I think that people with high deductible insurance plans, health savings accounts and the uninsured need to do some basic math before deciding where to go for their healthcare.
As a new calendar year approaches, everyone not on Medicaid (and not a county employee) has to know that their insurance likely does not pay a dime of their healthcare expenses until the deductible is met. For Medicare part B it is $147 for 2013 and for most private health insurance plans it is several thousand dollars.
As an example, let’s say that you are lucky enough to have a policy with only a $500 deductible. You could see a doctor on your plan (or more likely a nurse practitioner) 2-4 times during the year and be out the full $500 dollars. The good news is that each additional visit might only cost you $30-$50 out of your pocket.
Or, you could go to the Spiceland Pike Medical Center and see a licensed physician (even after work or on the weekend) for a basic problem up to 11 times during the year and still have some of your original $500 left over.
What I am saying is that it makes no financial sense to go to a doctor just because he is on your insurance plan if you have to meet a deductible before your insurance pays for part of your healthcare expenses.
You need to ask your doctor how much your visit will cost, how much the lab tests will cost and how much the x-rays will cost, especially while you are paying 100% of this cost during your deductible period.
