Being aware of costs and forcing medical providers to compete on price are all part of the intent of Health Savings Accounts and their linked High Deductible insurance plans. The idea is that the insurance is there to save you from financial ruin from extraordinary medical expenses, but the average visit or medication is paid for by the patient.
Getting a check-up shouldn’t be a big deal, should be the equivalent of getting an oil change. In the end this will happen by engaging the consumer and getting rid of the distance currently seen in these scenarios.
I really agree with you. I am just tired of all the complaining there is not one thing we can do about it. So live with it move on with your life. when you complain about not having enough money for gas just think about all the people that go without food, water, clothes ect. then say you don't have enough money.
You have to include the infamous Zappos story here! After a night out on the town, a customer was hungry for pizza but didn't know his way around town. So he called up Zappos, mentioned he was a customer, and the rep gave him a list of places that were open in his area that delivered.
Phillip, your posts are the best. I love the way you summed it up. I'm a freelancer who's been writing a lot about credit cards recently, and all the research shows that nobody plans to get in over their heads - it happens through mistakes.
Credit card example - if you miss the date by one day (here in Oz) you are charged about $50 in fees and interest on a monthly spend of $1300 because the "interest free days" disappear and interest is back-calculated. Banks profit off people making mistakes. Imagine if you really couldn't pay the bill one month.
And that's the thing: everything is reasonable, until a disaster happens.
I agree about prepaid cards. What we use around the house is a charge card - accepted everywhere a credit card is but with the balance due in full at the end of the month, we have no flexibility to spend whatever we like. We have to manage our money but we also get points from the card and can use that for other things. They are a great tool.
I find it absurd that hospitals would be so sneaky about fees. As an Australian, general healthcare is covered by medicare, however dental is not. I recently had some urgent wisdom tooth work done all out of pocket (I'm uninsured). All fees were known up-front: the initial consultation, the x-rays, and the extraction by an orthodontist. As I'm a student, they even gave me a choice of two different painkillers which varied in price. No way would I EVER get medical work done in Australia without knowing the price first. I really don't understand why people would support USA's broken health care system. I know our's isn't perfect, but I won't be risking bankruptcy if I end up in hospital.
I couldn't agree more. Even though I focus on those a little older (like working age), the earlier the better when it comes to teaching financial literacy.
I love hearing about these kinds of stories. Although it may seem insignificant in the scheme of things, it's great to have a reason to give certain companies your business.
My mother was going in for eye surgery to get a lens replacement and was understandably nervous. The day before we stopped at Trader Joe's for a few things. As mom was writing out her check, she mentioned to the cashier to please be patient she was having a hard time seeing but was going in for surgery in the morning for it. The cashier smiled and said not to worry about it, then asked my mom's favorite color. The question took mom aback a bit (me too), but she said red. As we gathered our bags, the cashier returned with a dozen red roses and gave them to my mom with best wishes for her surgery.
i worked at papa murphys in oklahoma. they dont have a "freezer," but they turn their fridge below 29f. the company shelf lives on some products are TWO WEEKS but they are never really honored. fresh my foot. they change labels all the time. the cheese was shredded daily- but used more than a week later! dough is never used the same day. ever. it is all horse crap. especially in the mushrooms. because you are not even allowed to wash them. so there is actual animal feces on you actual pizza. i can go on, but you get the picture. these are minimum wagee teenagers and druggies and felons and you are eating doo doo.
Thanks for the great tip. I now can finally check my email at airports when I'm waiting. This always happens to me and next time I will be sure to ask around for a promo code.
So did you ever find out how they were getting these cards so cheap. I have been wondering the same thing for the past 3 months. I keep seeing websites with itunes cards like 80% off and I'm wondering how they get it so cheap. I have never bought these because its obviously illegal.
By the way, the people on ebay that are trying to sell informtion on places to buy cheap stuff on is at dhgate.com
Its lke 30 bucks for a 500 dollar gift card. The chinese keep hacking itunes accounts to put money on them.
Well anyways, great article and i really enjoyed reading it.
Thank
I'm self employed and I live in the U.S and live in the state of Massachusetts where they made it law you had to pay for health insurance.
So we were paying for our health insurance, then yearly they kept raising the cost for the Insurance. This year they raised my health insurance to $15,600.00 a year($1300.00 a month)
So i called and ask why so high, there reply was "you used it". Yes I had my yearly physical. The physical only cost $600. either way they refused to budge so i canceled it. I went to the state where they pool it together and suppose to give a discount to people who are self employed or have a small business. they said they want $22,800.00 (1900.00 a month) I don't think so..
So i pay the fine instead $258 a month to the state.. I told my wife if we ever get real ill just go to the ER and I'll send them $10 a month. I am not going to be plunged to death financialy by these mobsters. wait till 2014 and the law goes into effect for the whole country, instead of just our state. there will be an over flow of americans moving to canada..
I know people in our small town that have shopped around for MRI services and found amazing variations in pricing. Since it isn't ER, you should be able to find the best price by making phone calls.
There actually a few doctors that are bucking the system.. accepting no insurance and keeping their costs down. I would love to see this trend continue. http://thephysicianspractice.com The one locally even does house calls. You can see his price list on the website. This is one of a few doctors passing savings onto the customer.
I agree with others.. E.R. is not the place for non-threatening medical services but it is where the illegals go for care... and we all foot the bill as the they not only don't have insurance, most don't pay at all. Those costs are spread to the rest of us. I don't believe government care is the answer anymore than forcing people to purchase services they don't need or want.
Garage sales can be really fun! And what better way to recycle all that "stuff"?
Being aware of costs and forcing medical providers to compete on price are all part of the intent of Health Savings Accounts and their linked High Deductible insurance plans. The idea is that the insurance is there to save you from financial ruin from extraordinary medical expenses, but the average visit or medication is paid for by the patient.
Getting a check-up shouldn’t be a big deal, should be the equivalent of getting an oil change. In the end this will happen by engaging the consumer and getting rid of the distance currently seen in these scenarios.
hey, you could use them as a tablets container, maybe for a couple of emergency painkillers or daily tablets.
I really agree with you. I am just tired of all the complaining there is not one thing we can do about it. So live with it move on with your life. when you complain about not having enough money for gas just think about all the people that go without food, water, clothes ect. then say you don't have enough money.
You have to include the infamous Zappos story here! After a night out on the town, a customer was hungry for pizza but didn't know his way around town. So he called up Zappos, mentioned he was a customer, and the rep gave him a list of places that were open in his area that delivered.
Nice!
Trader Joe's consistently goes above and beyond regarding customer service. I am customer of theirs for life.
Thanks for this 7 Great Jobs that Offer College Loan Forgiveness!! thumbs up!!
Phillip, your posts are the best. I love the way you summed it up. I'm a freelancer who's been writing a lot about credit cards recently, and all the research shows that nobody plans to get in over their heads - it happens through mistakes.
Credit card example - if you miss the date by one day (here in Oz) you are charged about $50 in fees and interest on a monthly spend of $1300 because the "interest free days" disappear and interest is back-calculated. Banks profit off people making mistakes. Imagine if you really couldn't pay the bill one month.
And that's the thing: everything is reasonable, until a disaster happens.
Love your succinct way of putting it.
I agree about prepaid cards. What we use around the house is a charge card - accepted everywhere a credit card is but with the balance due in full at the end of the month, we have no flexibility to spend whatever we like. We have to manage our money but we also get points from the card and can use that for other things. They are a great tool.
Good site Different Types of Loans! Loan is secured against the equity in your home
I find it absurd that hospitals would be so sneaky about fees. As an Australian, general healthcare is covered by medicare, however dental is not. I recently had some urgent wisdom tooth work done all out of pocket (I'm uninsured). All fees were known up-front: the initial consultation, the x-rays, and the extraction by an orthodontist. As I'm a student, they even gave me a choice of two different painkillers which varied in price. No way would I EVER get medical work done in Australia without knowing the price first. I really don't understand why people would support USA's broken health care system. I know our's isn't perfect, but I won't be risking bankruptcy if I end up in hospital.
I couldn't agree more. Even though I focus on those a little older (like working age), the earlier the better when it comes to teaching financial literacy.
I love hearing about these kinds of stories. Although it may seem insignificant in the scheme of things, it's great to have a reason to give certain companies your business.
When you sign up under a referral, does that mean that you make 25% less from your own commission? Thanks.
My mother was going in for eye surgery to get a lens replacement and was understandably nervous. The day before we stopped at Trader Joe's for a few things. As mom was writing out her check, she mentioned to the cashier to please be patient she was having a hard time seeing but was going in for surgery in the morning for it. The cashier smiled and said not to worry about it, then asked my mom's favorite color. The question took mom aback a bit (me too), but she said red. As we gathered our bags, the cashier returned with a dozen red roses and gave them to my mom with best wishes for her surgery.
i worked at papa murphys in oklahoma. they dont have a "freezer," but they turn their fridge below 29f. the company shelf lives on some products are TWO WEEKS but they are never really honored. fresh my foot. they change labels all the time. the cheese was shredded daily- but used more than a week later! dough is never used the same day. ever. it is all horse crap. especially in the mushrooms. because you are not even allowed to wash them. so there is actual animal feces on you actual pizza. i can go on, but you get the picture. these are minimum wagee teenagers and druggies and felons and you are eating doo doo.
Thanks for the great tip. I now can finally check my email at airports when I'm waiting. This always happens to me and next time I will be sure to ask around for a promo code.
So did you ever find out how they were getting these cards so cheap. I have been wondering the same thing for the past 3 months. I keep seeing websites with itunes cards like 80% off and I'm wondering how they get it so cheap. I have never bought these because its obviously illegal.
By the way, the people on ebay that are trying to sell informtion on places to buy cheap stuff on is at dhgate.com
Its lke 30 bucks for a 500 dollar gift card. The chinese keep hacking itunes accounts to put money on them.
Well anyways, great article and i really enjoyed reading it.
Thank
beans and rice.
rice and beans.
healthy, filling and cheap.
I'm self employed and I live in the U.S and live in the state of Massachusetts where they made it law you had to pay for health insurance.
So we were paying for our health insurance, then yearly they kept raising the cost for the Insurance. This year they raised my health insurance to $15,600.00 a year($1300.00 a month)
So i called and ask why so high, there reply was "you used it". Yes I had my yearly physical. The physical only cost $600. either way they refused to budge so i canceled it. I went to the state where they pool it together and suppose to give a discount to people who are self employed or have a small business. they said they want $22,800.00 (1900.00 a month) I don't think so..
So i pay the fine instead $258 a month to the state.. I told my wife if we ever get real ill just go to the ER and I'll send them $10 a month. I am not going to be plunged to death financialy by these mobsters. wait till 2014 and the law goes into effect for the whole country, instead of just our state. there will be an over flow of americans moving to canada..
http://rjcleaningservice.com/
Nora:
I just found your blog. I really like what I'm reading.
I'm going to make that 20-minute list tonight.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/may/10/no-insurance-no-problem/
I know people in our small town that have shopped around for MRI services and found amazing variations in pricing. Since it isn't ER, you should be able to find the best price by making phone calls.
There actually a few doctors that are bucking the system.. accepting no insurance and keeping their costs down. I would love to see this trend continue. http://thephysicianspractice.com The one locally even does house calls. You can see his price list on the website. This is one of a few doctors passing savings onto the customer.
I agree with others.. E.R. is not the place for non-threatening medical services but it is where the illegals go for care... and we all foot the bill as the they not only don't have insurance, most don't pay at all. Those costs are spread to the rest of us. I don't believe government care is the answer anymore than forcing people to purchase services they don't need or want.
My favorite Yoda quote has to do with finding the motivation to save money. "There is no try. Only do!"