The discussion centers on the fairness of a $12,000 bill for an MRI with contrast, highlighting significant disparities in healthcare costs between the U.S. and other countries, such as France where the same procedure costs approximately $300. Participants emphasize the importance of obtaining an itemized bill and suggest exploring independent imaging centers, which can offer significantly lower prices, such as Smart Choice MRI's $600 charge. The conversation also addresses the complexities of insurance negotiations and the potential for patients to negotiate their bills directly with healthcare providers.
PREREQUISITESPatients facing high medical bills, healthcare advocates, insurance professionals, and anyone interested in understanding and navigating the complexities of medical billing and insurance negotiations.
Evo said:I'm also surprised that the doctor did not send you to an outpatient imaging center, or at least give you an option. It's possible the doctor gets a kickback from the hospital for sending them business.
humanino said:The insurance did agree to pay 80% of the $12k so the provider can not be out of network (unless I misunderstand).
edward said:Sometimes your insurance company will offer to pay an out of network provider what they would pay an in network provider. It is difficult to negotiate with an insurance company.
If you were indeed sent to an out of network facility, talk to your doctor and ask why. A call from your doctor to the MRI Lab may heavily influence whether or not the lab will negotiate the bill, especially if he refers a lot of patients to them.
My son successfully negotiated $3000 off of his bill. Actually in my sons situation the supervisor of his doctors billing office ended up calling the supervisor of the labs billing office and the lab agreed over the phone to write off the $3000.
Don't talk to the person at the desk in the Lab's billing office. Ask to speak to a supervisor.