Should doctors extend or why should doctors extend credit to patients.?

Question

I was wondering if anyone believes that a doctor should or should not offer credit to their patients.

Answer 1

Yes, you should.

You don't PLAN when you get sick so you may not have the money to pay at that particular time.

I do disagree completely with people who do not pay their bills. If you receive a service you should repay it immediately.

I worked for a ob/gyn before and you would be surprised at the number of people who do not pay their bills though. It is sad.

Answer 2

I think that is what credit cards are for if one cannot pay for a visit or procudure up front. My grandfather was a doctor who, for his entire career, billed patients. He had many patients who reliably paid their bills monthly. But he also had a bunch who did not. So I do not expect a doctor to wait for payments. A couple of years ago I did not have insurance coverage and tried to make an appointment with a specialist. Her secretary said that this doctor refused to take on patients who did not have insurance. I had the money up front and they still would not let me see the doctor. That sucks too.

Answer 3

Was a time when people -- often women -- entered the healing arts because they cared about people and the things that ailed them. Now, it's all about the money. People go to college to learn medicine for the money. That's how they are now. Whereas I have heard doctors lament about the cost of their education and the years it takes to pay it out, I have never seen a doctor waiting at the bus stop because his/her twenty year old car was in the shop and they had no other means of transportation. I've never known a doctor to be late over rent. In fact, I don't know any doctor who doesn't have at least a quarter million dollar home, with a three car garage and a boat. So, screw the lot of them!

One thing I HAVE seen is a doctor stand idlely by and watch a child die because the parents don't have the money or coverage to pay the bill.

Answer 4

They do in most cases.

When you go into an office, they have you fill out an insurance form and sign it. You agree to allow them to bill the insurance. If your insurance refuses to pay, you agree you will pay them. Then you get seen and the bill gets submitted. That is a form of credit as the doctor does not get payment until later, sometimes months later.

Some offices require payment up front but even there they offer credit. Writing a check or using a credit card are both forms of credit as payment is not immediate.

Only when you pay with cash are you making payment immediately and that seldom happens.

Answer 5

Many already do. As a matter of fact, even taking insurance is an extension of credit. The doctor has to pay someone qualified to bill insurance and then wait for the insurance payment which is not usually any quicker than 30 days.

Answer 6

Considering the fact that well over 40 million Americans don't have health insurance, and many of them cannot afford it, the cost of healthcare is rising faster than inflation, and more and more people are losing healthcare...

I think that doctors have to be realistic that not everyone has $1400 for an MRI, $125 per month for certain medications, or $225 for dental work just lying around.

Does that mean that patients should welch out of paying? No, but I would hope that Doctors will be realistic and work out payment arrangements.

Answer 7

Sure if the patient doesn't have medical insurance. I have a large medical bill for my daughter. As long as we pay something every month, then the hospital is OK with this. When one doesn't pay, that is when they come after you.

Answer 8

I would say that it depends on the relationship the doctor has with his/her patients.

Like any business I would both hope and assume that they would be free to decide that for themselves. Hopefully the liberals won't force them into having to make that choice.