Read How Cash-Pay Clinics Can Benefit Their Patients

Did you know that there are a growing number of medical procedures that may cost less if you pay the provider directly? Even if you have health insurance, paying outright for services like blood work to outpatient surgery at a cash-pay clinic could benefit your finances more than you think. Impact Medical Group of Sun City Center looks at how this option may be favorable for patients everywhere.

Paying out of pocket when carrying insurance may seem ludicrous but when we look at how insurance functions, it might not seem so outlandish after all. Insurance is generally thought to always save patients money because we assume the best prices have been negotiated by our insurer, and because we expect the insurer will cover the remaining cost. But, that’s not always the case. Typically, when medical care is performed, it initiates a complicated billing chain that involves deductibles, co-pays, and more. Usually, these billing amounts aren’t definitively set and can be hard to estimate. There is also an increasing amount of people in high-deductible plans that must spend thousands of dollars before insurance even activates. For this and several other reasons, a cash-pay clinic option is favorable. Many hospitals and practices are willing to accept a reduced fee if the patient can pay with cash because the money is immediate and no time-consuming paperwork is needed.

But, when should you pay cash? If the practice accepts cash payments, there are some procedures that tend to have smaller costs associated with them. Diagnostic services like CAT scans, x-rays, and ultrasounds are good options to ask about pricing before submitting an insurance claim. Other services like physical therapy, outpatient surgeries, lab work, or even certain prescription drugs may be significantly cheaper when purchased with cash. It’s always a great idea to ask if there is an option to pay in cash before the procedure. Follow up with your insurer that will be able to give you pricing with and without insurance. If you choose to pay with cash, use HSA or FSA funds first.

At Impact Medical Group of Sun City Center, our progressive, multi-disciplinary medical practice dedicates itself to making a positive impact on the lives of every patient we have the pleasure of treating. Call our team at (813) 938-5195 to make an appointment today!