I went to a dermatologist in December to remove a wart. I told the doctor I didn't have insurance and asked what it cost. He said he would do it for $175 including a biopsy. I paid for the treatment when I left the office. I checked back for another wart with the same Doctor in January. They said as of January 1, 2016 they charge the same for self-pay as they do for insurance. They said under the law I am supposed to have insurance and it would cost $345 for wart removal and $145 for biopsy this time around.
A little n=1.... in terms of pharmacies I've noticed that they have always (well 20 years at least) charged more for out of pocket than somebody who is insured. And the charges between hospitals for the same thing in the same region wildly varies.... so let's just say that healthcare in America, before and after Obama, has always operated on whatever healthcare billers think they can get away with. Normal rules of economics don't apply to, well real healthcare not cosmetic things like warts, since people will pay whatever is required to not die.... Providers get away with less if there's a large purchaser that can threaten to, say, exclude them from their PPO.
They may charge the same for self pay as they do for insurance but that in no way reflects what they actually get paid. Insurance companies pay anywhere from 1/5 to 1/3 of what yhey are actually billed by doctors and hospitals. Next time you go to that doctor ask him how much the insurance company would actually pay for the wart removal and biopsy. You will learn just how badly those without nsurance are getting ripped off. If the Republicans really wanted to reform health care all the need do is pass a law saying that the maximun a doctor or hospital could charge anyone is the amount paid by large insurance companies for the same service.
As a physician sounds like b.s. to me. Look for another doctor. Doesn't matter what a doctor charges if he accepts your insurance plan he will only be paid 80% of what your plan approves and you will owe the remaining 20%. However that only applies once you have met your deductible and most deductibles under Obama care, exchange are between 6000-10000per year. Thats the rub. If u haven't yet met the deductible and out of pocket u owe 100% of the doctor or providers charge.
