I don't think many people will have a problem with co-pays up front for a medical appointment. My insurance and Medicare must pay even co-pays because I almost always don't have to pay anything up front.
But what if UNC wants me to pay up front for treatment or a procedure? Maybe not a bad idea because that may give me some options I had not thought about. I've just completed, I hope, a nine month war with UNC over charges I would never have agreed to in advance. War is no problem for UNC Health Care because, in just a little while while you're disputing your bill, they turn you over to a collection agency so that you have two problems with your hospital bill, not one.
And what do you have to say? When you show up for your treatment or procedure they put a bunch of forms in front of you to sign. One or more of those say you will be responsible for any charges your insurance will not cover.
But the main problem is that you have no idea what charges they are going to end up laying on you. Your prepayment is still a down payment. And what are those $50 aspirin they billed you for really for? To pay for those horde of people down in the emergency waiting room who UNC is not going to get a penny out of.
UNC asks patients to pay upfront
I don't think many people will have a problem with co-pays up front for a medical appointment. My insurance and Medicare must pay even co-pays because I almost always don't have to pay anything up front.
But what if UNC wants me to pay up front for treatment or a procedure? Maybe not a bad idea because that may give me some options I had not thought about. I've just completed, I hope, a nine month war with UNC over charges I would never have agreed to in advance. War is no problem for UNC Health Care because, in just a little while while you're disputing your bill, they turn you over to a collection agency so that you have two problems with your hospital bill, not one.
And what do you have to say? When you show up for your treatment or procedure they put a bunch of forms in front of you to sign. One or more of those say you will be responsible for any charges your insurance will not cover.
But the main problem is that you have no idea what charges they are going to end up laying on you. Your prepayment is still a down payment. And what are those $50 aspirin they billed you for really for? To pay for those horde of people down in the emergency waiting room who UNC is not going to get a penny out of.