TLDR: thought I was getting an annual physical, turns out I am being charged $750. I am feeling extremely distraught, hopeless, and depressed.
Back in March 2020, I contacted a local PCP in my area in order to have a physical exam done, as I had just moved to the area. Given that COVID had just started at that point, the appointment was pushed back until July. When July came around, it was again pushed back to December. I was finally able to visit the doctor on December 7 for what I consented to and understood as a preventative annual physical exam.
Upon entering, the doctor stated that his hope for the visit was to get to know me as a new patient, and see if I had any health concerns or issues that I wanted to make sure we addressed before the end of the visit. Seemingly innocent, and wanting to more give the doctor some background on myself and some prior health concerns, I explained that I had been having slight chest tightness for the last few months, in addition to constipation and had moles on my back.
He then began to ask more about me, and spent probably 30 minutes asking about family history, my background, my fitness, my diet, my mental state, etc. Then, at the end of the visit, he listened to my chest and showed me some stretches, told me to eat more fiber, and looked at my moles and said they were fine.
He then asked me when the last time I received the Tdap vaccine. I asked my mother, who confirmed it was in 2009. He said that it is recommended that you get a booster every 10 years, so I complied.
He then asked if I wanted to get blood work done. At this point, still with the complete understanding that this appointment was being conducted as my annual preventative exam (which is what I was told and lead to believe), I said yes. The doctor did not explain which tests would be covered or recommended for people my age, but rather sent me to the lab within the same practice to get blood drawn. Shortly thereafter, I walked out of the office, thinking I had just received routine care that would be covered by my UHC high deductible plan.
Fast forward to today, I receive two separate bills: one of them from the lab for $981, in which insurance covered $631, leaving me to pay $350 and the second from the visit itself for $450, in which insurance covered $15, leaving me to pay $435.
Needless to say, I’m very shocked, depressed, confused, and feel destroyed. None of this was made clear to me, and as someone who was just trying to get an annual physical exam, the fact that I’m seemingly on the hook for $750 out of pocket is frightening and frankly, something I cannot afford to pay in the given times.
Any advice, recourse, or plans of action to take to somehow get this situation resolved? I don’t even know where to start and am feeling seriously down. Thanks in advance.
submitted by /u/ewsebook
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TLDR: thought I was getting an annual physical, turns out I am being charged $750. I am feeling extremely distraught, hopeless, and depressed. Back in March 2020, I contacted a local PCP in my area in order to have a physical exam done, as I had just moved to the area. Given that COVID had just started at that point, the appointment was pushed back until July. When July came around, it was again pushed back to December. I was finally able to visit the doctor on December 7 for what I consented to and understood as a preventative annual physical exam. Upon entering, the doctor stated that his hope for the visit was to get to know me as a new patient, and see if I had any health concerns or issues that I wanted to make sure we addressed before the end of the visit. Seemingly innocent, and wanting to more give the doctor some background on myself and some prior health concerns, I explained that I had been having slight chest tightness for the last few months, in addition to constipation and had moles on my back. He then began to ask more about me, and spent probably 30 minutes asking about family history, my background, my fitness, my diet, my mental state, etc. Then, at the end of the visit, he listened to my chest and showed me some stretches, told me to eat more fiber, and looked at my moles and said they were fine. He then asked me when the last time I received the Tdap vaccine. I asked my mother, who confirmed it was in 2009. He said that it is recommended that you get a booster every 10 years, so I complied. He then asked if I wanted to get blood work done. At this point, still with the complete understanding that this appointment was being conducted as my annual preventative exam (which is what I was told and lead to believe), I said yes. The doctor did not explain which tests would be covered or recommended for people my age, but rather sent me to the lab within the same practice to get blood drawn. Shortly thereafter, I walked out of the office, thinking I had just received routine care that would be covered by my UHC high deductible plan. Fast forward to today, I receive two separate bills: one of them from the lab for $981, in which insurance covered $631, leaving me to pay $350 and the second from the visit itself for $450, in which insurance covered $15, leaving me to pay $435. Needless to say, I’m very shocked, depressed, confused, and feel destroyed. None of this was made clear to me, and as someone who was just trying to get an annual physical exam, the fact that I’m seemingly on the hook for $750 out of pocket is frightening and frankly, something I cannot afford to pay in the given times. Any advice, recourse, or plans of action to take to somehow get this situation resolved? I don’t even know where to start and am feeling seriously down. Thanks in advance.
submitted by /u/ewsebook [link] [comments]Read Morer/HealthInsurance