As of March 1, all UNC Hospital and physician clinics began asking patients to pay their share of the bill upfront to avoid surprise bills afterward. Other hospitals have been doing this for years, but UNC held out in part to avoid a conflict with its mission to care for all North Carolinians, no matter their ability to pay. Does the hospital have an argument for charging 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.
UNC Hospital was created to fulfill this mission: to care for all North Carolinians, no matter their ability to pay.
Daily, headlines reflect that American citizens are assailed on every front by a cost of living nightmare that keeps many awake at night. Housing, employment, wages, health care insurance - and now, UNC wants patients to pay as they go when in medical need.
For the poor and the fading middle class, treatment for illness and injury is already a stunningly expensive necessity. How many of us have the means to purchase our medical care before admission? And if we don't have the means, what is our option?
D. Doolan
There are options for people whose income is too low to afford the care - UNC even has a charitable care program for those who have low income yet do not qualify for Medicaid or other publicly funded insurance. Patients may be more willing to apply for assistance programs if they are asked up front for payment rather than getting a bill after the fact. When the bill comes in the mail, the incentive to take care of it, either via paying or applying for assistance, is greatly reduced.
SO while I'm writhing in pain, I'm supposed to PAY UP FRONT for the X-Ray, MRI, etc etc etc??? I'm supposed to sit down and talk to someone about the financial options to pay?
This is INSANE, and unfair to the taxpayers.
What is this world coming to??
First of all if you come through the ED the EMTALA Law is going to protect you from having to make payment arrangements before you are stabilized. I do not know exactly how the patient flow works at UNC but at the very least you will see a triage clinician before you have to sort out payment arrangements. As for Xrays and MRI's unless you start out in the ED you probably won't be writhing in pain. Folks having such scheduled outpatient diagnositics such as these and lab work may not feel 100% but they are not writhing either. As for being unfair to the Taxpayers don't blame the hospital for trying to make enough money to keep there doors open. Call your Congressman and tell him or her to push laws that prevent illegal aliens from coming to this country and recieving free care and benefits, require people to purchase insurance, (Govenrment insurance is not the answer, People like Micheal Moore will lie and tell you America has the worst healthcare, this is not true we have the best healthcare but there are issues with Access. Government run healthcare programs such as the ones in other countries provide coverage to everyone but the access is just as bad or worse when you have to wait 6 months for an MRI or you have qouta's that say you can't have another Bypass surgery at age 65 because you already had one at 55. ) Look at UNC figures 60% of people who don't pay upfront don't pay at all. THat is the problem, I don't understand why people have such a problem with paying for healthcare at the time the service is rendered. You can't buy a new computer, Stereo, TV etc and not pay for it for 6 months or default on it and expect there to be no consequences so Why can't people pay for healthcare. Most hospitals don't even charge interest when they set up payment plans try buying a $25,000 dollar car with payments of $25.00 or $50.00 a month and no interest. Helathcare is the lowest priority when people sit down to pay their bills they choose Beer and Cigarettes, Cable, Cell Phones, Movies and other luxury items over Insurance or healthcare payment plans and then complain when the hospital tries to collect. I don't get it.
The previous posts to this topic are mostly clueless as to the real issues with health care.
1. The Illegal Aliens are Getting a Free Ride...
"Call your Congressman and tell him or her to push laws that prevent illegal aliens from coming to this country and recieving free care and benefits,"
Why do you keep perpetuating this. How many fine legal people in this counttry do you think get "free healthcare". You need to sit in one of the clinics at UNC and keep track. You would be suprised.
And many of these so-called illegals pay taxes with jobs making sure that you have dinner on your table tonight. Why don't you get a job at the chicken plant.
Oh, and this was posted by an anonymous visitor.
2. Apply for public assistance
"Patients may be more willing to apply for assistance programs if they are asked up front for payment rather than getting a bill after the fact."
Have you (another anonymous visitor) tried to apply for Social Security Disability. Guess not. Most are denied the first time they apply. The wait for a hearing is about 2-3 years.
Children get Medicaid for the most part. Our senoirs are so lucky cause they can get Medicare and the great Medicare Part D. They are lucky if they can even get a Dr. to take them as patients.
3. Last time I checked, I get a bill for my News & Observer for upfront payment of delivery of newspapers in the future.
4. Copays
I believe that all medical places of business now require you to pay your copay upfront before you can be seen. This includes seniors on Medicare. I don't know what Medicaid requires. That is fair and if you have insurance, you know what your copays are going to be.
Right now I have issues with the addition of copays such as the Facility Charge copay for Outpatient visits at clinics at UNC and DUKE.
5. Paying Up Front for Everything
So if you don't have insurance, UNC expects you to pay upfront for everything. So, for example an MRI at UNC costs $1500.00. If you have Insurance with BC/BS, UNC will bill them and they will get reimbursed around $200.00. If you don't have Insurance, UNC wants $1500.00 (or less 25% is the discount they said they would give to those who are uninsured).
Hip surgery to remove a tumor with a 2 week stay at UNC cost around $64,000.00 in 2003. They were reimbursed $7500.00 by BC/BS. So, what does that surgery really cost? What should someone without insurance really pay. Even if you deduct premiums, it still doesn't add up.
Peace is Patriotic.
UNC asks patients to pay upfront
The N&O headline implies that the N&O may have misgivings about patients at UNC hospital being asked to pay upfront.
Then, why not this headline: NEWS AND OBSERVER SUBSCRIBERS REQUIRED TO PAY UPFRONT- or perhaps this:BUYERS OF NEWS AND OBSERVER RREQUIRED TO PAY NEWSSTANDS UPFRONT.