Quote Originally Posted by RoadToad View Post
NO, it would not. The reason routine check-ups are covered is that it's been proven that people who get them regularly have lower health care costs overall, which equates to lower payouts by the health insurance companies. As everyone knows, it all comes down to the $$, and the companies have figured out that paying for checkups saves them $$ in the long run. Lower costs = lower premiums. So, paradoxical as it may sound, the fact that your insurance company pays for routine checkups makes your health insurance cheaper in the long run.
There is merit to this statement. Issues get caught before they become catastrophic...lower costs in the long run...insurance companies make more money off you because they pay out less in claims. My health plan now covers a lot of preventative screenings and meds at 100%. It also lowers your premium if you are a smoker and quit...or if you're a fatty and you lose weight...or if you wear a pedometer that they give you and register x amount of steps a week. Wellness. Not because they give a rats about you, but because a well person equates to profit for the insurance company. They are at our office all the time with little "ditch the cigs" and "toss the twinkles" campaigns now.

As for doctors charging 20K for something and negotiating down to 8K...that's just the game. When you list a boat for sale on Craigslist, you don't list bottom dollar to start do you? A doctor's expertise is a service in demand. If you don't like what they charge, go to Med School and learn how to do your own quadruple bypass. LOL. That said, the prices are ludicrous. My wife was billed almost $500 last month to simply draw blood and run a screen...I mean, good lord.