Cash Only Doctors?

subigo

subigo

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Oct 20, 2007
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Anyone know of a good site to find cash only doctors? I've been looking for a while and can't find anything. My parents (a few hours away) have had one for about three years now, but he's not taking new patients ($30 a visit w/ free lab work and x-rays).

Anyway, I'd really like to find a local doctor that does the same thing. As it is I'm spending $80+ on visits now (Springfield, MO).

ps - I just want a list or referral, not a flame war. Nobody cares what you think about health care in the U.S.
 


No list here, but.. A lot of times the doctor will give you a big (50%+) discount if they know you have no insurance and pay out of your own wallet since they have so much medicare/insurance company bullshit that doesn't pay out. Is your $80+ doc aware of your situation?? If so he's a douche. good luck.
 
dantex said:
No list here, but.. A lot of times the doctor will give you a big (50%+) discount if they know you have no insurance and pay out of your own wallet since they have so much medicare/insurance company bullshit that doesn't pay out. Is your $80+ doc aware of your situation?? If so he's a douche. good luck.
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My $80 doctor is already giving me a 40% discount for no insurance, which is about the same price as most other places I have called in town.
 
I know it doesn't help you much, but I've been hearing good things about boutique doctors. There's a group of them that are going to open the first office in Omaha next month: Concierge Doctors in Omaha

A Member.MD doctor will see no more than 400 patients.

But the service comes at an annual price. Dr. Bessmer says, "in the first level the patient pays a set amount of $2500 and that gives them 24/7 access to their doctor, 365 days a year." And it's $4,000 if you want your doctor to follow you to the hospital for care.
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While that's a bit high, the more doctors that get into it, the more competition you'll have and the lower prices will go. (Hopefully)

Lots of doctors with big practices don't care about giving discounts - they usually have a lot of staff that handles the process efficiently. It'd be a pain in the ass for them to make an exception.

What you want is a small sized practice. Hit the phone and ask for the billing manager. Tell her you'd like to pay cash, that you don't have insurance, and you're looking for someone who will work with you on price if you pay before each visit.

Good luck, though. Mother in law has been doing medical billing for 25 years in different sized offices and she's saying that there are very very few offices that will discount more than 10% for cash. They can't charge the insurance company more than they'd charge anyone else, from what I understood.
 
$2500 for a dedicated doctor + office visit stuff would rule. I should look into that. I have pretty good insurance coverage with an average deductible - $3000. Last year I had a lot of little stuff done and I hit that deductible so I would have been ahead by quite a bit if I would have paid a flat rate.
 
subigo said:
Anyone know of a good site to find cash only doctors? I've been looking for a while and can't find anything. My parents (a few hours away) have had one for about three years now, but he's not taking new patients ($30 a visit w/ free lab work and x-rays).

Anyway, I'd really like to find a local doctor that does the same thing. As it is I'm spending $80+ on visits now (Springfield, MO).

ps - I just want a list or referral, not a flame war. Nobody cares what you think about health care in the U.S.
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The above WalMart clinic seems like it might be a good idea for minor things. $50 per visit.

I'm sure you know this, but you can get a policy with $20 visits for around $100/month...that's probably more than you are paying now, unless you visit the Dr. more than once a month (and if you do that you probably have a pre existing that wouldn't allow you to get coverage anyway).

I don't mean to get in your business, but what would you do if you were in a wreck, or got cancer, etc... so many possibilities? Just eat the $200k or more bill and declare bankruptcy?
Even something as simple as a broken arm would no doubt be several thousand.

I know a lot of younger people go without health insurance, and I'm just trying to figure out the thought process regarding that. I'm in the exact opposite situation, I was born with a pre existing, and so I've always fought to keep insurance. Interesting to see someone who perhaps just doesn't want it.
 
JMan1234 said:
The above WalMart clinic seems like it might be a good idea for minor things. $50 per visit.

I'm sure you know this, but you can get a policy with $20 visits for around $100/month...that's probably more than you are paying now, unless you visit the Dr. more than once a month (and if you do that you probably have a pre existing that wouldn't allow you to get coverage anyway).

I don't mean to get in your business, but what would you do if you were in a wreck, or got cancer, etc... so many possibilities? Just eat the $200k or more bill and declare bankruptcy?
Even something as simple as a broken arm would no doubt be several thousand.

I know a lot of younger people go without health insurance, and I'm just trying to figure out the thought process regarding that. I'm in the exact opposite situation, I was born with a pre existing, and so I've always fought to keep insurance. Interesting to see someone who perhaps just doesn't want it.
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lol... There's just something wrong about going to Wal-Mart to see a doctor.

As for insurance, quite simply, it's a pain in the ass to get. In fact, I've never been approved. I won't go into details, but I had some medical issues when I was younger... Some doctors thought I had something I didn't end up having, but it went on my record anyway. The simple mention of that on my record gets me denied every single time. The one time I did get approved, they dropped my coverage as soon as I tried to use it, stating that they had researched my past and I had a "pre-existing condition", when in fact, I did not.

That and I do have a few minor things that I go to the doctor for once or twice a month, which some companies deny me for anyway.
 
subigo said:
lol... There's just something wrong about going to Wal-Mart to see a doctor.

As for insurance, quite simply, it's a pain in the ass to get. In fact, I've never been approved. I won't go into details, but I had some medical issues when I was younger... Some doctors thought I had something I didn't end up having, but it went on my record anyway. The simple mention of that on my record gets me denied every single time. The one time I did get approved, they dropped my coverage as soon as I tried to use it, stating that they had researched my past and I had a "pre-existing condition", when in fact, I did not.

That and I do have a few minor things that I go to the doctor for once or twice a month, which some companies deny me for anyway.
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The good ole' pre existing condition, got to love it!
In my situation I make plenty to pay for insurance if I could get coverage on my own. I can't. So since I work full time from home, my wife has to go out and work just so I can get coverage under a group plan. There's just no other way around it right now.

I don't think she'd be able to handle being at home all day with me anyway. :338:
 
JMan1234 said:
I know a lot of younger people go without health insurance, and I'm just trying to figure out the thought process regarding that. I'm in the exact opposite situation, I was born with a pre existing, and so I've always fought to keep insurance. Interesting to see someone who perhaps just doesn't want it.
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I've only been to the doctor once in the last 7 years at least. I'm 25, am rarely ever sick. Even most of the time when I'm sick I just grind it out. I know not everyone is fortunate enough to have as good as health as I do.

That last doctor visit was $200 with lab work (which turned up nothing what a waste) so I don't see the point of paying $100+ a month. I might as well put it in a medical emergency jar.

I know I feel invincible and was kinda shocked recently though, when my best friend had to have his appendix removed. He just got all the bills, a whopping $20k. Even with his insurance he still has to cover over $5k of it.
 
Rage9 said:
I've only been to the doctor once in the last 7 years at least. I'm 25, am rarely ever sick. Even most of the time when I'm sick I just grind it out. I know not everyone is fortunate enough to have as good as health as I do.

That last doctor visit was $200 with lab work (which turned up nothing what a waste) so I don't see the point of paying $100+ a month. I might as well put it in a medical emergency jar.

I know I feel invincible and was kinda shocked recently though, when my best friend had to have his appendix removed. He just got all the bills, a whopping $20k. Even with his insurance he still has to cover over $5k of it.
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I'd definitely put the $100/month away in a medical savings account if I was without insurance.

Even if you are 100% healthy, it's good to go at least once a year for a check up. If anything to keep familiar with your doctor in case something does come up in the future.
I mean, most people go to the Dentist at least 1-2x per year. That's just your teeth, you have an entire body to take care of :-)

Yes, as someone sick a lot, I'm probably over cautious. But as they say, better safe than sorry.
 
Rage9 said:
I've only been to the doctor once in the last 7 years at least. I'm 25, am rarely ever sick. Even most of the time when I'm sick I just grind it out. I know not everyone is fortunate enough to have as good as health as I do.

That last doctor visit was $200 with lab work (which turned up nothing what a waste) so I don't see the point of paying $100+ a month. I might as well put it in a medical emergency jar.

I know I feel invincible and was kinda shocked recently though, when my best friend had to have his appendix removed. He just got all the bills, a whopping $20k. Even with his insurance he still has to cover over $5k of it.
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At least get a Catastrophic Plan with a $2k-$5k deductible. You can get one for only around $70/month. Putting away $1200 a year isn't going to cover shit if you are suddenly injured or need to go under the knife. Health care costs have skyrocketed over the last 10yrs and it's way too risky to not have it now.

The majority of bankruptcies filed today are from high medical bills.
 
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