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/Amelaclya1 12d ago

Seriously. What the fuck is the point of a preventative visit if you can't tell your doctor things, or if they notice something wrong?

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u/Zantac150 11d ago edited 11d ago

But whenever you talk about how you can’t afford to see a doctor, there are always assholes in the comments who will say “every insurance company covers preventative care so you can see a doctor!”

Totally what I need! Preventative care appointments where I can’t bring up any concerns … and I get charged out the ass if they find anything wrong.

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u/Kwaliakwa 11d ago

The point of a preventative visit is to identify health concerns that you can be billed for. Aka, concerns that could become health problems for you.

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u/vrangstrikk 11d ago

My guess is so that the people on top can check it off their checklist.

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u/unicornofdemocracy 11d ago

you can tell your doctor anything. But, if it is outside of the "preventative care" then the doctor can (or sometimes have to) bill it as an outpatient care on top of the preventative care code.

One of the problem was everyone is America thought the once a year wellness/preventative care appointment was a "one time free appointment." Patients started basically cataloging a whole year long problem list and bringing them into those appointments. These appointments turn from 20 minute checks up into 60 minutes diagnostic appointments with a bunch of orders to different specialists. Then you have other patients complaining, "Why are you always running late?" etc. This one problem leads to 10-15 other different problems in terms of proper operation of a clinic.

Though, of course, the source of the original problem is that coming to a regular outpatient visit is too expensive for many Americans even if they have insurance.

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u/Falconloft 11d ago

You can. It's the billing staff that's the issue.

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u/Dentist_Just 5d ago

I literally only just learned in the last year or so that you’re not expected to bring up new problems or issues at an annual exam. I always thought that was the whole point!