for something so simple.

]]> By: Marnie http://thespohrsaremultiplying.com/doctor-schmoctor/dollars-and-sense/#comment-23395 Marnie Mon, 24 Aug 2009 06:55:30 +0000 http://thespohrsaremultiplying.com/?p=1325#comment-23395 I agree that the ins companies are greedy. My oldest daughter has had 4 eye surgeries and reading the statements afterward were unbelievable. I didn't mean to sound like it was all the dr's fault for the cost of ins premiums. Unfortunately its a vicious circle, the dr overcharges so the ins co underpays, the ins co underpays so the dr overcharges. It's like what came first the chicken or the egg? There needs to be a standard, like if the dr charges $50 for an ultrasound (or less would be nice. Yeah right, I wish), then the ins would pay $50. I could only dream about a world where medical care/procedures/prescription meds would all be reasonably priced and the reasonably priced ins would pay for it all and there was no such thing as declining patients for being high risk or having pre-existing conditions. Not only medical fees, but groceries, gas, everything. Too bad everything has come down to making the big $$. I agree that the ins companies are greedy. My oldest daughter has had 4 eye surgeries and reading the statements afterward were unbelievable. I didn’t mean to sound like it was all the dr’s fault for the cost of ins premiums. Unfortunately its a vicious circle, the dr overcharges so the ins co underpays, the ins co underpays so the dr overcharges. It’s like what came first the chicken or the egg? There needs to be a standard, like if the dr charges $50 for an ultrasound (or less would be nice. Yeah right, I wish), then the ins would pay $50.

I could only dream about a world where medical care/procedures/prescription meds would all be reasonably priced and the reasonably priced ins would pay for it all and there was no such thing as declining patients for being high risk or having pre-existing conditions. Not only medical fees, but groceries, gas, everything. Too bad everything has come down to making the big $$.

]]> By: Summer http://thespohrsaremultiplying.com/doctor-schmoctor/dollars-and-sense/#comment-23381 Summer Mon, 24 Aug 2009 04:19:26 +0000 http://thespohrsaremultiplying.com/?p=1325#comment-23381 Heather- I'm so sorry that you have to go through this. I agree with the PP, maybe you can negotiate a special rate with your doctor. Also, maybe the doctor will be willing to sneak you a freebie here and there. As for the "pleasure" ultra sounds, we had one with our son and the company sent the results to our doctor for review. It was less than $100 plus included a discount on future visits. Just an idea. Best wishes! .-= Summer´s last blog ..<a href="http://summerbrandon.blogspot.com/2009/08/something-in-air.html">Something in the Air</a> =-. Heather- I’m so sorry that you have to go through this. I agree with the PP, maybe you can negotiate a special rate with your doctor. Also, maybe the doctor will be willing to sneak you a freebie here and there.

As for the “pleasure” ultra sounds, we had one with our son and the company sent the results to our doctor for review. It was less than $100 plus included a discount on future visits. Just an idea. Best wishes!
.-= Summer´s last blog ..Something in the Air =-.

]]> By: Summer http://thespohrsaremultiplying.com/doctor-schmoctor/dollars-and-sense/#comment-23380 Summer Mon, 24 Aug 2009 04:14:37 +0000 http://thespohrsaremultiplying.com/?p=1325#comment-23380 I couldn't agree more about the high cost of insurance. But one of the reasons that doctors charge insurance companies so much is because they don't get paid for everything they bill for. If you ever look at an EOB statement from your insurance company you will see that doctors are paid only a fraction of what they bill. I'm not saying doctors aren't to blame for some of the high costs, but the greedy insurance companies are the ones that drive up the prices and then decline patients who are "high-risk". .-= Summer´s last blog ..<a href="http://summerbrandon.blogspot.com/2009/08/something-in-air.html">Something in the Air</a> =-. I couldn’t agree more about the high cost of insurance. But one of the reasons that doctors charge insurance companies so much is because they don’t get paid for everything they bill for. If you ever look at an EOB statement from your insurance company you will see that doctors are paid only a fraction of what they bill.

I’m not saying doctors aren’t to blame for some of the high costs, but the greedy insurance companies are the ones that drive up the prices and then decline patients who are “high-risk”.
.-= Summer´s last blog ..Something in the Air =-.

]]> By: anne http://thespohrsaremultiplying.com/doctor-schmoctor/dollars-and-sense/#comment-23349 anne Sun, 23 Aug 2009 03:09:07 +0000 http://thespohrsaremultiplying.com/?p=1325#comment-23349 if i remember correctly, ultrasounds out of pocket with no insurance were around $300 when i was pregnant (that was in Los Angeles, 1 year ago) I would hope they could give you a special rate. Also, we went to a place in Glendale that does 4D ultrasounds (for pleasure) I would highly recommend them, we went often, as I needed the peace of mind seeing my little baby moving around in there. Their site is www.sono4d.com ultrasounds packages there start at $83.00 (but again they are not medical, just for "pleasure") It is amazing to see the features of your unborn baby in 4D! if i remember correctly, ultrasounds out of pocket with no insurance were around $300 when i was pregnant (that was in Los Angeles, 1 year ago) I would hope they could give you a special rate. Also, we went to a place in Glendale that does 4D ultrasounds (for pleasure) I would highly recommend them, we went often, as I needed the peace of mind seeing my little baby moving around in there.

Their site is http://www.sono4d.com

ultrasounds packages there start at $83.00 (but again they are not medical, just for “pleasure”) It is amazing to see the features of your unborn baby in 4D!

]]> By: Al_Pal http://thespohrsaremultiplying.com/doctor-schmoctor/dollars-and-sense/#comment-23347 Al_Pal Sun, 23 Aug 2009 02:01:27 +0000 http://thespohrsaremultiplying.com/?p=1325#comment-23347 Oh geez. Best wishes with getting the ultrasound worked out. ♥ Oh geez. Best wishes with getting the ultrasound worked out.
♥

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