'Legitimate' US healthcare pricing could reduce costs by a third

Re:'Legitimate' US healthcare pricing could reduce costs by ... by mirimir on Thursday January 05, 2017 @12:34AM (#13325006)

> Even uninsured can end up negotiating the bill, albeit after the fact.

Yes. One could say something like "I know that you're billing me three times what you get from insurance companies, and I know that you'd pay at least 50% to a collection agency, so will you accept 40% now?"

> Sometimes, insurance might negotiate lower prices than what a certain procedure/treatment costs, i believe that's not uncommon. They make up for it from other procedures in general.

True. Also from payers with less negotiating strength.

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Re:'Legitimate' US healthcare pricing could reduce costs by ... by FireBeyond on Thursday January 05, 2017 @12:50AM (#13325055)

"Yes. One could say something like "I know that you're billing me three times what you get from insurance companies, and I know that you'd pay at least 50% to a collection agency, so will you accept 40% now?""

Unfortunately, this misses another pertinent point, that the provider/facility will be able to charge off and deduct as a loss either that 50% of the original amount they're going to charge you, as well as getting 50% from collections, or 100% if they're... 'creative'. This can often reduce incentive to negotiate.

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Re:'Legitimate' US healthcare pricing could reduce costs by ... by mirimir on Thursday January 05, 2017 @01:32AM (#13325202)

Maybe so. But wouldn't that increase the incentive to negotiate?

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Re:'Legitimate' US healthcare pricing could reduce costs by ... by tehlike on Thursday January 05, 2017 @01:08AM (#13325121)

that's still a hassle, though. there is a point, but it probably works better with individual practices than large hospitals.

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