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HUM, when did ANY doctor/dentist visits start being free???????
No, they were never free, but one usually could count on a diagnosis and some form of treatment in a single visit. Not a paid-for look-see and then, "Come back and I'll give you a shot or a pill. And then come back later, so I can see how the patient is progressing."
So I can't say I'm surprised to hear about dentists doing nothing but a diagnosis on a paid visit. I take my 87-year-old mother to all her doctor's appointments. She has 11 different physicians since where we live EVERYONE is a specialist. When she fell, we had to have separate doctors look at her hand and her arm. Mom gets back injections and she isn't allowed to ask the doctor a question while she is getting her shot. "If you have any questions, schedule an appointment with my staff as you exit."
Her GP basically just does triage. Things an RN used to do. If I call that office with anything that might need attention in less than three weeks, I am told to take my mother to the emergency room.
The specialists all require a (1) consultation, (2) one or more visits to provide treatment, and (3) then they try to insist on a follow-up, even if I say she's now fine. To me, if healthcare costs have skyrocketed in recent years, this is a prime reason. Doctors are milking insurance companies AND ESPECIALLY MEDICARE for every penny they can wring out of them by parceling out medical care in 15-minute appointments that all have to be paid for as if something was accomplished.
You know, it's important to realize how squeezed healthcare professionals are with things such as Medicare/Medicaid/and Health Insurance reimbursements. My sister in law is an optometrists, and her reimbursements for Medicare/Medicaid are dropping to $40, even though her chair costs are $80 per patient. A dentist/doctor/lawyer has nothing but his 40 hours a week to offer, along with his expertise. So a basic consultation fee to me makes rue he gets some kind of basic compensation while shooing away the tire kickers.
No, they were never free, but one usually could count on a diagnosis and some form of treatment in a single visit. Not a paid-for look-see and then, "Come back and I'll give you a shot or a pill. And then come back later, so I can see how the patient is progressing."
So I can't say I'm surprised to hear about dentists doing nothing but a diagnosis on a paid visit.
It depends on what it is. If it is just a simple cleaning, that can all be done in one visit, sure. But for more extensive work, they need to know what they are dealing with so that they can schedule their time and resources appropriately.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jukesgrrl
To me, if healthcare costs have skyrocketed in recent years, this is a prime reason.
Then you obviously know nothing about the reasons for the high costs of healthcare, especially as it relates to individual, private practices. These docs pay a fortune in malpractice insurance. They also have to pay their staff, rent on the office, cost of suppiles and any and all other overhead, and still make some form of profit, just like any other business does.
When it comes to my health, I want the best that modern medicine has to offer, and I am willing to pay for that; I'm looking for the best care possible, not the cheapest.
That said, I have worked with a number of doctors in Mexico over the years and can honestly say that I never want to be in a situation where I need to receive health care in that country, much less gpo out of my way to get it.
Anyone who is going to charge you nearly $4,000 for a single tooth is going to squeeze you for every dollar he can, including the consultation fee. Just sayin'.
My wife needs a dental implant for a single tooth. Her primary dentist recommended a specialist and setup a "consultation visit" for her to meet the specialist and get a cost estimate with treatment plan.
I made the mistake of assuming it would be a free consultation but my wife told me they charged her $97 for the visit and told her the total procedure would be $3,895 (ins. does not cover it).
Is it customary for these specialists to charge upfront for a consultation visit? It seems a little petty to charge people just to tell them how much you are going to be charged in the future.
We already knew exactly what the problem was and exactly what needed to be done from our primary dentist so there was nothing medical that took place during the consultation visit.
Any thoughts?
If it is a free consultation, they will usually advertise it because it isn't that common. Many doctors will also do their own check up because their reputation is on the line in case the previous doctor didn't diagnose you correctly. There are a lot of people who would take advantage of the free consultation and then go price shopping to different doctors. At least charging a fee won't leave them completely high and dry once they tell you the process and what is wrong.
My wife needs a dental implant for a single tooth. Her primary dentist recommended a specialist and setup a "consultation visit" for her to meet the specialist and get a cost estimate with treatment plan.
I made the mistake of assuming it would be a free consultation but my wife told me they charged her $97 for the visit and told her the total procedure would be $3,895 (ins. does not cover it).
Is it customary for these specialists to charge upfront for a consultation visit? It seems a little petty to charge people just to tell them how much you are going to be charged in the future.
We already knew exactly what the problem was and exactly what needed to be done from our primary dentist so there was nothing medical that took place during the consultation visit.
Any thoughts?
Almost $4,000 for one tooth? Holy crap, that is insane. For all the money they are charging for the implant they should be doing a free consultation. Why does she need a specialist?
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