How do you feel about Occupy Wall Street?

[Kang 22]

Yeah, I wonder that too. We went to a deductible plan a few years ago, so they send the statements with the actual costs. Say an ultrasound is $1200 based on a contract rate, it is reduced to $700 under cost sharing, and under some kind of weird math, $500 gets charged to our annual deductible, and the bill to us is $270. I don't understand it, I just write the check for the $270.

Ask for their CASH price.

You see, the thing about insurance is the cash price and the insurance price (the one providers bill the insurance) are drastically different. Ask for their cash price and compare it to your EOB.

Folks with insurance, you might want to ask for the cash price when visiting your doctors. Use your insurance, but remember the cash price. Then compare.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Ask for their CASH price.

You see, the thing about insurance is the cash price and the insurance price (the one providers bill the insurance) are drastically different. Ask for their cash price and compare it to your EOB.

Folks with insurance, you might want to ask for the cash price when visiting your doctors. Use your insurance, but remember the cash price. Then compare.

For dental care, the CASH price is usually higher than what the insurance companies will actually pay. Some dentists might give you a pre-payment discount, but other than that, you are screwed if you don't have some sort of dental insurance.

As far as medical, I agree with you that if you pay cash, the bill gets reduced, however, the medical provider doesn't often get reimbursed for everything he bills for when he has to deal with insurance companies.

[mawilson 2,133]

Yeah, I wonder that too. We went to a deductible plan a few years ago, so they send the statements with the actual costs. Say an ultrasound is $1200 based on a contract rate, it is reduced to $700 under cost sharing, and under some kind of weird math, $500 gets charged to our annual deductible, and the bill to us is $270. I don't understand it, I just write the check for the $270.

Yeah, it should cost like $20 or $50.

[Kang 22]

For dental care, the CASH price is usually higher than what the insurance companies will actually pay. Some dentists might give you a pre-payment discount, but other than that, you are screwed if you don't have some sort of dental insurance.

As far as medical, I agree with you that if you pay cash, the bill gets reduced, however, the medical provider doesn't often get reimbursed for everything he bills for when he has to deal with insurance companies.

Lucky if the dentist is IN Network. They are NOT allowed to bill you. If they decide to go out of network? Insurances are paying less and less. Heck, it went drastic with the "Health Care Reform".

Usually, among the providers the REAL value is the CASH price. Of course, they will charge the insurance much more, they want more money. That is how it works. The medical providers only do not get "reimbursed" for everything if they are IN Network. Out of network, the unpaid will be shouldered by the patient

It's how the game is played. Unfortunately. And most Americans don't see through it. It's a dirty game, I tell yah

On the other hand, I think there should be a law protecting providers from the ran away patients who don't pay their bills at all. One reason why costs are going up and hospitals getting bankrupt

[^_^ 5,021]

... if the dentist is IN Network. They are NOT allowed to bill you.

????

[mawilson 2,133]

????

Even if you have a high-deductible plan, they have to submit a claim to the insurance company

and the insurance company tells them what your out-of-pocket cost is (essentially how much

they are allowed to charge you).

[^_^ 5,021]

Even if you have a high-deductible plan, they have to submit a claim to the insurance company

and the insurance company tells them what your out-of-pocket cost is (essentially how much

they are allowed to charge you).

right, so they are allowed to bill you (just after the insurance company does its bit first).

[mawilson 2,133]

right, so they are allowed to bill you (just after the insurance company does its bit first).

Yep

[웃 910]

I like Wall Street!

Got a mortgage (on a very cheap home) back in January....Payments have been consistently $343 a month....For about 9 months.. I log in to pay today (not due until 11/1) and my payments dropped to $299?

It's not a bad ROI cause the people I rent to pay me $1150 a month. Little do they know I'm paying $300 (including insurance/taxes) and keeping the home. They pay $1150 and are just renters. Kinda like I'm the corporation screwing them over.

Edited October 14, 2011 by Lord Infamous

[mawilson 2,133]

I like Wall Street!

Got a mortgage (on a very cheap home) back in January....Payments have been consistently $343 a month....For about 9 months.. I log in to pay today (not due until 11/1) and my payments dropped to $299?

It's not a bad ROI cause the people I rent to pay me $1150 a month. Little do they know I'm paying $300 (including insurance/taxes) and keeping the home. They pay $1150 and are just renters. Kinda like I'm the corporation screwing them over.

Nice!

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I like Wall Street!

Got a mortgage (on a very cheap home) back in January....Payments have been consistently $343 a month....For about 9 months.. I log in to pay today (not due until 11/1) and my payments dropped to $299?

It's not a bad ROI cause the people I rent to pay me $1150 a month. Little do they know I'm paying $300 (including insurance/taxes) and keeping the home. They pay $1150 and are just renters. Kinda like I'm the corporation screwing them over.

whats your insurance and taxes like?

[웃 910]

whats your insurance and taxes like?

From when my payment was roughly $342

Principal and Interest = $102

PMI/MIP = $15

Hazard insurance = $47

City tax = $130

County tax = $48

Total $342

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

From when my payment was roughly $342

Principal and Interest = $102

PMI/MIP = $15

Hazard insurance = $47

City tax = $130

County tax = $48

Total $342

Ah got ya.

What area if you don't mind me asking.

Edited October 14, 2011 by Sousuke

[웃 910]

Ah got ya.

What area if you don't mind me asking.

Michigan

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Michigan

Did it take long to get tenants?

I'm kinda on the fence right now. My primary goal is to buy my dream starter home in the East Bay in two years the proper way ie. 20% down no PMI insurance etc.

But I could easily buy foreclosed homes out further in areas like concord every 8 months or so in that time and have 3 rental properties within 2 years.

Edited October 15, 2011 by Sousuke