I have been victimized by insurance companies a few times, and by providers a few times. Most recently I am being charged over $1000 for a set of x-rays to diagnose some problems I have been having with my neck and shoulder. Several of the x-rays taken were not even taken correctly, and I therefore feel I should not have to pay for these. Only makes sense.
My plan of attack:
Call 3 radiology centers and get cash price quotes for standard c-spine set of x-rays
Call radiology center trying to bill me over $1000 and get a quote for cash price for standard C-spine x-rays.
Call same radiology center and get an itemized bill.
Call back again and try to negotiate reasonable terms based on theirs and 3 other quotes.
According to my research, the high price of x-rays is usually associated with the radiologists fees for reading the x-ray. I did not have a radiologist read the x-ray, only my doctor read them, and he told me one was blurry and another was taken incorrectly for him to be able to see what he needed to see. Result...diagnoses impossible, time to start guessing.
For a change, my insurance is not at fault here. They met their contractual obligation and my problem is simply that I have bad insurance with ridiculously high deductibles. This is good news, as dealing with a large insurance company is difficult. I only have to deal with a couple of people at the billing department at the radiology center.
Even better news is that, according to my research, if I am unable to negotiate the price down to reasonable terms, I can sue them in small claims court. I have a small chance of winning if I can prove that their rates are in extreme excess of the standard in the area. From what I have read online a typical c-spine x-ray typically runs $90-$215 for the x-rays alone, plus the fee for the technician, plus the radiologist (which I did not utilize). So essentially, the tech, who spent 5 minutes with me, was paid around $800.
WOW, am I in the wrong business, that x-ray tech is making $9,600 an hour! What a great gig! I think I will change careers. I know what you are thinking. There are other costs involved. We have to pay the receptionist who took my paperwork and for the electricity to run the machine. So lets subtract $20 per hour for the receptionist, and $0.15 for the electricity. This brings us down to $779.85 for 5 minutes with the tech. Well, that is certainly more reasonable, only $9358.20 per hour is that technician making. Guess it is not such a lucrative job after all.
I will not pay a dime more than $250 for these x-rays. I wonder who they will send to represent them in small claims court? Im guessing some lawyer they pay hourly. Even if I don't win, at least I will have cost them nearly as much or more money than they are trying to gouge me for.
Im kind of like a wasp, Im not going to ruin anyones day, but I can sure fuck it up a little bit if you piss me off. And I am pissed.
