What My Doctor Didn't Say

I consider myself a responsible adult. I make wise and frugal money decisions every day. I decide to drive 5 more miles to the discount grocery store rather than going to the more expensive store in my neighborhood. I decide to bring lunch to work rather than go out and buy it. My husband and I decided to choose a cheaper apartment and then move later rather than getting a larger apartment now when we don’t need it yet. However, I can’t make a decision when I don’t know there is a decision to be made.

I got an email today saying there was a new claim filed in my health insurance account. I pulled up my account to see a $64 charge I had no idea was coming. I sat back in my chair shocked, dismayed, and confused. Wasn’t a yearly physical supposed to be covered as a “preventative” measure? After some digging, I saw the dreaded words: Lab Work. Ugh…

After thinking about it, I did finally remember that she did a swab of some kind. Should I have known that those 10 seconds would rack up? Probably. Was I thinking about that at the time? Um, no.

You see, here’s the problem. This is what my doctor said:

“Ok, I’m going to do a swab now.”

This is what she didn’t say:

“So, I’m about 95% sure that you have X infection. If you’d like, I can do a swab to be sure. The swab will cost you about $60, which is more than double the cost of the antibiotic I’m going to prescribe. Would you like me to do a swab and send it to the lab?”

Any guess what my answer would have been? “Um, no, thank you.”

Give me a choice. Tell me the costs. I’m an adult. I have a college education. I can make decisions. 

A quick Google Search just found a practice I wish all clinics would adopt: Price displays.

Example: The Surgery Center of Oklahoma 

This clinic's motto is "You Can and Should Know the Price." Their website lets you click on a part of the body, what type of surgery is needed, and then gives you a price estimate! Um, yes, please!