Holy INRatio Batman!!!!!!

[Karlynn]

Just received my Explanation of Benefits from BC/BS for my new INRation. Are you ready for this????

$5775.00 total cost of machine. My ProTime, 4 years ago, was $2000.

I'd be curious to read what others were charged. I don't recall anyone saying this machine was that expensive.

 

[twinmaker]

Karlynn, I can't believe that! I got mine last year around May or June and it wasn't nearly that expensive. I will try to find some receipts to see what mine cost the insurance company and let you know. I do know it wasn't that high though. LINDA

 

[Ross]

Ain't no way Karlynn, that is the price of 2 1/2 machines. I'm not kidding either!

INRatio Meter
SKU: 0100007

INRatio Meter
Includes Training


Price: $2,495.00

 

[Karlynn]

Talked to QAS and the in-network company that serves as the middle man. The price is jacked up for companies so they can get their discounted percentages in. The billed price is less. But it's still about 1 and a half machines worth.

Husband's heart attack averted. I argued to him that it wouldn't cost much more for me to get a new machine than for us to pay for repair of the ProTime. Then I get this bill that we owe $600 for the new machine. Yikes!

 

[fyrfytr]

Hey Karlynn,
Thanks for the warning! I was going to check into getting one in place of my CoaguChek machine, now I think I will continue to use my machine for now.

 

[Karlynn]

Hey Karlynn,
Thanks for the warning! I was going to check into getting one in place of my CoaguChek machine, now I think I will continue to use my machine for now.

I'm going to complain if they insist on charging me 10% of what they bill the insurance company if it's over the retail price.

But I do love my INRatio. Never a blown test and it's a much fast way to test.

 

[Karlynn]

Just spoke to BC/BS. The man seemed totally unshocked that they were getting billed for a piece of equipment that was over 2 times the retail price. He said it was whatever the company and BC/BS arrived upon as a price.

I was told by the middle-man company that the real price was $4000. So that's $400 to me. If it was 10% of the retail, my co-pay would be ~$250. Now here's where I need to pick my battles. Do I make an issue of it with the company and say I don't think it's fair that I pay a co-pay based on the inflated price that they got BC/BS to agree to, or do I just pay it. This is because the test strips will cost me $22 a box with this company. That's $2 a test and that the cheapest by far that I've ever paid per test strip.

Is it legal for a company to bill an insurance company for an amount over the retail price?

 

[jeffp]

The billed price is very rarely the price paid. There's all sorts of reasons that the billing and contract price are MILES apart. Sometimes, even insurance companies make dumb deals though. A year ago my insurance got billed a bit over 3500 and paid 2200. I called and spoke to the medical director and gave him the names and contact numbers of supply houses that were charging 1250 in single lots (probably could do better with bulk contract). He couldn't have cared less. At this point I was way over my max out of pocket, so it didn't cost me anythig more, but still, you'd think they'd want to save a bit here and there. I wouldn't expect the savings to affect the rates, but it could be a new car for some executive up the chain somewhere. Go figure.

 

[Natanni]

Nathan's was MUCH less Karlynn, prior to any insurance as we paid cash for ours initially....

 

[BDMc]

B.s.

B.s.

Granny Karlynn, You can see the retail prices online! Ross has it right if I remember correctly. I don't have the web site address, but I do remember that it was between 2+3 thousand. I have Tufts HMO, and they are covering my machine and supplies at 100% through Raytel. People wonder why healthcare prices are skyrocketing. I think your case shows why! Go get em tiger! Brian

 

[geebee]

Just spoke to BC/BS. The man seemed totally unshocked that they were getting billed for a piece of equipment that was over 2 times the retail price. He said it was whatever the company and BC/BS arrived upon as a price.

I was told by the middle-man company that the real price was $4000. So that's $400 to me. If it was 10% of the retail, my co-pay would be ~$250. Now here's where I need to pick my battles. Do I make an issue of it with the company and say I don't think it's fair that I pay a co-pay based on the inflated price that they got BC/BS to agree to, or do I just pay it. This is because the test strips will cost me $22 a box with this company. That's $2 a test and that the cheapest by far that I've ever paid per test strip.

Is it legal for a company to bill an insurance company for an amount over the retail price?

Your co-pay should be a percentage of what BC pays for the monitor. The only way to find out that is to look at your EOB when it arrives.
BTW - where are you getting test strips for $22/box?

 

[Karlynn]

Granny Karlynn, You can see the retail prices online! Ross has it right if I remember correctly. I don't have the web site address, but I do remember that it was between 2+3 thousand. I have Tufts HMO, and they are covering my machine and supplies at 100% through Raytel. People wonder why healthcare prices are skyrocketing. I think your case shows why! Go get em tiger! Brian

I've made a few contacts in "strategic positions" who are looking into this for me. My insurance company (BC/BS) seems totally unconcerned that they are being (would like to insert graphic terminology here, but won't ) way overbilled for the machine and supplies.

We'll have to see what happens.

 

[traumahob]

Granny Karlynn, You can see the retail prices online! Ross has it right if I remember correctly. I don't have the web site address, but I do remember that it was between 2+3 thousand. I have Tufts HMO, and they are covering my machine and supplies at 100% through Raytel. People wonder why healthcare prices are skyrocketing. I think your case shows why! Go get em tiger! Brian

Same for John through United Health Care. Rape, Pillage and Plunder come to mind. I would fight it. Deb

 

[Christina]

Karlynn...

Karlynn...

What else is new these days? Call it what it is, they are being ripped off but they don't seem to care. It's all the people's premiums paying for these scams. No wonder all of our premiums are through the roof. Hard to believe though that the price is that high but I am not surprised at all. More reason than ever to stick with my good old Protime machine. It's still working like a charm for me. It's done its job for almost 6 years and is still going strong.

 

[Ross]

What else is new these days? Call it what it is, they are being ripped off but they don't seem to care. It's all the people's premiums paying for these scams. No wonder all of our premiums are through the roof. Hard to believe though that the price is that high but I am not surprised at all. More reason than ever to stick with my good old Protime machine. It's still working like a charm for me. It's done its job for almost 6 years and is still going strong.

Yes but lets be real. What do you think they'd of charged for a new Protime Unit? If it were 2 times as much, I'm sure you'd be dogging them too. This has to be brought to light or no one in America will be able to afford insurance because the companies don't care what they are charged.

 

[Alaska]

I got mine the end early June. I believe I paid $1500-1600 - somewhere around there.

 

[johnM]

The high prices are down to the problems of the very high marketing costs in the US and expensive paperwork pushing in respect of insurance organisations with differing criteria and the problems of extracting the money - There aint NOTHING FREE! If you want to do a deal -show them the color of yer Cash money
The cost in the UK is around £400 under $800 US
Here's the Roche
http://www.coaguchek.co.uk/media/pdf/health_professionals/ROC296 Coagu_Consumer Brch.pdf
The price is on page 12

 

[Cris N]

This just apppeared on ebay...

This just apppeared on ebay...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330015342931&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1

 

[RonP]

Karlynn

Karlynn

I'll call BC/BS Monday and see what I have to pay for my ProTime machine as I intend to try to buy one next week. I'll let you know what I have to pay here in Missouri. Then we'll compare prices to see who gets the better deal and also how close our prices are. I'll see how much my co-pay is too. Maybe, together, we can get them to be resonable on this.

 

[Karlynn]

Thanks Ron, I'll be interested to hear.