A couple of years ago I had an x-ray of my knee and one of my lower back; two regular digital x-rays, what used to be called flat plate films. I had them done of a freestanding emergency facility owned by a hospital system. Aetna was billed more than $1800---and they allowed more than $1100 that went toward my deductible. I thought surely it was a mistake. The last I'd paid for this type of x-ray was around $50 several years earlier. Nope, not a mistake. Aetna told me if I'd only gone to a freestanding facility---not associated with a hospital---the x-rays would have been MUCH cheaper. An x-ray is an x-ray. There should be one cost paid by insurers. And the Aetna representative didn't care. Why would he? I had a $5000 deductible. Aetna was doing the hospital a favor because--I--was paying the full $1100. Win-win for the hospital and Aetna, who ultimately had no skin in the game at all.
As a result of ever increasing premiums I had to drop traditional insurance and enroll in a sharing ministry hoping I never have to use it. It's a small comfort, but at least I'm saving $10,000 by denying Aetna in premiums each year.
As a result of ever increasing premiums I had to drop traditional insurance and enroll in a sharing ministry hoping I never have to use it. It's a small comfort, but at least I'm saving $10,000 by denying Aetna in premiums each year.