This board is so Useless

[Anonymous]

I know that this is a long message but I needed to vent. Maybe someone has an idea about this.

I've experienced a case of Lab Corp ripping insurance companies off big time. I just made a $190 mistake, and thought I'dshare it with everyone, with a hope of giving someone the option ofselecting an alternate diagnostic company (or at least, making sure you aren't overcharged).

Unfortunately, I lack health insurance, as I'm trying to finish school,to begin a job with insurance. I was surprisingly dx'ed with Type 1 diabetes in March, and shortly thereafter, Graves' Disease (hyperthyroidism). As with any thyroid disorder, you must get your
thyroid levels checked reguarly.

After several months of this, my doctor's office closed its lab, and sent me to one of LabCorp Patient centers for a simple TSH and free-T4 test (ironically, not free .

Everything was hunky dory, until the results came back. First, they messed up on my social security number, and secondly, wrote that I'm a "female." I'm definately a male.

But three weeks later, the bill arrives from LabCorp. ***$230 (USD)***! $20 for sticking the needle in me ("venipuncture"), $100 for TSH, and the remaining for the free T4 test.

I doubt that the lab worker who jabbed the needle in my arm even earns a fair portion of that charge for the needle stick.

Now, this is the real confusing thing: Had I not brought my doctor's note in, it would have cost only $40 USD. That's all! Forty bucks!

That, my friends, is a $190 difference. LabCorp is ripping insurance companies -- and people without insurance -- by at least $190 for just a TSH and T4 test that had been ordered from their doctor,versus just going in on their own.

Are they giving that $190 as a kick-back to the doctor's office? Onemust ask that question. LabCorps website is complicated, and contains a lot of information aimed towards getting doctors to force patients to use their services -- this is a must-have requirement for a $4.0+ billion Corporation. A company of that size does not make money
like that without a lack of regard for all ethics towards billing patients.

If you have a better alternative for your lab tests, DO NOT USE LABCORP. I will not recommend them, and will continue to spread my experience with them until I can see
something come better of Lab Corps Medical and Human ethics.

I called their customer service to inquire about the huge difference in price, and was told that the only difference between my test and their test was that "my test was ordered by a doctor." By the way, hopefully you will not need to call them. Their voice automation
system makes every attempt to keep you from speaking to a human.

If you don't have insurance and pay out of pocket, I highly recommend that you check around for cheaper tests. In my case for TSH and T4, LabCorp would have performed the same TSH and T4 tests, but for $190 less, had I not shown them my doctor's note by just opting for the Lab Corp walk-in" option.

The customer service rep simply gave me an option for a "5 month payment plan" and seemed sympathetic to my situation, but unable to do anything. I basically paid $190 for them to fax the results to my doctor. And I don't even want to know how much I have overpaid for the half-dozen other tests I've had them do for me.

It's too bad that there aren't many other choices outside of LabCorp, which has grown to a mammoth of a company. Insurance rates are going up because diagnostic companies like LabCorp which takes advantage of situations where a person is left with no other choice.

I'm going to ask my doctor about the strange pricing, as I'd hate to think it's a kick-back scheme by LabCorps' unethical price gouging. If anyone has any similar insight as to why LabCorp might charge $190 more for a doctor-ordered test versus a "walk-in-off-the-street" test for TSH and F-T4, please inform me.

If other people have experienced this, then perhaps we're about to uncover something big.

I can certainly understand why someone outside the industry would be confused. Because it is very confusing. Let me point out that your experience with LabCorp is not exclusive and would would be similar with any commercial clinical laboratory.

The patient pricing is so high because when it is all said and done over 20% of the patient bills sent out by labs never get paid. Not even partially. So while it may not be fair, everyone else has to make up the loss.

When LabCorp (or any lab) bill insurance carriers, we must bill them the same amount that we bill patients. LabCorp (and most major labs) has negotiated contracts with many carriers that details what they will pay LabCorp for various tests. The contracts are negotiated so that costs are contained for employers, and hopefully reduces the amount
patients must pay in the long run.

So, yes labs may bill insurance company X the same $230 we billed you, our agreement may be that they will only pay $40. Contracturally we must write off the remaining $190. Now the insurance company might only pay 80% of that $40, leaving you a balance of $8 to pay out of pocket.

Unfortunately all of this means nothing to you, since you have no health insurance, it only makes it more difficult to understand. But there is nothing illegal about this scenario, and nobody is getting a kickback. I just hope I helped you understand our broken system.

Good luck going forward

 

[Anonymous]

To poster #95
You know nothing about the lab industry.

First of all you can NOT go and get your own lab work done WITHOUT a prescription, it has to be ordered by a physician. You can go in to a patient service center with a Rx and not use your insurance and LabCorp will give you a 50% discount.

Secondly, LabCorp often may charge say $200 for a test but the agreement with the insurance company only allows LabCorp to charge $25 so the rest is written off.

Thirdly the person who draws your blood is not paid some high salary or a commision.

If you can find some other lab to get your lab work done then by all means go ahead because there are lots of other labs that will charge you a lot more than LabCorp. Everything we do is legal and above board. There is a very strick compliance department at LabCorp. There may have been mistakes made in the past and no company can claim that they will never make a mistake in the future but LabCorp tries to do its best.

OK, then explain to me why a reputable laboratory would have a book price of $200.00 for a test but accept $ 25.00 as full payment??

I'm sure they are making a profit on the $25.00 so why not have that as their book price, unless they do charge unsuspecting patients the $ 200.00.

 

[Anonymous]

I can certainly understand why someone outside the industry would be confused. Because it is very confusing. Let me point out that your experience with LabCorp is not exclusive and would would be similar with any commercial clinical laboratory.

The patient pricing is so high because when it is all said and done over 20% of the patient bills sent out by labs never get paid. Not even partially. So while it may not be fair, everyone else has to make up the loss.

When LabCorp (or any lab) bill insurance carriers, we must bill them the same amount that we bill patients. LabCorp (and most major labs) has negotiated contracts with many carriers that details what they will pay LabCorp for various tests. The contracts are negotiated so that costs are contained for employers, and hopefully reduces the amount
patients must pay in the long run.

So, yes labs may bill insurance company X the same $230 we billed you, our agreement may be that they will only pay $40. Contracturally we must write off the remaining $190. Now the insurance company might only pay 80% of that $40, leaving you a balance of $8 to pay out of pocket.

Unfortunately all of this means nothing to you, since you have no health insurance, it only makes it more difficult to understand. But there is nothing illegal about this scenario, and nobody is getting a kickback. I just hope I helped you understand our broken system.

Good luck going forward

So if I have no insurance I pay the full $ 230.00? If I don't have money to buy insurance how can I pay the $ 230.00 ? Of the 20% that don't pay at all, how many would pay if the bill was something more in line with what insurance carriers pay?
May not be illegal but I think it's just a dumb business practice that hurts everyone including the lab.

 

[Anonymous]

So if I have no insurance I pay the full $ 230.00? If I don't have money to buy insurance how can I pay the $ 230.00 ? Of the 20% that don't pay at all, how many would pay if the bill was something more in line with what insurance carriers pay?
May not be illegal but I think it's just a dumb business practice that hurts everyone including the lab.

The Lab industry doesn't want it this way bu that's just how the system turned out and its this way with EVERY lab not just LabCorp. You can blame the insurance industry and government while you are at it.

 

[Anonymous]

So if I have no insurance I pay the full $ 230.00? If I don't have money to buy insurance how can I pay the $ 230.00 ? Of the 20% that don't pay at all, how many would pay if the bill was something more in line with what insurance carriers pay?
May not be illegal but I think it's just a dumb business practice that hurts everyone including the lab.

My spouse had surgery a year or so ago, total hospital bill was $150,000. Insurance paid $4600, I had to pay my copay of $3500. Hospital wrote off the rest apparently. If I didn't have insurance, my doctor told me I would have been responsible for the whole $150,000. They wouldn't have told me to pay the $8000 and they'd write off the rest, I'd have lost my house and everything else.

Ain't America great?

 

[Anonymous]

My spouse had surgery a year or so ago, total hospital bill was $150,000. Insurance paid $4600, I had to pay my copay of $3500. Hospital wrote off the rest apparently. If I didn't have insurance, my doctor told me I would have been responsible for the whole $150,000. They wouldn't have told me to pay the $8000 and they'd write off the rest, I'd have lost my house and everything else.

Ain't America great?

The hospital wrote off the rest, and then charged everyother person and/or insurance company inflated prices for ice cubes, towels, and any other service or procedure to make up for the shortfall.

Hospitals will reconfigure themselves to support procedures and or what they charge just like any other business.

 

[Anonymous]

I put my hand up on this stick, when I dip you dip we dip, all over my stick until I bust a nut on your lilly pad and nips

 

[Anonymous]

The hospital wrote off the rest, and then charged everyother person and/or insurance company inflated prices for ice cubes, towels, and any other service or procedure to make up for the shortfall.

Hospitals will reconfigure themselves to support procedures and or what they charge just like any other business.

You mean like labs?

 

[Anonymous]

The Lab industry doesn't want it this way bu that's just how the system turned out and its this way with EVERY lab not just LabCorp. You can blame the insurance industry and government while you are at it.

I think pricing by laboratories and hospitals should be uniform and regulated by the government. They should be treated like the utility compamies. Since costs differ in certain areas it could be set up just like Medicare where they have 5 different pricing formats based upon your location.

This way they labs could only increase sales based on the quality of their product not the lowest price. Also it would open the market to the Mom and Pop labs that could better services their area healthcare providers.

This would also be a win for stockholders since regulating pricing also guarentees a profit margin thus making the stock more secure and valuable.

 

[Anonymous]

I think pricing by laboratories and hospitals should be uniform and regulated by the government. They should be treated like the utility compamies. Since costs differ in certain areas it could be set up just like Medicare where they have 5 different pricing formats based upon your location.

This way they labs could only increase sales based on the quality of their product not the lowest price. Also it would open the market to the Mom and Pop labs that could better services their area healthcare providers.

This would also be a win for stockholders since regulating pricing also guarentees a profit margin thus making the stock more secure and valuable.

Great idea, start the paperwork and I'll sign off on it.

 

[Anonymous]

Be careful about paying bills from LabCorp. Both my husband and myself have been "balance billed" by LabCorp for labwork. LabCorp is a preferred provider for both our insurance companies. Our insurance companies secure deep discounts from LabCorp for services (ex. insurance pays $30 when LabCorp billed for $310). LabCorp is not happy about this despite the fact that they freely enter into these contracts with the insurance companies when they agree to be preferred providers.

My insurance company has a co-insurance amount for labwork. My husbands does not, so he owes labs nothing for services provided. LabCorp first sent me a bill for the total amount they billed to the insurance company, and noted on their invoice that I was to remit a copy of my insurance company "explanation of benefits" if it showed I owed a lesser amount. I included the payment I owed per the explanation of benefits, and remitted a copy to LabCorp patient billing. At that time I thought my business with LabCorp was done.

Two weeks later I receive another bill from LabCorp. This bill showed my payment credited to my account, and a balance due for the difference between the entire amount billed and my payment. I called LabCorp and spoke to an extraordinarily rude individual who advised me to "just pay it" and when I asked to be transferred to customer service, she hung up on me. I called back and spoke to someone else who gave me a fax number and told me to fax a copy of my explanation of benefits to her. I did as I was instructed. My balance was not resolved after two weeks, so I called my insurance company. My insurance company advised me that LabCorp engaged in "balance billing" and that, after reviewing my records, I did not owe LabCorp anything other than what was indicated on the insurance explanation of benefits. My insurance company said they would contact LabCorp about the matter. A week later I received a letter from my insurance company stating that they sent LabCorp a copy of my explanation of benefits, and that they informed LabCorp that I owed only the amount per the explanation of benefits.

Today (two weeks later) I receive a letter from LabCorp advising me that my account is past due and they are going to send it to a collection agency. Their letter also informed me that "based on the explanation of benefits received from [my] insurance company, this balance is [my] responsibility". Funny how MY insurance company told me it wasn't. Guess my insurance company is trying to ruin my credit, huh? More likely LabCorp is trying to shake me down for the money. I am in the process of writing letters to LabCorp, my attorney, my insurance company, several news media agencies, my state representatives at the state and federal level, the New York State Health Insurance Department, and the New York State Attorney General's office.

I can only guess that LabCorp engages in this highly illegal practice as it is so profitable for them. I have the education and the resources to fight this injustice. LabCorp must find that there are many people who will just fork over the money to avoid a hassle or because they fear collection agencies. LabCorp has tried to victimize the wrong person this time.

 

[Anonymous]

Be careful about paying bills from LabCorp. Both my husband and myself have been "balance billed" by LabCorp for labwork. LabCorp is a preferred provider for both our insurance companies. Our insurance companies secure deep discounts from LabCorp for services (ex. insurance pays $30 when LabCorp billed for $310). LabCorp is not happy about this despite the fact that they freely enter into these contracts with the insurance companies when they agree to be preferred providers.

My insurance company has a co-insurance amount for labwork. My husbands does not, so he owes labs nothing for services provided. LabCorp first sent me a bill for the total amount they billed to the insurance company, and noted on their invoice that I was to remit a copy of my insurance company "explanation of benefits" if it showed I owed a lesser amount. I included the payment I owed per the explanation of benefits, and remitted a copy to LabCorp patient billing. At that time I thought my business with LabCorp was done.

Two weeks later I receive another bill from LabCorp. This bill showed my payment credited to my account, and a balance due for the difference between the entire amount billed and my payment. I called LabCorp and spoke to an extraordinarily rude individual who advised me to "just pay it" and when I asked to be transferred to customer service, she hung up on me. I called back and spoke to someone else who gave me a fax number and told me to fax a copy of my explanation of benefits to her. I did as I was instructed. My balance was not resolved after two weeks, so I called my insurance company. My insurance company advised me that LabCorp engaged in "balance billing" and that, after reviewing my records, I did not owe LabCorp anything other than what was indicated on the insurance explanation of benefits. My insurance company said they would contact LabCorp about the matter. A week later I received a letter from my insurance company stating that they sent LabCorp a copy of my explanation of benefits, and that they informed LabCorp that I owed only the amount per the explanation of benefits.

Today (two weeks later) I receive a letter from LabCorp advising me that my account is past due and they are going to send it to a collection agency. Their letter also informed me that "based on the explanation of benefits received from [my] insurance company, this balance is [my] responsibility". Funny how MY insurance company told me it wasn't. Guess my insurance company is trying to ruin my credit, huh? More likely LabCorp is trying to shake me down for the money. I am in the process of writing letters to LabCorp, my attorney, my insurance company, several news media agencies, my state representatives at the state and federal level, the New York State Health Insurance Department, and the New York State Attorney General's office.

I can only guess that LabCorp engages in this highly illegal practice as it is so profitable for them. I have the education and the resources to fight this injustice. LabCorp must find that there are many people who will just fork over the money to avoid a hassle or because they fear collection agencies. LabCorp has tried to victimize the wrong person this time.

Jeez - another whining dead-beat.
Just pay the damn bill.
It's our money - we will get it one way or another, rest assured.

A degree from Romper Room State does not mean you are educated.
Just STFU and pay your damn bills.

 

[Anonymous]

Jeez - another whining dead-beat.
Just pay the damn bill.
It's our money - we will get it one way or another, rest assured.

A degree from Romper Room State does not mean you are educated.
Just STFU and pay your damn bills.

If only everyone were a cock sucker like you. That way the world would be run by the highest bidder and dictatorships could thrive. Idiot. Wipe the semen off your face.

 

[Anonymous]

Jeez - another whining dead-beat.
Just pay the damn bill.
It's our money - we will get it one way or another, rest assured.

A degree from Romper Room State does not mean you are educated.
Just STFU and pay your damn bills.

I really do not understand why this board is full of downright rude people. Is this what our society has come to? I understand that when people are hiding behind the anonymous posts, they feel free to says things they normally would not say, but why all the venom? It seems that a lot of people are on the attack for no good reason. People need to take a good long look in the mirror and see if they like what they see!!

 

[Anonymous]

I really do not understand why this board is full of downright rude people. Is this what our society has come to? I understand that when people are hiding behind the anonymous posts, they feel free to says things they normally would not say, but why all the venom? It seems that a lot of people are on the attack for no good reason. People need to take a good long look in the mirror and see if they like what they see!!

It is sad and unfortunately the same is true with every other company board on this site. I think it's the same person who has nothing better to do although people in general are becoming more and more hateful, polarized or whatever you call it. Thanks to the Limbaughs, O'Reillys and Olberman's of the world, we've learned to hate each other.

 

[Anonymous]

If only everyone were a cock sucker like you. That way the world would be run by the highest bidder and dictatorships could thrive. Idiot. Wipe the semen off your face.

Just because your father and your Priest forced you to do the things you mentioned above, that does not mean these are normal acts.

You really should seek professional help.

 

[Anonymous]

Whether it's consensual or not, it doesn't matter. Boss-employee sex always ends up bad and it's wrong. There's an interesting point made in the recent book, High on Arrival, by Mackenzie Phillips, who claims to have allegedly had a consensual, sexual relationship with her father. Consensual or not, it's wrong. I really believe you would need to be a victim of either one of these terrible scenarios--sexual harassment or incest--to really know that.

When will bosses ever learn? Companies, large or small, and private or publically held, end up paying the price for bosses who are simply put, too horny. They pay, not just in dollars and cents but also in reputation, degradation and a permanent cloud that often soils corporate culture forever.

Sexual harassment, much like incest, is no laughing matter, as Mackenzie Phillips wrote in her book about her alleged consensual sexual relationship with her father. Once again, the word "consensual" doesn't change anything. A child shouldn't be subjected to that, because it's just an abuse of adult power. And it's analogous to having a relationship with your boss--even if you really want to have sex with him/her.

So who really lost here? Everybody. Of course the boss still has their job, but the employees who were under supervision were fired. What a great way to tell our fellow employees that people are our greatest asset.

 

[Anonymous]

Whether it's consensual or not, it doesn't matter. Boss-employee sex always ends up bad and it's wrong. There's an interesting point made in the recent book, High on Arrival, by Mackenzie Phillips, who claims to have allegedly had a consensual, sexual relationship with her father. Consensual or not, it's wrong. I really believe you would need to be a victim of either one of these terrible scenarios--sexual harassment or incest--to really know that.

When will bosses ever learn? Companies, large or small, and private or publically held, end up paying the price for bosses who are simply put, too horny. They pay, not just in dollars and cents but also in reputation, degradation and a permanent cloud that often soils corporate culture forever.

Sexual harassment, much like incest, is no laughing matter, as Mackenzie Phillips wrote in her book about her alleged consensual sexual relationship with her father. Once again, the word "consensual" doesn't change anything. A child shouldn't be subjected to that, because it's just an abuse of adult power. And it's analogous to having a relationship with your boss--even if you really want to have sex with him/her.

So who really lost here? Everybody. Of course the boss still has their job, but the employees who were under supervision were fired. What a great way to tell our fellow employees that people are our greatest asset.

WHAT are you talking about?

 

[Anonymous]

WHAT are you talking about?

I thought that it was just me... I didn't have a clue where that post came from. Methinks that perhaps it belongs on the LabCorp Florida thread.

 

[Anonymous]

The problem that I have with LabCorp is their business practice. So let's start from the beginning. I've been going to my doctor for annual checkup since year 2000. And this lab had always been the designated lab for the routine blood tests since they used to be within the 'network'. But last August when I get to my doctor for the physical exam, they told me to go to this one lab to get my lab work done and forgot to mention that it's no longer the same one as before. (Apparently, LabCorp has dropped outta the network for whatever reason.) The location of the new lab is very close to LabCorp. So naturally I assumed that it was the same lab and went to get my blood drawn. Now I'm getting a big bill from LabCorp since my insurance doesnt cover 100%. I'm pissed because the nurse that took my order knew that I came to the wrong lab yet he proceeded to 'steal' the business from this other lab which clearly had its name and address on the referral paperwork. Illegal or not I dont know. But it's definitely not very ethical. I also found out later (from the doctor's office) that this incident wasnt the first case. Apparently, LabCorp had been taking advantage of many other patients from the same office before. Speaking of blood sucking evil lab

So I called my healthcare provider again. This time I found out that LabCorp had made an agreement to charge only a certain fees (even though they are no longer within the network) and the insurance should have covered that amount. However, in my case, the lab charged me for over 270% of the quoted price. Outrageous!!

That's why I support Obama Care, it will clean up this mess.