And, if amnesty is granted to all the illegals already here, add those to the system too. I hope they think about this when the immigration bill comes up for a vote.

That's one of the perks of having insurance. You are already paying out of pocket (or out of paycheck) for the advantage of having insurance, and people like me who hardly ever use it wind up paying over a year just for the safety net that insurance provides. I have paid far more to the insurance companies over the years than I have gotten from them. That's just the way it is.

If one has no insurance, many times, services will be discounted, sometimes by as much as 30% or more. But many hospitals/ labs/pathology groups will not state this at the time. You must ask. You would be surprised what lengths healthcare facilitlies will go to in order to keep your business and help you. Mind you, not ALL will do this, but it never hurts to speak up and ask. Many services actually have a "cushion" built into the price because the hospital/clinic winds up "eating" the cost more often than you would imagine. Insurance is at least a more "predictable" payor, and the hospital will settle for a lesser amount from the insurance companies than they would from Joe Blow. Not fair, not logical sometimes? Maybe. But that's just the way it is.

Of course, during the next few years, so much of this will be changing. I can't explain all the ins and outs of the insurance and Medicare/Medicaid game now, and in the future, I sure will not be able to understand a lot of it. How will things work out? I don't know. I do hope for the best, but am prepared for the worst.

Long post short, many times you CAN get the lower rate if you do not have insurance. Just ask. And if the facility says, "NO," then you have a real advantage that people with insurance do not have. You can take your business and your wallet elsewhere, and are not bound by a network. If indeed, you or someone you know is without insurance, that is. Hope this helps.

hello Mr. MD can you answer a question for me since you are so in love with the current system. why is it that you charge $X for a visit but the insurance company will only pay you $X-what they allow + copay for those with insurance, but if they have no insurance, then they have to pay the full amount of $X.

Why cant i get the lower rate if i do not have insurance.

For example lab work will charge the insurnace $500, the insurance says we will pay $300 and the lab says ok and no other bill is sent to the person for the remaining $200. However if they have no insurance, they must pay the entire $500, no if ands or buts.