New Healthcare Provider Requirement

I thought I posted this here but can't find it or I didn't do it....I been sick with a cold so flu this week so I went to the doctor on friday and luckily it's just a bad cold with an attitude. When I was checking out the lady says that will be $100....which is a Surprise to me because my high deductible plan has no copay and I usually just get my bill later and pay it out of my HSA.
Well she said not anymore....beginning in January that want at least a $100 payment up front on plans like mine. A plan that I have had for 4 years (?) and has worked just fine. So I said is this because of Obamacare? She snickered and said no no no it's just our new policy. I asked again would you explain the reason then? She came up with a typical political answer and talked for 5 minutes and explained NOTHING!
So I'm asking on here has anyone had this happen at their doctors office? I'm going to call next week and ask someone else because it ticks me off to have to now potentially deal with a bill more than once because if the $100 doesn't cover it I will have to pay the remainder on next bill when it comes. When before I just paid the one bill that has been through my insurance company and billed according to the codes by the doc. Now I don't know for sure what my insurance pays and if they think my doc charged to much they would work that out before it came to me.

I know I will be talking to my insurance company to get their take on this and if they agree (they always told me to only pay a bill after it's been processed through them) their old policy is the best policy then my doc will either EXEMPT me from this or I will look for one who does business the old way.

Now to be honest I have an idea of what I will be charged from getting these meds before but that's not the point at all. Something stinks here and yes my gut tells me to blame that Obama fool.

[QUOTE=DJD;527435]I thought I posted this here but can't find it or I didn't do it....I been sick with a cold so flu this week so I went to the doctor on friday and luckily it's just a bad cold with an attitude. When I was checking out the lady says that will be $100....which is a Surprise to me because my high deductible plan has no copay and I usually just get my bill later and pay it out of my HSA.
Well she said not anymore....beginning in January that want at least a $100 payment up front on plans like mine. A plan that I have had for 4 years (?) and has worked just fine. So I said is this because of Obamacare? She snickered and said no no no it's just our new policy. I asked again would you explain the reason then? She came up with a typical political answer and talked for 5 minutes and explained NOTHING!
So I'm asking on here has anyone had this happen at their doctors office? I'm going to call next week and ask someone else because it ticks me off to have to now potentially deal with a bill more than once because if the $100 doesn't cover it I will have to pay the remainder on next bill when it comes. When before I just paid the one bill that has been through my insurance company and billed according to the codes by the doc. Now I don't know for sure what my insurance pays and if they think my doc charged to much they would work that out before it came to me.

I know I will be talking to my insurance company to get their take on this and if they agree (they always told me to only pay a bill after it's been processed through them) their old policy is the best policy then my doc will either EXEMPT me from this or I will look for one who does business the old way.

Now to be honest I have an idea of what I will be charged from getting these meds before but that's not the point at all. Something stinks here and yes my gut tells me to blame that Obama fool.[/QUOTE] I hadn't had a physical, sense I joined the army at age 18, carried insurance all my adult life. just been blessed with good health, and never felt like I needed to go to a dr. getting to be an old man now, and thought I may need to go have a physical, just to be on the safe side. didn't feel bad or anything, just an age deal I guess. the blood work all checked out ok, except my vitamin D was low. and doing this, I've had to visit the Dr 4 times sense September, and the last time I went was 1/13/14 and each visit was the same for me, didn't have to pay anything the day of the visit, after the Hospital, Dr's and Insurance co. got there deal worked out I had to pay the rest. my insurance has a 30.00 copay, but only later not the day of the Dr visit.

Our procedures haven't changed, but we are on a more traditional plan because of my wife's high medical expenses. I'm actually on her insurance because it was a better deal than my company has.

A buddy of mine on a HSA setup said the same thing about his doc now requiring $100 at the office visit, which was new to him.

This stuff is going to get worse I'm afraid. One company that I know well told me that choosing to not provide insurance for their employee would save them major bucks annually, even after they pay the government penalties. They have about 800 employees. They are keeping insurance only because it's a moral thing to them and they don't want to force their employees to go through the exchange deal and get hosed with higher premiums that they can't afford. Good to see them care about their employees like that, but all companies won't make that same choice when faced with the same decision. They'll drop coverage and boost their bottom line. The government will make more money through the penalties paid and be able to hand out more in welfare. The employee will get rear-ended with higher premiums that they can't afford. At the end of the day, it's the working man that bears the brunt of it all.

The overwhelming majority of working Americans will soon be paying far more for health care, especially those who make decent money. Politicians lie, simple math doesn't. We are in the very early stages of yet another major screwing by the federal government.

[QUOTE=Devils Horse;527461]The overwhelming majority of working Americans will soon be paying far more for health care, especially those who make decent money. Politicians lie, simple math doesn't. We are in the very early stages of yet another major screwing by the federal government.[/QUOTE]

Yep...............simple Math.