Does it cost to go to the doctor for any reason, in the US?
814792
Also, if you can't afford to pay for health insurance and your job doesn't offer it, or if they do it costs too much.....then you're in big trouble. I had to go to the emergency room once and I didn't have health insurance...omg it was bad.\n\n2 MRIs and some bloodwork later I was $12,000 in hole. Medical fees are effing insane here!\n\nBut yes, in general you always pay. Usually what it is is you pay a monthly fee for health insurance (averaging around $60 dollars a month) and then if you have to go to the doctor you have to pay a copay, like $20-$40 bucks. Then if you have to have medicine you have to pay the copay for that. Etc. for all medical related things really.\n\nBut someplaces can be free if you can prove your income is low enough. Such as PlannedParenthood. Which covers everything from actual pregnancies to mamograms and STDs.\n\nAnd then for kids if you're low income you can find clinics that'll cover vacinations and things like that.
1067151
Medical insurance costs a lot because of multiple factors.  Medical costs are steadily rising because our population is aging, our population is getting increasingly unhealthy (obesity crisis).  This results in increasing usage of medical services.\nThe medical infrastructure costs a staggering and increasing amount of money to run.  Hospital costs are going up.  Doctors salaries are increasing. \nMedical malpractice lawsuits and related insurance costs are going up.  So, doctors and hospitals demand more for their services to cover these additional costs. \nFinally, through it all the ultimate customer (the patient) never really sees a bill or the direct costs of the medical services he incurs.  So, the health care industry has virtually no pricing mechanism that would find an equilibrium between supply and demand as in all other industries. \n\nAlso, as you mentioned there is a lot of scamming going on.  Additionally, Medicare and Medicaid government programs don't pay the private sector for the full costs of the medical services it purchases or reimburses.  So, there is a lot of cost shifting by hospitals and doctors from Medicare and Medicaid to the private sector. \n\nSo, there are a lot of interesting underlying complex issues involved here.  \n\nIf you want me to clarify any of the above send me an email through "Answer" and I will edit my response accordingly.
985003
Is it a problem that doctors don’t pursue questions regarding diseases and treatments?\n\nYes, it is a big problem and it can lead to a misdiagnoses.  Doctors used to have the time to talk with and examine their patients.  With the institution of the HMO system doctors are budgeted to only 15-20 minutes.  The don’t even have time to check your vitals, a nurse does that before you see the doctor.  Now days the doctors have to work fast to make their quotas.\n\nHMOs have made health care cheaper, but nowhere cheap enough, and at a great cost.  Patients just don’t get enough time with their doctors to insure that they get adequate treatment, and by seeing so many patients in a day they start to blur together.\n\nI belong to the world’s largest HMO organization; the Veterans Administration, handling patients in all 50 states and world wide (care can be provided at any base with the proper facilities).  The US Military has to run its health care like an HMO as well.  It is the only way that they can provide care to all active duty members and their families for free (most of the time—some family members can be charged some fees).  Currently I am seeing 5 clinics in a major facility so I know about HMOs  I have also seen the rushed practices of HMOs percolate down into the private practice.  Doctors in private practice have to keep costs low and see a lot of patients so they can compete.\n\nAmericans are burdened with the “Puritan Ethic” a product of our ancestors who came over on the Mayflower.  Very few Americans are descended from those early colonists, but they have all been influenced by it.  This ethic says that adults must work hard all their lives, be proper religious folk, take only the minimum of time off, and yet somehow raise a family.  Getting sick is just not an option.\n\nMy parents were first generation immigrants; my grandparents all immigrated to America.  They lived in the North East where this ethic thrived and was expected of all immigrants.  My Grandfather died in his 40s, probably from a heart attack.  He never went to see a doctor so I will never know.  My father was a long time smoker and he probably died of lung complications induced by smoking.  Despite feeling weak, despite having to wheeze he didn’t want to go to the doctor.  So he died in his 70s.\n\nIllness was never an excuse in our family.  According to my mother, “If it isn’t broke and bleeding then there is nothing wrong.”  I came down with an ear infection so bad that I couldn’t sleep.  It turned out to be a double ear infection, but it took my mother several days before she was willing to take me to the doctor.  My dad had a good job with full health coverage so money wasn’t a problem.  She didn’t want to admit that I was sick and trying to “pull one over on her” by ditching school.  So it was no surprise that my father didn’t go to the doctor.\n\nWhen she gave birth to her last two children she was at work in the morning and in the hospital that afternoon.  A little thing like being pregnant didn’t keep her down, or put her into bed for long.\n\nCombine the Puritan Ethic with a short doctor visit and few patients get a proper visit.  They don’t want to admit they are sick and the doctor doesn’t have time to pry it out of them.  Often they will have waited until a major problem has grown to the point where it can’t be ignored.  They only go to the doctor when it is absolutely necessary.\n\nI have a disabling illness that prevents me from working.  But, in the early days I was accused of faking it.  Once even a doctor called my boss to tell him I was faking it.  A few years later my illness became a recognized illness and after a long struggle I have won disability from the Veterans Administration and from Social Security.  I need it because I simply cannot work.  I tried for years, I won’t go into the boring (and depressing details), but before I won my disability awards I was investigated thoroughly, I
34091
if you go to the hospital to get checked out, there are two options for you: \n1.) Free care policy- this is based on your income.  now if you make too much for this ..........\n\n2.) the Hill Burton Act- the sum of this act is basically this.  you go to the hospital and get a 350 dollar bill.  as long as you are showing some progression towards payment (ex. 20 dollars a month) they can not deny you health care.   \n\nlook up both of these 2 options for the area that you live in.  but dont hesitate to go just because of a money situation.  it could be something serious!  good luck
718436
I live in SC but the community health center will do it for like $50 if you are a low-income family. It's not free, but it sure does cost a lot less than the alternatives!
1029378
Although it seems wrong, I think it's because the insurance companies have negotiated a lower rate with the doctor for the people that they insure.  That way, they pay less and the doctor will potentially get more patients coming to him if they're accepting that insurance plan.
371603
you should see a Dr.  if you go to a county hospital they have to see you and they will set up a payment plan for you it is not as expensive as you think
364494
There are many clinics that charge on a sliding scale (what you make depends on what you pay).  You should find one and see a doctor soon.  Also, if you are over 40, most states have free screening programs.
584144
With the cost of medical treatment?  \nreasonable.\nrational?
350402
I believe so. You will have to pay for a copy to be made and fill out forms. I paid $15 once. Ask the receptionist at your doctor's office.
1002737
Too expensive. What if you had surgery, then you got an infection, a serious one? The health unsurance plans in America stink royally. We the payers are getting the short end of the stick for the large Insurance bill. Really good insurance comes from your local farm bureau. Check them out!
961007
Probably a couple of hundred dollars. If you are an international student, you should have medical insurance and should be covered.
854901
I think that the answer is socialized healthcare.  Too much money is wasted in the current American healthcare system.  Not only do we pay about twice as much as other western countries, but the quality of care is also inferior.
1037703
I definately agree with you, they should see their physician. But HOLD ON! before you start going against them, you also have to see the medical insurance is very high, and it is NOT going to STOP! it will geek on going higher. The reason I said this is almost HALF of all the people in America does NOT have Health Insurance. Right there, thats serious. Plus they have to pay certain amount just to get a visit to their clinic(If the have insurance) if they DON'T have insurance, they should go to webmd.com. That site is very good. But yes, i do agree with you on shortnessof breath. that is an exception as well as heart related symptoms. Getting some answers here helps them get some feed back on what are some possible causeof their pain. if it was VERY serious (physiologically) then they wouldn't be able to type their question in the first place, instead they would dial 911. But I applaud you for bringing this question(Yes, it is a serious question).
1059778
Q: How much does gastric bypass cost?\n\nA: This varies according to where you are having the procedure. In doing a little price comparison on the Web, I found that it usually runs between $17,000 and $22,000 dollars.\n\nKeep in mind that the cost of an operation depends on the coverage that you have.  For example, one well publicized case of a man whose son (3yrs old) died of cancer and who had no insurance, was billed $186,000 for a lengthy stay.  The man told the hospital that he would pay them $600.00 per month.  The hospital balked at the offer and sued the man.  The judge was outraged.  After investigating the case, he lowered the man's bill to 68,000.  The man agreed, once again, to pay the $600.00 per month.  This time the hospital accepted and took the money like the thieves that they are.\n\nWhy do I say this?  The judge had determined that if the man had Medicare, Medicaid, or cheap insurance, the entire hospital bill would have been 36,500.  The judge determined that even that amount let the hospital turn a profit, even though the Medicare/Medicaid payments would have been next to nothing (in this case).\n\nThe judge determined that the hospital was overcharging people with no insurance and using that money to subsidize the insured patients bills.\n\nSometimes, its not what the operation costs, but rather what type of insurance that you have.\n\nSince you have no insurance, you need to check with local agencies, federal, state and local to see if there is any aid available.  If you don't own property, go to a hospital that is publicly funded.  These days, almost all hospitals are.  Meet with the financial office to see if you can come to an agreement on a lower price.  Believe it or not, this happens more than you think.  Its worth a shot.  But first, exhaust all help available on the web in your area.\n\nTry going to www.ask.com and type in a question, "How can I get help paying for my medical bills?"  See what comes up.  Then do some Google research on the ramifications of not paying the bill or not paying the bill in its entirety.\n\nBut look around, investigate and plan for this.  Most people end up in bad situations because of inadequate or no planning.\n\nGood luck to you.
121668
I have PET scans regularly since I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma.  The bill before insurance covered it was about $4,100 or so. Usually bills to the insurance are higher than bills to uninsured patients.  CT scans will run a couple hundred dollars and up depending on how much of your body you have scanned.  This is in California, and I know things are kind of pricey here compared to other states.  If your doctor suspects cancer, if you have cancer, or if you are in remission from cancer, these scans are very important, they can save your life!
572184
You may have a serious medical or psychological problem. Consult your doctor immediately and worry about the costs later. If you have decent insurance, that should cover most of whatever, even if you're just stressed. (But stress can lead to worse conditions.)