Can urgent care send me a bill for extra charges after my visit?
My wife & I had sinus infections and went to an urgent care facility since we were on vacation in the US (we live in France). I signed up for some discount card and the fee for the visit was $68/each. We saw the nurse practioner and she swabbed our mouths for a strep test and when that was negative she gave us antibiotics. We thought all was good. Then I received a bill for $91 for each of us. There is an $80 "weekend" charge for both of us (we were there on a Saturday). There was also $34 for strep test. The $80 is obviously bogus, they told us the visit was $68 and that's what we paid. I'm very surprised they would try and screw us on that but I guess that's how this particular company operates. The $34 strep test is what I'm asking about. I looked up the symptoms for strep and we didn't have any of them. None. I think the only reason she did this test was to bill us $34. She did not advice us there would be an extra charge. What should I do?
Other - General Health Care - 3 Answers
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1 :
All tests are always charged separately. (You've now learned something.) A throat culture isn't abnormal given you had sinus infection and probably your throat was red from drainage - and if the test had came back positive, you might have gotten a different prescription. You have an argument for the $68 vs. $80. Not your fault if the desk misinformed you (you had an offer and an acceptance). That's their problem.
2 :
Unfortunately the way our medical system works here in the US, there are many "ancillary" charges that can trickle in on a simple visit to an urgent care clinic. Because various services are broken out separately, you can receive a "facility use" charge for the exam room along with the actual strep test charge. The $68 you paid was probably the "professional fees" for the nurse to do her exam and write a script. On top of everything, the nurse (or any other person at the clinic) doesn't have to inform you that there will be additional charges since it is your responsibility to know your benefits and limitations on the discount policy. I wish I had better news, but honestly I would (1) pay the charges and chalk it up to experience or (2) ignore the charges and have it written off as a "bad debt account". Good luck.
3 :
Most all of my medical visits are followed with a trail of bills from everybody who walked through the room. I personally think we have a terrible system of payment for medical services in the US. They probably did the strep test to assure they were treating with the right antibiotic, and culture and sensitivity takes days so they did not choose that option. Also, there are those that are lawsuit happy, and many unnecessary tests are done just to prevent lawsuits. Yes it is very possible that they charged extra for the weekend as most physicians offices are closed during the weekend, and one has to go to ER and get charged outrageous prices. Some small towns do not have an urgent care on weekends. Visits to my regular MD easily run $100 even through the week and that is when I am feeling fine and without any labs. I am afraid you have just found out why so many people in the US are wanting better medical help, insurance for all. We have a terrible system with the insurance companies getting rich because they only insure healthy people. Sorry I got so long winded, but this is a sore spot with many Americans. I don't know why type of system you have in France, but it apparently does not have the surprises we have here.
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