Does anyone else find this odd?

melandkeith2008 · May 2010

I'm filling out a bunch of paperwork to take to my first OB appointment on Friday and aside from the typical medical history paperwork, there seems to be a lot of paperwork about making sure the office gets paid. They want me to fill out a credit card authorization form so that they can automatically charge the card when the Explanation of Benefits form is sent by our insurance company reflecting the patient's financial responsibility. There's like 3 pages of stuff about paying them and comparing their "system" to one used by hotels and rental car agencies.

I understand that they are a business and need to get paid. I also know that doctor's offices sometimes get screwed by patients as far as payments are concerned.

For some reason though, all of this literature about making sure they get their money is rubbing me the wrong way. I'm being unreasonable, right?

Nicavesani · May 2010

Baby makin' is a business! At my first OB apt they sat us down with the office payroll people who reviewed our coverage and our portion of the responsiblility... then we had to sign on the dotted line.

Yes, having a baby is expensive, and if you have an emergency or if your LO goes to the NICU... Oh BOY, hold on to your panties! Our bill was about 7K! It hurt, but now we're ready to do it again!

melandkeith2008 · May 2010

I know, I know, this is reality! Just seems so strange to me for some reason. LOL

Love your siggy pic by the way!! Hilarious!!

jaa913 · May 2010

You should see my HD every time we get a piece of mail from our insurance, another bill he says. Well making, having, raising a child cost money I tell him and theres nothing you can do about it. My hubby can't wait to be a dad but he is very frugal so it hurts him to spend money

I just give him my look and go on with my pregnant happy self.

Nicavesani · May 2010

melandkeith2008:
I know, I know, this is reality! Just seems so strange to me for some reason. LOL
Love your siggy pic by the way!! Hilarious!!

Thanks!

CEO1197 · May 2010

This is my second pregnancy, neither of the medical groups I have used required us to give them our credit card information, nor did they ask for blanket authorization to charge the card based on what the EOB says.

Personally, I would not be comfortable with this. If your insurance fvcks up your EOB, you're going to have to duke it out with the drs office now too, to get your money back.

StephSH · May 2010

I wouldnt sign that and give them a credit card number. I worked for a major insurance company for 14 years and this is not kosher at all.

melandkeith2008 · May 2010

CEO1197:

This is my second pregnancy, neither of the medical groups I have used required us to give them our credit card information, nor did they ask for blanket authorization to charge the card based on what the EOB says.

Personally, I would not be comfortable with this. If your insurance fvcks up your EOB, you're going to have to duke it out with the drs office now too, to get your money back.

I had this thought as well. The paperwork says that if that happens, I would have to go through the insurance company to get my money back. That seems really tricky, especially knowing how crappy insurance companies are to deal with.

megboveri · May 2010

Seems really weird to me too. This is my second and I have gone through 2 different medical groups. Neither mentioned anything about payment (beyond requesting my insurance card and taking my $20 co-pay). I don't think I would feel comfortable signing those documents either.

Good Luck!

mommy411 · May 2010

I guess it depends on your insurance....Al I know was that DD was 75K abd I only paid 500

TheQuietGrrrl · May 2010

Welcome to modern medicine in the US.

This is par for the course at my dermatologist for skin exams. My OB is not so aggro. But then again, they've run my insurance through and been paid the way they want, so maybe they ease up then.

It could be that the office has eaten the expenses from one too many delinquent non-payers (and in this economy, not suprising) and they need to make up the difference on the backs of the uninsured. Or the insurers simply don't pay out as much anymore and the paying the overhead need to be guaranteed elsewhere.

It was certainly eye opening to see the flow of claim money from MD visits. Indifferent

raya · May 2010

Sounds kinda odd to me. I'm in Denver too - mind if I ask what practice you're seeing?

melandkeith2008 · May 2010

raya:
Sounds kinda odd to me. I'm in Denver too - mind if I ask what practice you're seeing?

Not at all - I'm going to South Metro OB/GYN.

gemrae1225 · May 2010

This seems a little odd to me. I would NEVER give my credit card number out, especially written on a piece of paper. I would however sign the necessary documents without diving into the rest of it. Your signature means that you are good for the money, and that should be that.

queenbone · May 2010

I find it very odd. Like pps I have never had this experience at either OB for either baby. Nor did I have to have my cc on file at the RE's office which was all out of pocket, I just had to pay in full at each appointment. I wouldn't be comfortable with having my cc on file.

darlene'smommy · May 2010

I have never had to do that for any doctor I have seen. I would not put my c.card number on a peice of paper where anyone who goes in that office could get the numbers. Not even the hospital asked us for anything. They gave us a choice to go to billing and get our bill or have it mailed to us. We knew the cost so we told them to mail it to us. For this baby or or daughter I have never had co-pays or anything due besides the some of the hospital bill ($500) so maybe thats why I have not had to do anything like that.

Kellina · May 2010

CEO1197:
This is my second pregnancy, neither of the medical groups I have used required us to give them our credit card information, nor did they ask for blanket authorization to charge the card based on what the EOB says.

Personally, I would not be comfortable with this. If your insurance fvcks up your EOB, you're going to have to duke it out with the drs office now too, to get your money back.

Yeah this sounds fishy. I've never heard of that and I work in the healthcare industry as well. I would NEVER sign an auth for them to charge me based on the EOB. If the EOB is wrong you and they need to talk to the insurance.

kcisthebombdotcom · May 2010

CEO1197:

This is my second pregnancy, neither of the medical groups I have used required us to give them our credit card information, nor did they ask for blanket authorization to charge the card based on what the EOB says.

Personally, I would not be comfortable with this. If your insurance fvcks up your EOB, you're going to have to duke it out with the drs office now too, to get your money back.

I agree with this. I would find another practice.

DaisyCakes18 · May 2010

I've never heard of that...strange. What would they do if a patient didn't have credit cards to charge?

pitterpatter129 · May 2010

I just got this paperwork in the mail. I have to pay off my portion of the bill by week 20 it says. However, it doesn't ask for a credit card, just a signature that I understand. The credit card portion is done in the office (or whatever means you plan on using to pay the bill.)

JoannaJes · May 2010

I would totally not feel comfortable giving them a credit card to have on file. What if your insurance company messes up your claim? Not only would you have to fix it with your insurance, but then also get the charge removed from your credit card. Also, what if it's a huge claim? It could potentially mess with your credit rating, which is not ok. I'd say find a new OB, stat.

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Does anyone else find this odd?

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