| Author |
Message |
    
Georgie
Citizen
Username: Georgie
Post Number: 111
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 2:05 pm: | 
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I am with the Summit Medical Group and just received a bill ($200!) for adding my newborn to their practice (my older daughter is a current patient).
Has anyone heard of this? I would love to know as if other dr.'s don't charge for this we will be switching!
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campbell29
Citizen
Username: Campbell29
Post Number: 459
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 3:10 pm: |
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Didn't happen at our practice. Seems strange, as they are going to be billing the insurance company for everything they do, its not like they are incurring any charges by adding a patient. Did they charge you some sort of new patient fee when you signed up Child #1? |
Soparents
Citizen
Username: Soparents
Post Number: 533
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 3:16 pm: |
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It does seem strange, and I would certainly call to see what the story is. Who are your insurers? Could this be something they have told SMG they have to do? I registered with SMG myself about a year ago (my kiddies go elsewhere) and I have never been charged a fee for registering etc...
Registration is just paperwork. I know that when I switched peds due to a move, the old ones charged a nominal fee for transfer of paperwork, but that was all.. |
Camnol
Citizen
Username: Camnol
Post Number: 360
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 4:04 pm: |
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I've never heard of such a thing. Are you sure it isn't for a hospital check or something? If it's just a fee for adding a family member, I think it is absurd. |
susan1014
Supporter
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 1594
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 4:40 pm: |
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Let me know how this comes out...we are at Summit Medical Group too, thanks to a practice location change, and I'm still trying to figure out whether to put up with their processes (and yet another location change pending). We like our pediatrician, but I'm still on the fence about SMG. |
davidbuckley
Citizen
Username: Davidbuckley
Post Number: 636
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 11:22 pm: |
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Please let us know what this turns out to be. Do you carry health insurance? If so, definitely find out the name of the charge from SMG and then check out w/ insurer, asking what they call it and how your coverage works in relation to the charge.
Be well, all.
David |
Jersey_Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 914
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 11:42 am: |
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Some of the "Bills" you get following doctor's visits are just FYI's about what the insurance has been billed. You aren't supposed to pay them
Or, could your insurance have a $200 deductible?
J.B. |
Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 945
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 12:58 pm: |
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This fee sounds very odd, and I don't recall anything like that at my pediatrician's office, although it may be new since my youngest is 5.
______________________________
Here's a tip for parents re: pediatrician visits. My ped's office informed me that I had to wait 12 full months from my daughter's last well-child visit before I could bring her for this year's checkup. I called my insurance to verify and learned that they (Healthnet) worked on a calendar year and NOT a 12 month year, so I was able to schedule an appt. closer to her bday. Great.
But, here's the interesting part. My insurer also told me that a child's well-visit should NOT be charged a co-payment at the time of that visit, until the child is 19 years old! I know I have been paying co-pays at every annual checkup for my two kids, but I don't plan to going forward. Just thought I'd share this learning experience - check with your own insurer.
It's not a huge amount of money since our co-pay is $15, but I see no reason to basically throw away an extra $30 a year for no good reason. |
Claudia
Citizen
Username: Cabameyers
Post Number: 5
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 2:17 pm: |
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many doctors charge an obscene "new patient" fee. this sure sounds like it.
most insurances will cover it. make sure you add your new bundle of joy to your policy -- you have two months (maybe three) to do this otherwise you'll be responsible for all charges (including delivery and postpartum changes).
good luck!
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Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11666
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 3:14 pm: |
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Strange. Assuming you are in an HMO or a PPP the insurer often makes a payment to the MD when you start with the practice. I believe this is called a capitation fee or something like that.
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Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 947
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 3:59 pm: |
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I was curious, so I called our pediatrician, Dr. Alan Lubin's office in S. Orange. They agreed that there is a fee for the pediatrician to see a new infant in the hospital, but if there is insurance the family will never see that fee.
They do not charge a "new patient fee" for the infant to start being seen in the office and they have never heard of such a policy. I highly recommend Dr. Lubin, fyi. |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 3132
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 6:09 pm: |
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I had 2 kids with SMG and was never charged a fee when either kid was added to the plan. I'd call the SMG financial people and have them explain it. |
Georgie
Citizen
Username: Georgie
Post Number: 112
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 6:24 pm: |
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Mystery solved!
My dear husband didn't contact our insurance to let them know of our new arrivial. He figured that since he was told that he had until the end of the month...why rush? So that is what the insurance company gets billed and pays the doctor's office. Since our son isn't signed up yet they sent the bill to us.
He called the billing department and all is fine. |
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