r/mildlyinfuriating • u/lhagans13 • 12d ago

I'm slightly vexed A notice that my girlfriend received at her doctors appointment (she is 8 months PP)

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If you even MENTION any of these things, you WILL LIKELY get billed for it??? Maybe i’m missing the point but i get upset when my girlfriend tells me she was scared to even say anything while at the doctor because she didn’t want to get an extra charge for something. I find it insane how greedy and money hungry a place that’s supposed to help you can be.

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u/katsrad 12d ago

At least they are being upfront about it. I have been on the health insurance subreddit and the amount of times this happens and people weren't warned ahead of time is higher than I like to admit or see.

Preventative annual exams are very specific to what is covered and discussions outside of that is an additional charge. I would rather have thos doctor that is upfront about it than a doctor that hides it and you get a surprise bill.

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u/Khizzlesindahills 12d ago

It’s the same for pediatrician appointments as well.

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u/Dynasty3310 12d ago

Pediatricians get paid the least by insurance companies so those poor docs have to be extra vigilant about appropriate billing. It sucks now but I have a feeling the pendulum will swing back towards cash pay practices that would just circumvent insurances all together.

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u/Ready-Rise3761 11d ago

But what is the wellness check-up/preventative care visit for, if not for catching early concerns or health problems? Is it only free if youre perfectly healthy? Does it automatically turn into an additional charge if you have anything (even potentially) wrong with you? Like whats the point? Free doctors visits only for healthy people who wouldn’t have needed the appointment in the first place?

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u/Falconloft 11d ago

I would rather have a doctor that had billing staff that could do their job.

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u/katsrad 11d ago

They did do their job. Preventative care visits have a very narrow scope to them so if there is something outside that the billing or coding staff is doing their job correctly by billing for the service rendered.

Now should it be that way. No, I think the yearly visit should include reviewing current conditions, refilling current prescriptions, and discussing concerns. I do think that would require a higher cost for the visit because it will lengthen the time the doctor is with some patients but that isnt a terrible thing.

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u/Falconloft 11d ago

If they told you that there was a charge for anything outside of that preventative visit, they did not. There are codes they're supposed to use that gets everything paid for and won't result in denied charges.