[nicolethenerd]

I keep hearing this "negotiate" thing, but I tried it when I was billed $254 for a strep test (after being quoted $25 at the walk-in clinic), and the provider refused to negotiate. I appealed with my insurance, the appeal sort of disappeared (I received a letter saying it had failed the first round of review, and they were sending it elsewhere, and then I never heard back again) - and after fighting it for four months, I gave up and paid. Should I not have?

[ArtDev]

Same deal. Strep test, $250 plus a $50 "outside of business hours" clinic charge. I visited at 9am on a Monday morning. The billing dept claimed it was a standard charge they charged everyone. I fought them for months about it. Only after it reached collections did I pay it. The extra fee was missing, but $250 for a strep test is a rip off regardless!

[freedomben]

Nope this was my experience too. I also heard that they'll knock 50% off or more if you offer to pay cash on the day of. This was also not true (at least in Alaska).

In Utah I've gotten further, but usually if they knock off 20% I've had a good day. It's insanity. The market is completely messed up.

[pauljurczak]

50% cash discount is almost unheard of. 10% is a norm, 20% if you are lucky.

[gardnerbickford]

How often have you tried in non-emergency situations? I got 50% of at UCSF seeing a specialist there.

[pauljurczak]

My dentists always gave me 10% off for paying cash. Collection agencies often gave me 10 to 20% for paying the whole balance by credit card on the phone. Hospital sometimes gave me 25% for paying a year old balance within 1 month. These were all insurance repriced bills, except of the dental. Many bills were over 1 year old, because of billing errors and numerous back and forth between me, service provider and insurance company.

[maxxxxx]

There is no real negotiation or defined process. . You have to be willing to play hardball and outright refuse to pay. Also be willing to call every day or get a lawyer that writes nasty letters. Also be willing to deal with collection agencies.

It’s a stupid game about who is the biggest bully. Not many people have the nerves for this.

[cbluth]

It sounds like their system is working as intended. closes ticket

[Scoundreller]

It’s like the PayPal and EBay dispute process. Lots of unnecessary manual lookups, waiting periods and then an arbitrary deadline, and my favourite: waiting for them to make an automated decision. Like, why not stall when they already have my money.