Hi guys!My question is that, I live in Argentina and the doctors here can't help me, I would like to know if 500 dollars is the normal price. For an Argentinian, that price is extremely expensive.
Nor do I know if one or several consultations with a foreign doctor could improve my health. Thank you in advance
How much is the average price of a good doctor?
Moderators: Rosie, JFR, Dee, xet, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh, mbeezie
-
DonPapotti
- Little Blue Penguin
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Mon May 07, 2018 11:36 am
- Location: Argentina
Our health care is probably the most expensive in the world, but that doesn't make it the best. Without insurance, doctors are very expensive but I doubt that they would be any more likely to be able to help you. In general, their treatment record for microscopic colitis is not very good. And before they ever prescribe any treatment, they usually run thousands of dollars worth of tests, then they prescribe a drug that we probably can't afford.
I have a hunch (based on what I read) that the best doctors for treating MC can be found in the Scandinavian countries. But I don't know what their policy might be concerning the treatment of foreign patients.
Note that this is all just my opinion.
Tex
I have a hunch (based on what I read) that the best doctors for treating MC can be found in the Scandinavian countries. But I don't know what their policy might be concerning the treatment of foreign patients.
Note that this is all just my opinion.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
I don't share the cynicism about doctors that some people on this site apparently have. However, a healthy skepticism of the medical "state of the art" is always prudent, because it always changes, and patients should in part become their own researchers and advocates.
The economics of medical care in the USA are completely screwed up because of the confusing mess of a zillion different medical insurance policies and government interventions. Essentially, there is no "price" for any medical procedure, so no one can shop for price and thereby drive prices down via the normal economics of supply and demand. The "prices" that doctors charge insurance companies and/or governmental payors are phony overcharges, and the reimbursements they get for the same procedure will vary widely depending upon the contractual or legal reimbursement rates of the multitude of different insurance companies and governmental (state or federal) payors.
Under my senior citizen government plan (Medicare) supplemented by private insurance, an office visit with a gastroenterologist seems to be reimbursed in the range of $115-$150 USD, depending on the length of the visit. If someone didn't have any medical insurance or access to a governmental program, I'd expect a reasonable doctor to accept payment in that range for an office consultation. Of course, lab tests, imaging tests and medical procedures such as colonoscopies would add substantially more cost.
The price of medications can vary dramatically, depending on what country you can get them from. The USA is likely the most expensive source for medications. I get my budesonide for MC-L and another (non-GI) medication from THIS Canadian pharmacy.
The economics of medical care in the USA are completely screwed up because of the confusing mess of a zillion different medical insurance policies and government interventions. Essentially, there is no "price" for any medical procedure, so no one can shop for price and thereby drive prices down via the normal economics of supply and demand. The "prices" that doctors charge insurance companies and/or governmental payors are phony overcharges, and the reimbursements they get for the same procedure will vary widely depending upon the contractual or legal reimbursement rates of the multitude of different insurance companies and governmental (state or federal) payors.
Under my senior citizen government plan (Medicare) supplemented by private insurance, an office visit with a gastroenterologist seems to be reimbursed in the range of $115-$150 USD, depending on the length of the visit. If someone didn't have any medical insurance or access to a governmental program, I'd expect a reasonable doctor to accept payment in that range for an office consultation. Of course, lab tests, imaging tests and medical procedures such as colonoscopies would add substantially more cost.
The price of medications can vary dramatically, depending on what country you can get them from. The USA is likely the most expensive source for medications. I get my budesonide for MC-L and another (non-GI) medication from THIS Canadian pharmacy.
Excellent post Kilt,
And I agree. However, allow me to point out that even though the range of charges you cited should be acceptable to any reasonable doctor, this doesn't happen automatically. The patient will almost always be billed at a much higher rate if they don't have insurance, and negotiations to lower that charge later may or may not be successful. This is part of the "screwed up" mess that you mentioned. The sad truth is that patients without insurance almost always pay a much higher price for doctor and hospital services than the insurance companies do, simply because the doctors and hospitals know that patients don't have near the negotiating power of the insurance companies. In essence, patients without insurance subsidize the lower rates for insurance companies. If one hopes to negotiate over fees, it's important to negotiate first — not later.
Tex
And I agree. However, allow me to point out that even though the range of charges you cited should be acceptable to any reasonable doctor, this doesn't happen automatically. The patient will almost always be billed at a much higher rate if they don't have insurance, and negotiations to lower that charge later may or may not be successful. This is part of the "screwed up" mess that you mentioned. The sad truth is that patients without insurance almost always pay a much higher price for doctor and hospital services than the insurance companies do, simply because the doctors and hospitals know that patients don't have near the negotiating power of the insurance companies. In essence, patients without insurance subsidize the lower rates for insurance companies. If one hopes to negotiate over fees, it's important to negotiate first — not later.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
-
DonPapotti
- Little Blue Penguin
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Mon May 07, 2018 11:36 am
- Location: Argentina
Wow.
I have found some options that can follow me online and are not as expensive as $300.
The problem is that after going through more than 20 doctors, I could barely get a stool culture.
Another problem is that my country does not have good diagnostic technology, for example in Spain there is pcr for each parasite in particular, here it does not exist.
Also if I can send it to another country the sample. And if I can if the parasite, fungus or virus I have is what is generating all my health problems (I think it is multifactorial the problem and, I think I have no "cure" practically), even though I avoid cereals, processed, dairy, artificial light, I sleep early, etc
I have found some options that can follow me online and are not as expensive as $300.
The problem is that after going through more than 20 doctors, I could barely get a stool culture.
Another problem is that my country does not have good diagnostic technology, for example in Spain there is pcr for each parasite in particular, here it does not exist.
Also if I can send it to another country the sample. And if I can if the parasite, fungus or virus I have is what is generating all my health problems (I think it is multifactorial the problem and, I think I have no "cure" practically), even though I avoid cereals, processed, dairy, artificial light, I sleep early, etc