Why do they ask for this info at the doctor's office?

[Nikia]

Everytime I have gone to the doctor's office or hospital, they have asked me if I am still working for the same company. They already have my insurance info and ask if it is current. Are they assessing my ability to pay for any out of pocket expenses? Why else would they need to know this? I am starting to get paranoid.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

1. Because so many people change jobs and insurance

so often, if they don't ask, and it has changed, then they just cost the practice money, and doctors don't like to lose money.

[short bus president]

2. not to sound overly snarky,

but ask them - they're sure to know more about why they seek this information than anyone here does.

[liberalhistorian]

3. What drives me absolutely batty

is when I go to my doctor's office, and I've just been there recently, they'll start asking "is everything the same, address, phone number, etc., etc.", when I was JUST THERE a few weeks or months ago! And what REALLY REALLY REALLY frosts my cookies good is that now, at EVERY SINGLE MEDICAL OFFICE I go to, the VERY FIRST THING they ask about is insurance! Not what the problem is, not whether you're in a lot of pain or discomfort, oh no, the very first fucking thing they want to know, in fact, the ONLY thing they give a shit about, is whether or not you have insurance and what kind and what's your co-payment. Greedy fuckers! Like, too bad if you have a lump the size of Vermont in your breast or your prostate, if you don't have insurance or a rich spouse, fuck you and just die already!!!!!!!!!!!1

[BlueJazz]

5. Welcome to America, Dear.

N/T

[fishnfla]

6. With all due respect

it sounds like a very short drive. i do assume that when you do a job you expect to be paid.

[liberalhistorian]

7. HUH?

Could you enlighten me as to what you mean, exactly? Were you responding to me or the original post?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

4. Depends. Are they asking at the front desk or in your medical

history?

[MediumBrownDog]

8. The system sucks, and people change jobs frequently, and

if the physician or group does not have your current info, they submit the charges to the wrong carrier, then get a denial, then have to contact you to find the right carrier (or may immediately classify you as "SELF PAY," in which case you get a bill, which you contest with your correct insurance info), AND if the treatment in question required a pre-authorization from the current carrier, and they did not get it at the time, they are basically screwed and receive zero reimbursement. It is annoying, but having worked in this field, I do know why they ask EVERY SINGLE TIME.

[ZenLefty]

9. It's usually the receptionist's job to process your insurance claim

If information has changed, then they want to know right away. If your insurance provider changes and they don't know about it, they waste a lot of time filing a claim with the wrong company.

[liberalhistorian]

10. Well, I'm sick to death of the constant

intense focus on nothing but insurance coverage and money. Last time I was at my doctor's, I watched a family being turned away because they'd lost their insurance after being laid off and they didn't have the $75 up-front that my greedy, Lexus-driving, mansion-living, spoiled-kids-in-exclusive-private-schools (I'm not exaggerating, I know this for a fact) doctor now requires before anyone can be seen by him or one of his colleagues.

Their daughter was really sick, she was vomiting and could barely breathe, and the fucking nurse just shrugged and said to take her to the emergency room if they really thought there was a problem.

Oh sure, then the hospital would overcharge them because they didn't have any insurance (it's documented that those without insurance are charged almost twice as much as those with insurance, because insurance companies negotiate with hospitals for group discount rates), then, if they didn't pay within a half hour of receiving the overinflated bill, the hospital's blood-sucking ruthless collection agency would be on their ass harassing them and putting it on their credit, making life even harder for them. All because their daughter was very ill. SICKENING! So I went to the front desk and paid the goddamn $75 for them, because I've been in their exact predicament, and it's pure hell and you feel like shit.

[ZenLefty]

15. It's a foregone conclusion that our healthcare system sucks

Personally, if I had no money and no health insurance, I wouldn't go to a greedy, Lexus-driving, mansion-living, spoiled-kids-in-exclusive-private-schools, you're not exaggerating, you know this for a fact doctor.

[Syncronaut Seven]

11. Also cc# checking acount # drivers licence

in addition to a valid insurance card. Wouldn't see me otherwise. After 2+ hours the doc sees me for 1 1/2 minuts and gives me a scrip for amoxicillin. What I asked them to phone in, in the first place.

There's a revolution coming folks, It ain't goin to be pretty.

Harrad.

[liberalhistorian]

12. NO dr.'s office is EVER

going to get my checking # or Driver's License # or anything else like that, but ESPECIALLY NOT my checking #. NO WAY!

[Syncronaut Seven]

13. You wanna be seen?

Left a bad taste in my mouth. Dehumanizing as hell, I guess it's important that they let you know who's got the power. I have other healthcare horror stories. I hope ALL the bean counters get stomach cancer.

I swear the whole fricken countrys getting to be run this way. Power over in the worst kind of way. It's like a game to them.

Harrad.

[SOteric]

14. No need for paranoia ...yet.

Hundreds of people come to a doctors office in various states of anxiety, illness, clouded judgement. You know what's gone on in your life in the last few months, but they don't. It's not uncommon for a great many folks to let go the details of their life changes while their booking a visit to have a mole checked.

Company's change their health insurance all the time, especially to be more cost-effective, and quite frankly at any time of the year. In the last three years I've had my health insuranced changed 3 times.

As if that were not enough, some firms (2 that I know of) provide differing levels of coverage for employees at differing levels of the corporate hierarchy. If you're stressing about sudden onset migraines it may not immediately come to mind that your promotion and raise last week comes with an upgrade to your health insurance.

And more insidious, a lot of folks do abuse the system. And we all end up paying for that.

[Lars39]

16. Doctors' offices can also stop accepting insurance from companies,too.

What boggled my mind was finding out that a doctor's office is not legally obligated to inform you if your insurance will not pay or has not ever paid on a claim they said they would pay. If the insurance company stalls long enough, they don't have to pay. :grr: