satpak77

got a treadmill stress test done last month, again, being proactive, due to middle age and more gray chest hair than not (TMI, sorry), and a desire to stick around for a long time. $5100 for the test. $500 and change out of pocket, rest insurance covered (thankfully)

(I got a few of the "you are middle aged male now" tests done this year, PSA/DRE also)

FDXLAG

If we go single payer like ALPA PAC politicians want you wont have that option unless you go to switzerland. The reason you have so much trouble being proactive is because those paying the cost want a gatekeeper. When Nancy Pelosi becomes the gatekeeper it will be harder not easier for you to get those tests. I suspect in England it would be easier to get your teeth fixed than it would be to get your bloodwork done with out some 3rd world doctor ordering it 6 months out.

iarapilot

Go to Bumrungrad International Hospital | Bangkok Thailand - Medical Procedures/Health Check-ups, make a reservation online, for the next day if you need it. Pick your doc and look at their credentials. Make a hotel/room reservation at the hospital. Used to be $400 for a complete physical with a treadmill with results the next day. You can even get a sex change if you need one! All you need to do is get to BKK. With a round trip ticket, it would probably still be quicker and cheaper!

Jetjok

Is a happy ending included?

iarapilot

Not to far away; if you choose!

FoxHunter

Just curious. Did the insurance company pay $5100 for the test. Check you EOBs. Usually if the bill is $5100 the contract rate is probably $1300 any you are not responsible for anything else. Now if you happen to be uninsured you would be responsible for the the full $5100. Great system for the uninsured. Those that are insured pay only a fraction of the cost of the uninsured. Sort of like having the well off employed person paying only $4.00 for a gallon of milk and the unemployed or uninsured being charged $24.00 for that same gallon of milk. Sounds like we have a system all can be proud of.

satpak77

interesting points

Flyinhigh

After two relatively healthy friends about my same age had open heart surgey, I decided to get my ticker checked. Had a nuclear stress test and an echocardiogram done. Total amount billed was $6,299. FedEx Blue Cross/Blue Shield paid $2,882.68. My cost was $0. Came back with a clean bill of health (no pun intended.)

MaxKts

Yeah - Except it is the other way around. If you have insurance the rate is higher unless your insurance company has worked out a limit for certain tests/procedures. If you are paying cash, the bill will usually be lower! You just have to let them know everything is coming out of your pocket instead of from some "rich" insurance company.

Flyinhigh

Our family doctor is currently exploring the possibility of taking his practice to a "concierge" medical practice. He will accept no insurance (no Medicare, no Medicaid, no TriCare, nothing). You pay a flat monthly fee and it will cover all services that he provides. He currently has a pretty good in-house lab and diagnostic center contained within his office. You will be guaranteed an appointment within a certain time frame (proposed at 24 hours; except for weekends). The practice will be limited to a certain number of patients so the service will be good.
The propsed cost is less than I am currently paying for my MediCare Part B, MediCare Part B Supplement (minus the ALPA reimbursement) and my wife's FedEx Retiree Health Care. If we drop all this coverage and pick up the "concierge" plan we will save a good deal of money every month.
TriCare Standard (for her) and MediCare Part A and TriCare For Life (for me) should cover all major hospital events. We would have to self insure the TriCare/MediCare deductibles but that shouldn't be a big deal.
TriCare would still be our pharmacy provider.
Still need to do some more research on this, but right now it looks pretty good.