I went to a doctor for my hands because they were going numb and curling up at night. The doctor said I need a wrist guard and let me choose two from a desk. Now I got a bill for 150 dollars! I would pay that if it was a fair price, but I found these wrist guards for just 10 dollars each on Amazon. I get that they might not be covered by my insurance, but how can they charge 75 dollars for each one? Is there any way I can challenge this?
Doctors don’t charge Amazon prices for items you can find there. They didn’t get those items from Amazon, but you could have asked if you could buy them somewhere cheaper.
Cameron said:
Doctors don’t charge Amazon prices for items you can find there. They didn’t get those items from Amazon, but you could have asked if you could buy them somewhere cheaper.
Some small clinics definitely get their supplies from Amazon.
But I haven’t seen them bill for it, usually it’s just stored items that they need.
Rule number one… never get tricked into buying medical equipment like braces or splints from a doctor’s office. It feels shady. If it’s a custom item, they should write you a prescription with detailed sizing info and send you to a place that makes them. If it’s a standard item, they should give you the info to buy it yourself at a store.
Sadly, you probably can’t do anything about it now. Medical equipment is typically way more expensive than what you find online or elsewhere.
Always ask before accepting a brace or other items if you can get your own. Sometimes what they provide is unique, and sometimes it’s just lower quality.
Why not just ask? I was offered a boot, and when I asked how much it would cost, I decided to say no and ordered one from Amazon that arrived the next day.
Always ask for the price. Many times you can just buy it yourself for much less. Medical prices are really high.
Same thing happened to me, and I’m a doctor. They didn’t warn me about being billed for the splint they got from a third party vendor. I found it on Amazon for one-tenth of the price. Frustrating.
And my movie theater charged me 13.50 for popcorn!
Lyric said:
And my movie theater charged me 13.50 for popcorn!
That’s why I sneak in my own snacks and water.
You can use FSA to cover this cost, and next time, get a recommendation and buy it yourself.
This applies to breast prosthetics too.
Sure, you can order one from Amazon for thirty bucks, but is it what you really need? What’s it made of? Will it fit with your current bras? It can be better to go to a professional for some items.
Unless it’s custom-made, you usually get what you pay for.
It’s not just about having a guard; it’s about the right type, size, and brand that works for your needs. Plus, being able to try it on first and walk out with it.
Jalen said:
It’s not just about having a guard; it’s about the right type, size, and brand that works for your needs. Plus, being able to try it on first and walk out with it.
Exactly. The healthcare provider’s expertise is part of the cost.
When you buy from Amazon, you miss out on the supplier’s responsibilities. They need to store the items and keep track of them in case there’s a recall or safety issue.
Items from Amazon may not be the same quality as what the doctor provides.
You seem like a smart shopper, so just say no next time when offered medical devices and go straight to Amazon.
This happened to us too. I paid it because it was a tough lesson.
The prices for DME are crazy.
My wife had knee surgery, and they charged a ridiculous amount for a brace. I found a much better one online for a fraction of the price. During our next visit, the surgeon said, ‘Oh, that’s so much better – I use that when I operate elsewhere.’
I used to get night-time curling too; it turned out to be anemia. It took a few rounds of iron transfusions, but it’s all good now. You can order your blood tests online without waiting for a doctor’s appointment and it’s usually cheap. If results are odd, consider going to oncology for help.
These are medical devices, and while they might not be covered, you can use FSA or HSA funds to pay for them if that’s part of your insurance plan. So you’re paying out of pocket, but it’s with pretax dollars.