Posted on 11/12/2009 3:02:01 PM PST by NoPrisoners
I went to my eye doctor's office today because I've been losing vision in my left eye. It waited 2 months for this appointment, and in the meantime our finances have tanked. Not looking for sympathy, just stating a fact. I've found part-time work, but will not get paid for another 2 weeks.
Because I'm over 50 (53 to be exact) and did not have my co-pay with me, they turned me away. Had I been younger but without a co-pay, they would have seen me.
So - if you live in Denver and are OLD like me, beware! Make sure you bring a co-pay lest you be denied service. Money still talks, and we seniors are still good for a few bucks.
53 is hardly OLD. Most govt admin heads are older than that.
Most doctor’s offices would bill you the copay if you don’t have it on you...That being said, the reimbursement for an in network MD is so low that, unfortunately, that $20-$40 is vital to keep a small practice going these days...
According to who? Did they TELL you that or did you just assume it? I'm sorry, but this sounds really suspicious.
I don't know if that is legal and I'm surprised that any doctor's office would say that for fear of it not being legal. I could see them telling someone "no copay, no treatment" but not telling you that it wouldn't be a problem if you were 49 year old.
“Had I been younger but without a co-pay, they would have seen me”
How is this spelled out at the doctor’s office? Is it a medicare thing? If it’s not some government regulation then that seems like age discrimination.
The key point here was the following:
“Had I been younger and without a co pay, they would have seen me”.
Younger doesn’t have anything to do with it. Many offices have signs that say that payment is the patients responsiblity, period.
Sounds like you were talking to the janitor, not office staff.
So the first place you came to share this bad news was here, with us huh.
Thanks, you're a mensch.
Know what ozone smells like *&* means?
The air's full of it. LOL
Did someone in your doctor’s office actually tell you that they would have provided medical service to someone who could not pay a co-pay, as long as the person was under 50?
You could also put it on a credit card or borrow the co pay which would have solved your problem until you get paid.
I'm confused.
Do you have existing coverage with the insurance company and simply did not have enough money to pay the co-pay, or did they tell you that a younger person would not have had to make the co-pay?
Enlighten me, here.
It sounds as though you're complaining that you did not get care because you did not have the money to pay for it.
What would you expect?
Not sure I understand.
I get the standard rate and pay in full at the time of my visit. Been to the dr 3 times in last two weeks and had to have 5 labs done also.
Spent to date on these 3 visits and labs=$365.00.
If I had insurance these costs would be closer to $800.00. Go figure!!!
Maybe I am paying for your overinflated charges that the insurance companies contracted with your provider!!! Not the other way around. LOL
So did you offer to make a payment plan? thats what doctors arranged before insurance came about.
53 is old? Speak for yourself.
too bad it happened to you instead of some high official with AARP.
That's what I used to think, however the receptionist thought differently.
As a follow-up, unbeknownst to me, my Dad called the office and offered to pay. I called the office to cancel the appointment after finding out what he had arranged (I'll pay my own bills). The receptionist started screaming that I had made this a political statement by mentioning Obama.
Funny thing is, I never once mentioned Obama - only my age.
Guess she must have a guilty conscience if that's what she heard.
BOOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOO!!!
You aren’t a “senior”. And if you have a “co-pay”, you’re better off than many.
Your vision is too important to play around with.
If finances or insurance are an issue, please look into ‘teaching’ hospitals or med schools in your area. The Lion’s Club will also offer assistance.
If it was a matter of not having your insurance cards, and co-pay with you, then I can understand why they wouldn’t have seen you. Had you been there before? Was insurance info the same or had it changed? Or are you a ‘new patient’ to the practice? All of those scenarios can figure into their actions.
First off, in our healthcare system, noboday waits for care. What do you think this is, Canada or Great Britiian?
Second, Sean Hannity told me that nobody is denied care under our system. You should have gone to the emergency room.
I’m between 40 and 50. I recently had a bad fall when running downhill and fully tore a rotator cuff tendon. Was told I was too old for the surgery.
Tried to get in with sports medicine physical therapy and was told they normally didn’t work with elderly people who have fallen, but rather those with sports related injuries.
Of course, AARP did try to recruit me when I was in my 30’s so go figure...
Better yet, knowing 2 months in advance that you had the appointment, put away $5 per week to cover it.
I agree the over 50 thing sounds off.
You are not answering the question.
Knowing you had a co pay, why did you not come armed with either a credit card or money borrowed from a friend?
Why do you think the Doctor has to in effect “lend” you the money by letting you off the hook?
You say you pay your own bills, well
You arrived without a plan.
Did you think the co pay was going to mysteriously appear along with a choir of singing angels?
Be suspicious all you want. I filled out the required paperwork, gave her my Humana insurance card, then asked if I could be billed for the co-pay. Her response was,
"No, we don't do that."
"Why not?" I asked
"Well..."
"Does it have to do with my age?" I asked
She replied, "Hey look, I'm over 50 too."
"So you won't bill me because I'm over 50, right?"
"I'm very sorry."
That's the way the conversation went. If you don't believe me, that's fine, I really don't care. All I wanted to do was warn our seniors to bring their co-pays if they want to be seen.
“...I had made this a political statement by mentioning Obama. Funny thing is, I never once mentioned Obama - only my age. “
Um...do you by any chance have a NOBAMA bumper sticker on your car...or something else that might indicate that you’re conservative?
Ok fine. I posted this under general/chat. You didn't have to read it, and most certainly you don't need to take my advice.
Don't complain then if it happens to you.
Wait a minute. You say you are a therapist working towards a Ph.D, but you are 50 and your doctor wouldn’t see you when you had an appointment for two months? AND you are going blind in one eye?
Add to that you are a part time employee for somewhere, probably without insurance, so why would you need a COpay to begin with? How long did it take you to think this story up?
Is this some psych test to see if we actually will sympathize with your plight and go all ugly on your doctor or what?
This smells not so good.
Only cows grow old. You’re 53 years young.
I’m not old! (57)
You are making a ton of assumptions here, must of them erroneous.
She is an employee, of the doctor, whe is trying to avoid confrontation.
It is the doctors policy to accept the co pay up front.
Being broke, it was your responsibility to develop a plan of action here, and not the nurse’s responsibility to make up for your lack of said plan.
That's what they told you, or you have other insider information?
A copay is usually like 10 or 20 bucks!?!
Ok fellow FREEPERS enough. I passed on a bit of info, do with it what you will. You have effectively silenced this FREEPER.
That’s not what the nurse said, read above.
She is telling him she is approximately his age (translation; get real, Mister,)
He’s just pissed because he didn’t get a pass.
Going blind in one eye and he waited for two months? Would you?
Why would THAT be your first assumption? That would have never entered my mind, especially if I was standing there without money expecting to be seen. Why would it have had something to do with age?
How come you didn’t have your co-pay with you?
Something doesn't add up here. My mom is 94 and has all the medical care she needs.
You’re not so dumb....:)
I went to a specialist, gave them my insurance card and was told the $35 must be paid up front. I gave them my Credit Card was told the machine was down, they needed a check or cash. I didn’t have enough cash, don’t carry my check book with me and they said go to an ATM. I told them to go to hell and left. No age discrimination, just poor service. You need to lighten up, I think.
God how I love freepers.
#21: Where are you? I had rotator cuff repair two summers ago (age 54). My doc does repairs on 80-year olds. That’ll probably change with Obama-no-care.
LOL!!!
Imagine: This guy (?) shows up, today, to whine about an "issue" which just coincidentally is just about to be debated by our august senate. Shezam.
A coincidence, I'm sure. LOL
Busted...
So you brought up age first, not the receptionist? First you didn’t bring the co-pay, then you played the age-victim card? And somehow the doctor’s office is at fault???
How can we help you?
Good, but why don’t you just go to another doctor? We still have that freedom.
Too old for surgery!??? Are you kidding me? My dad had a should surgery that was quite extensive and he is in his 60’s. Did you try a different doctor? Or is this because of hmo? I’d appeal somewhere!
Pass??? Nope, just needed to wait 2 weeks to get paid.
Go to h*ll
So you had the money after all. But you turned down your dad's loan (because you wanted to pay your own bills), but you wanted the doctor to lend it to you instead. Got it.
See my post #47
Making it up as you go along? LOL! This is the sillest story I’ve read on a while.
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