Those types of cash based clinics are springing up in several states.
Any doctor can elect to become cash-only and lower his prices, but I do wonder what the impact would be regarding hospitalization, lab tests, etc.
Several years ago, I had some x-rays done at a small area hospital. Without insurance, they cost me $200. If I had had insurance, my co-pay would have $20, and the insurance company only would have had to pay $80, while the hospital ‘ate’ the other $100.
-— Any doctor can elect to become cash-only and lower his prices, but I do wonder what the impact would be regarding hospitalization, lab tests, etc. -—
A big problem here is that advertising prices is illegal, I believe.
My wife called around for MRI quotes, and couldn’t get one.
The “tell” here is that LASIK surgery, which is not paid for by insurance, has steadily dropped in price, in contrast to all other medical procedures.
The government will eventually prevent cash based doctors from having privileges at hospitals the control. Private labs are springing up all over the place.
Consider how many premiums (and their amount) you have to pay first before you can start making claims on an insurance policy. Also consider the deductible you have to meet. If you need a lot of services, this works out. If not, you over-pay for the privilege of a discounted office call and x-ray if that’s all you need in a year.