Remember, these Big Chain Urgent Care Centers are now the ‘new’ and ‘overpriced’ Emergency Rooms of yesterday. So, what can you do to negotiate a flawed system like this?įirst and foremost, find out your potential financial liability before you go to that Big Chain Urgent Care Center by calling your health plan and asking them the contracted charges. The more you circulate within their network, the more opportunities they have to generate billable services. They will send you to the hospital supported labs for blood tests or may refuse to do ANY blood tests at their facility because they want you to go somewhere else. Procedures where Orthopedics, Anesthesia and other out-of-network specialists can bill preposterous amounts. Followed by calls from their “network doctors” to enroll in their next version of care. Many customers using these Big Chain Urgent Care Centers are stuck with bills of several hundred dollars.
The worst thing is not knowing what one’s financial liability will be. It can be a harrowing experience for sure. What can you do to reduce your urgent care cost and fees? If you have a deductible, go to a smaller UCAOA Accredited Urgent Care. The only thing that matters when you choose an Urgent Care in today’s world is your deductible. Had you chosen to go to a different Urgent Care, your out-of-pocket expense would have barely touched $100 in total – you could have paid all of it in person and be done. In fact, three of the “Big Chain” Urgent Care Centers in NYC have a negotiated rate of $300+ with many insurers and upwards of $200 with almost all other insurers. That Big Chain Urgent Care will now want you to see the hospital doctors and specialists who are “all in” on this. It is geared towards sick care, not health care. It is rigged to benefit Big Chain Urgent Care. All because there is no transparency in health care. That member is you.Īnd that “big fat bill” from the Big Chain Urgent Care is now coming to you! The Big Chain Urgent Care is told that $300 ($350 charge minus the $ 50 copay) is the members responsibility as the deductible has not been met. You already paid $50 as a copay when you had your visit. So, it applies the $350 amount towards that deductible. The amount of $350+ becomes payable to Big Chain Urgent Care.īut your insurer knows you have a deductible. Your Insurer approves all their charges as per their negotiated fee arrangement with the Big Chain Urgent Care. (The same Big Blue Insurance Company had contracted rates of $100 with other urgent care centers in your neighborhood – you just had no way of knowing that, of course). The Big Chain Urgent Care now submits a bill for $350+ to your insurance plan because that is what their contract with Big Blue Insurance Company states. They will collect just your $50 copay at the time of the visit. (This means you are required to pay the first $5,000 of all covered services before your Insurer even becomes liable for any costs). Here is a real case scenario from a Big Chain Urgent Care in NYC. A deductible is the portion you pay for covered health care services before your health insurer starts to pay. You forgot that deductible!!Īs of 2019, there are hardly any health insurance plans that have a zero deductible amount. Well, you are in for a $300+ sticker shock. You might think, “I have health insurance, why should it matter at all? My insurance will foot the bill”. The negotiated rate of Big Chain Urgent Care (20 or more locations) is often upwards of 3 times that of smaller urgent care centers. Going to a “Big Chain” Urgent Care (20 or more locations)ĭo that and chances are you’ll have to cough up a pretty penny! Visit our locations in Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx & Hicksville, Long Island. Statcare has been in business 10 years- we know what we are talking about (check out our reviews). These tips will help you save a bundle in the long run, esp. Being a smart consumer of healthcare services can be challenging indeed.
#Urgent care copay how to#
Now, that there are 10,000+ Urgent Care Centers in the US – far more than the number of Emergency Rooms, it is time to discuss how to avoid making financial mistakes in choosing an Urgent Care whether you need a service, a lab or a vaccination. emergency room) as the average ER bill is upwards of $1000. There was a time we had to encourage folks NOT to use an Emergency Room for minor emergencies (read our blog urgent care vs. Urgent Care Costs & Prices in NY Costs & Fees At Urgent Care – Avoiding A Sticker Shock! USCIS Civil Surgeons Locally in Long Island.Immigration Medical Exam / Green Card Physical.CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) Medical Exam / DOT Physical.Urgent Care Service: What You Need to Know.Pruebas Gratuitas de Anticuerpos COVID-19.
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