NBR - Physical follow-ups for you to DH

TinyPinkBug

I confess, I haven't been for a physical in so long I don't remember.  DH, however, went for a physical over the summer.  Physicals are covered 100% by our insurance but offices visits are a $25 co-pay.  DH's Dr doesn't give follow-up results by phone and required a follow-up visit.  The follow up visit was basically, yup all is good, have a nice day.  To which the Dr office charged the ins company for a regular visit and makes us responsible for the $25 co-pay.  DH is pretty mad about it, he is appealing the claim with the insurance company.  Also, DH was refered to a specialist for a routine screening.  OUr specialist co-pay is $40 per visit.  This Dr requires a pre-procedure visit which was nothing more than a meet the dr and asking any possible question, one for the procedure and a follow-up visit with results.  This subjects us to two more $40 co-pays as the procedure itself is considered preventative and covered.  Is this normal?  It seems crazy to me to have all these charges for office visits that would be done with a phone call or even a letter in the mail.  Or at least they should be covered as part of the exams since they are nothing more than getting results.

jnk062602

I guess it would depend on the prodedure for that one.  But as far as the physical - that is crappy.  Our dr does not do that.  Not only for the money....but who wants to potentially take off time from work or waste a day off twice?

Bianca42

My doctor's office sends a reminder card for your physical and it says "call for a script for bloodwork".  They then review the results of the bloodwork at the free physical.  If I don't do the bloodwork ahead of time, they will send the results by mail (or call if there is a medication change required.)

My doctor wanted me to have a GI scope test done.  I went to a pre-appointment and then decided against the procedure.  I bet they would have required a follow-up visit too.

Can you call around to other specialists to see if they all operate that way?  I would consider changing regular doctors too, because I would not be happy about a changed appointment to get results.

JenJar

DH went in for a physical, which is covered with our insurance, but because they talked about his high cholesterol for the majority of the visit, the doctor billed the insurance as a 'specific need' office visit and we had to pay $125 for the visit.  So now, DH is refusing to go back for his follow up to see how the meds are helping. 

Bianca42

JenJar:

DH went in for a physical, which is covered with our insurance, but because they talked about his high cholesterol for the majority of the visit, the doctor billed the insurance as a 'specific need' office visit and we had to pay $125 for the visit.  So now, DH is refusing to go back for his follow up to see how the meds are helping. 

That happened once with my son.  He was there for a well visit and happened to have strep throat that day.  Because there was a diagnosis made, the insurance company required us to pay a copay.  Luckily in our case it was only $20.