Because her family’s health insurance plan has a $10,000 deductible, Sue Haynie tries to watch what they spend on medical care and figure out what it will cost ahead of time.
But that’s easier said than done, she’s found.
There was the time her daughter needed to see a doctor about a lingering sore throat. Haynie wondered how she’d know the cost of any tests the doctor performed, so she asked her insurer, Aetna. Haynie said the representative suggested two options: Ask the doctor’s office to call Aetna and find out, or leave the appointment after finding out what tests the doctor recommends, price out the tests, and -- if she decided they’re worth it -- go back for another appointment to have the tests done.
Haynie chose the first option, so when her daughter went to the appointment, she asked the office staff to call Aetna. But Haynie said she was told they didn’t have time to do so, and that if Haynie wouldn’t pay the bill, her daughter could be pulled out of the visit.
“I was frustrated, my daughter was humiliated,” Haynie said -- and they were no closer to finding out the price.
Haynie’s experience represents a challenge facing an increasing number of patients: Their insurance plans require them to pay a larger share of their medical bills. But finding out what their care will cost remains difficult, if not impossible.