Bidding for health procedures

[gottaluvPluto]

A few of my friends lost their health insurance and can not afford Obama care. They have elected to not get Obama care and pay the tax, cheaper to pay fee and do medical care out of pocket. They have some issues that need to be taken care of (non life threatening) and are thinking about biding for the procedures that need to be done. Has anyone bid for their health care needs with medibid?

 

[Happy Snowman]

"Obamacare" isn't insurance. There is nothing to "afford."

Do they really want to farm out their health to the lowest bidder??

 

[OceanAnnie]

A few of my friends lost their health insurance and can not afford Obama care. They have elected to not get Obama care and pay the tax, cheaper to pay fee and do medical care out of pocket. They have some issues that need to be taken care of (non life threatening) and are thinking about biding for the procedures that need to be done. Has anyone bid for their health care needs with medibid?

I'm sorry to hear they lost their insurance.

I hope everything works out for them.

I have never heard of bidding for procedures/medibid. Is that a new thing?

 

[lauradis]

I wouldn't call it bidding, but more of negotiations.

My son has 11 specialist Dr. at Cleveland Clinic. When he was little our insurance changed and more then half of them became out of network dr.

I informed them that we would have to change and suggested we could come to a deal that they except what insurance gave them or we would have to leave.

We lost 2 of the 11 if I remember correctly. But holy paper work. Plus our son has a rare genetic disorder. I know for sure that 3 of the drs have written papers etc.


Talk you friends into at least getting hospital coverage for major health issues.

 

[Luvstotravel]

They should find out if they are eligible for subsidies. The insurance could be very low-priced, if they do. I know people who pay, if I recall correctly, ~$7/month, for an ACA-compliant care.

There is no such thing as an Obamacare plan.

 

[gwynne]

They should find out if they are eligible for subsidies. The insurance could be very low-priced, if they do. I know people who pay, if I recall correctly, ~$7/month, for an ACA-compliant care.

There is no such thing as an Obamacare plan.

I agree. Their time would be far better spent learning about and finding a plan that fits their budget.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Cheaper to pay the tax and gamble???? One illness, one trip to the ER, one hospital stay--anything at all!--and they're going to be paying a WHOLE lot more out of pocket.

And as a PP mentioned, do you really want to go the cheapest route when it comes to your health? I want to select a doctor based on who I feel is qualified and who I feel comfortable with--not who will do it cheapest. And even if it's a "non life-threatening" procedure, if the doctor messes up, it quickly can turn to a matter of life or death.

 

[BunsenH]

Call Me! Dr. Nick Riviera

(This is not a solicitation for service.)

 

[Poohbear5]

A few of my friends lost their health insurance and can not afford Obama care. They have elected to not get Obama care and pay the tax, cheaper to pay fee and do medical care out of pocket. They have some issues that need to be taken care of (non life threatening) and are thinking about biding for the procedures that need to be done. Has anyone bid for their health care needs with medibid?

I have friends and family members in the same situation, losing the policy that they liked and could afford because it does not meet criteria of the new health care law.

I would be interested in hearing more from posters who are actually interested in answering OPs question regarding bidding for medical care.

 

[sukhakuli]

Call Me! Dr. Nick Riviera

(This is not a solicitation for service.)

Ha! That's pretty good.

And no, I would not choose the cheapest provider for healthcare, unless I was seeing someone just for med refills and referrals to specialists. That would probably be OK, but why see an MD for that at all? PA's and NP are fine.

Growing up we didn't have health insurance because we couldn't afford it. My mom landed in the hospital for several days and the bill was more than we paid for the house we lived in. Granted, it wasn't much of a house, but still. And we would delay getting medical care because of how much it cost. I cut myself really bad and needed several stitches, but my parents just bandaged it as best as they could because we couldn't afford to go to the ER. I broke my wrist and just found out as an adult when I was having it looked at for an unrelated procedure. I remember my wrist hurting for a year (a bone chip was up against a nerve), but after a while people told me to just quit whining and deal with it.

So if they want to gamble with their health, I hope they understand it can have life long consequences, and good luck to them.But this sounds more like an Obamacare protest and less about money.

 

[eliza61]

A few of my friends lost their health insurance and can not afford Obama care. They have elected to not get Obama care and pay the tax, cheaper to pay fee and do medical care out of pocket. They have some issues that need to be taken care of (non life threatening) and are thinking about biding for the procedures that need to be done. Has anyone bid for their health care needs with medibid?

also have them check with their state. Many states have insurance market places that they can "fit" the plan to what they can pay.
If they can pay the tax the can certainly find a plan. the first time penalty is 1% of your household income. so a person making 22000 would pay a penalty of 220. You can find a plan for that with subsideries.

If they make less than that annually they are probably eligible for Medicaid and chip.

 

[Sadie22]

I have heard of people negotiating lower amounts on bills in the past, but never bidding for services. I can't imagine a reputable medical practitioner participating in such a scheme.

I find more people than not who think they cannot afford health insurance do not adequately understand the protections of the new laws, where to apply and all the options available for health insurance plans, state exchanges, subsidies, taxes, and so on. It can be quite complicated. We are covered through DH's insurance, but coworkers ask for advice on annual re-enrollment in various parts such as how to figure out how much to put in a flexible spending account. Some give up because they think it is too difficult to deal with. Most things are not as difficult once they are understood.

Local cooperative extension services through state land grant universities may have insurance seminars. Contact the CES or local offices on aging or local health departments for free assistance by trained insurance counselors in getting enrolled in insurance plans.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I wouldn't do a "bid." I was once without insurance and needed something done immediately. I had started a new job and opted out of Cobra; THAT was crazy expensive for the three months between my coverage.

Instead of bidding, I went to my then doctor, and told them I would be paying cash and what could they do for me? We negotiated a fair rate (to me). I had the thing done, and my doctor was thrilled his office had one less paperwork job to follow up on of the next few weeks and all was well.

 

[ZellyB]

I wouldn't do a "bid." I was once without insurance and needed something done immediately. I had started a new job and opted out of Cobra; THAT was crazy expensive for the three months between my coverage.

Instead of bidding, I went to my then doctor, and told them I would be paying cash and what could they do for me? We negotiated a fair rate (to me). I had the thing done, and my doctor was thrilled his office had one less paperwork job to follow up on of the next few weeks and all was well.

This. I'm not aware of any options to put a procedure out for a "bid." However, most hospitals and doctors are willing to negotiate on the charges if you are paying cash. I would suggest that they say they want to pay rates more equivalent to the discounted rates that they provide to third-party payers.

All that said, I'd also strongly encourage your friends to try and get some level of coverage. Something catastrophic can happen to anyone at anytime.

 

[PlutoPony]

If you seek treatment for a medical condition and are not covered by insurance, how is this specific condition handled if/when you DO get medical coverage? Is it considered a pre-existing medical condition that is not covered as it wasn't covered by insurance? If you used Medibid would it be considered in the same manner i.e. it would be pre-existing condition not covered by insurance??

The Medibid website doesn't give a lot of detailed info, looks like it's more marketing heavy

 

[Happy Snowman]

If you seek treatment for a medical condition and are not covered by insurance, how is this specific condition handled if/when you DO get medical coverage? Is it considered a pre-existing medical condition that is not covered as it wasn't covered by insurance? If you used Medibid would it be considered in the same manner i.e. it would be pre-existing condition not covered by insurance??

The Medibid website doesn't give a lot of detailed info, looks like it's more marketing heavy

The ACA removed any pre-existing condition clauses so it's a non-issue no matter what you do.

Again, I would do some more investigating for medical plans and if they REALLY can't afford the coverage, they probably qualify for subsidies both on premium and out of pocket costs if they pick a silver level plan...

 

[Luvstotravel]

Also, something else to consider, if someone is in an accident and is seriously injured, that it's kinda hard to negotiate if you're unconscious.

 

[gottaluvPluto]

Also, something else to consider, if someone is in an accident and is seriously injured, that it's kinda hard to negotiate if you're unconscious.

Accidents are covered under auto insurance. My sister was in a horrible wreck and her health insurance wouldn't pay any part of her claim.


I really shouldn't have said bidding. It really is negotiating for services and apparently people have been doing it for a very long time. I ran into one lady that has been doing this for 20 years, she just doesn't use a website. FYI,the website actually has some great doctors. Apparently, some well known doctors are on the site.

Anyway, the family does not qualify for any subsidies. They own a business and make too much. The couple had a person come talk to them about the different plans and so forth (don't know everything that they talked about). The only way they would get a subsidy is if the divorce and they are thinking about doing that. They are happily married and don't really want to do that, but you gotta do what you gotta do. And yes, they will live together.

 

[Sadie22]

There may be something called PIP or personal injury protection insurance included with auto insurance policies which would pay toward someone's injuries until exhausted. If someone else was at fault for the accident, the at-fault driver's liability insurance would pay.

 

[BigAlsGal]

Could you find a cheaper doctor? Maybe. I would assume you would have to make an appointment with them to figure it out and those add up.

I know there was a point in my life where I got pregnant but didn't have any type of coverage. I was hoping to be able to have a natural delivery but since I had already had a previous c section my doctor wouldn't allow VBAC. I was scared at the possibility of paying for a csection out of pocket. She said she would do her best to help me but the prices were the prices as far as the birth goes. She gave me the occasional ultrasound for free and vitamin samples. The hospital definitely wasn't going to cut us any deals. That was going to be the most expensive part. I had a list of things I could do to make it a bit cheaper. Bring your own feminine products and such but that was going to be minimal savings. Luckily DH got a job that didn't consider pregnancy a preexisting condition and I was covered for the big day.

I can't imagine haggling for a nonemergncy procedure. They wouldn't give me a deal for something I needed!