I was excited about my Neurolgy appointment

[HVAC]

I was excited about my appointment with the new Neurologist until I got a recorded message reminding me of the appointment. I not only have to pay the Doctor, but I also will have to pay a hospital bill since the clinic is owned by Duke. This is the first I heard of this. This means every Neurology visit will be hundreds of dollars on top of the Doctor bill. The reason sited is efficiency. You pay more for a better run health care system?

Of course I quit Duke ten years ago for primary care when my out patient clinic physical was $3,000 with out a mammogram. Oh well it is only money.

Alex

[HVAC]

I only pay the copay to the doctor up front. Then I get a hospital bill later for lord knows how much. This will go under my hospitalization deductable which is thousands of dollars. The recording says I am paying for the efficiency of the Duke Hospital system. I am thinking It is because of the electronic record system they now have in place.

Duke is supposed to be a model for lower cost care. We shall see.

I really liked the doctor at Duke. He did a talk for the MS Society for newly diagnosed.

Ironically the Duke Family Foundation gave the starting  not for profit grant for my health insurance company back in the fifties.

Alex

[Zacksmomi]

That is what I am wondering.  They won't see you unless you pay them that kind of money right up front?
I don't get the whole "hospital/doctor" thing.  Is that a scam or what?
I found this out the hard way once.  My insurance covered the Dr but not the clinic, so get this... the clinic wrote off the Dr bill cuz it was not covered by the ins.

WHATTT!!! is wrong with this dang system???  If you don't have ins you pay Thousands of dollars up front, but if you have ins that doesn't cover you don't pay?!?!?!  

I am not complaining that I have ins, I am just very upset for those like you, who have to deal with these costs because of insurance companies.

good luck and keep your chin up.  It will be worth it.
D

[LATW]

Are you saying you have to pay the entire bill up front?