Dr. Patel

I don't know about Dr. Patel, but many of the country's leading docs are selective about which insurance they accept. They don't want to accept the "negotiated rates" and they don't have to because they have all the business they need. Sadly, this is becoming increasingly common. I know several people who have paid their doctor privately (or as an "out of network" provider), because the surgeon they wanted did not participate in their particular insurance. Of course, just because the doc does not participate doesn't mean the hospital does not participate -- so you might find your surgeon is out of network, but your anesthesiologist, pathologist, etc. -- and the hospital itself -- may be in-network. All the major hospitals have insurance experts who can help sort this out.

My hubby had DaVinci surgery done by Dr. Patel last November.  Medicare and his medicare supplement paid for everything - no out of pocket costs whatsoever. 

 

I also had my surgery with Dr. Patel and my Medicare and supplement picked up all the charges.  I believe that Dr. Patel handles a lot of patients from out of the Country who want his expertise and that is the reason for the cash.

Jerry1

I had a conversation recently with a retired RN who now works as a patient co-ordinator at a major teaching hospital. She told of the actual marketing effort that brings patients into their heart & cancer clinics from Europe and the middle east. They keep translators on call for languages very few people speak, have support staff, and special arrangements with hotels for particular situations (social and religious).
Those folks can and do pay "retail", and are an important part of the economic mix for the hospital.

My surgeon has negotiated payment with Blue Cross / Blue Shield and I didn't have to pay a 'co-pay' for the procedure or treatment. The surgeon and hospital billed Blue Cross / Blue Shield about $67,000 and the insurance company paid approx. $37,000. I'm in Chicago where good and experienced , da Vinci surgeons are available but if I lived elsewhere Dr. Patel's marketed and reported numbers of procedures would have ruled him out as a possibility.

LenB said...
I don't mean to be political, but it will get worse when doctors begin no accepting medicare. I guess we'll then have to pay out of pocket or live with the PC.

It has nothing to do with 'politics', it is just part of the "big scare" campaign engineered by the huge insurance companies.  It is just another way to manipulate the ignorant. 

It is time for all of us to step back and examine the facts, not the propaganda that is still being offered daily by special interests.