posted
Just a quick question for anyone to make sense of this topic for me.
WHY does the LLMD cost so much, 600 dollars for an hour. I mean i know they went to school and have that debt, but the doc i see has a building and a front desk person, but there is no fancy medical equipment, or machines, no huge office, or many staff members. My LLMD's father even had lyme bad, and he switched studies to internal medicine, because of this, so i know he is compassionate on the subject.
So why the crazy amount of money, i mean the guy is packed for appts. and most of us are broke or after fighting lyme for a while are on our way, and then every three weeks he wants a follow up that costs as much as a car payment.
Can someone shed some light on this for me, i know this should be general topic, but i know that by posting it here i will get a good response by all you smart people. i understand the no insurance, and the cost to some degree for there speacial insight, but whats up?
SOrry to complain, its just killing me to put out all this money all the time, and more importantly what about the people that cant afford the 600 or 300 dollar follow up. How do they get a good llmd, i can barely do it. thanks DJ
-------------------- D.J. Lyme Posts: 69 | From shoreline CT | Registered: Dec 2005
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mbroderick
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5220
posted
I don't know why you would be needing go see the doctor every 3 weeks! We only go every 3 months - if there's a problem in-between appointments it usually can be handled by phone. Most treatments don't have any effect for as little time as 3 weeks! It sounds like you're paying way too much.
All LLMD's are different and mine happens to participate with Blue Cross, which makes the amt. that I owe next to nothing. PM me with the name of your doctor, if you wouln't mind.
Posts: 2097 | From PA | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
Every 3 weeks is too much. The only reason to see a LLMD in the first place is because they usually have more experience in Treating lyme than a GP. I was only paying $95 to see one every 3 months with a $75 phone consult each month inbetween. They don't all charge the big bucks. Some of them do take a lot of heat from insurance Companys when they Rx IV drugs. Maybe that's why some jack up their prices.
You don't have to have an LLMD tho. All you really need is a Dr that understands how serious and under diagnosed lyme disease is, and that's willing to liberally Rx meds for you. Any Dr can learn a lot just from Dr B's guidelines. Most LLMD's are happy to answer any questions that a newbie Lyme Dr might have via a free phone consult Dr to Dr.
-------------------- You're only a failure when you stop trying. Posts: 945 | From U.S | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
IMO the ones charging the high amounts are in it for the money and have gotten big heads.
This happened to us with our first LLMD and he took all our money then dropped us.
Your really have to be careful for these LLMDs.
They only reason we now believe a LLMD should have to see you every 3 weeks is if you are on IV.
Every 4 weeks if you are just starting treatment and may need med. changes.
Beware of the money hungry LLMD because it is sad but there are some.
Posts: 191 | From Eastern Shore. Maryland USA | Registered: Jun 2003
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Nal
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6801
posted
$600.00 does indeed seem a little extreme to me-holy cow.
You and I have chatted. I see a dr here in CO. My appts run between $150.00- $200.00 depending on how much time he has to spend with me.
I would be asking questions and find out why the cost is so high and why you need to be seen so often. I go about every 4 weeks right now but thats because I have been having problems with the meds.
Nancy
-------------------- Life is 10% what happens to you, 90% how you respond to it!
-Chuck Swindoll Posts: 1594 | From Colorado | Registered: Jan 2005
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Andie333
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7370
posted
My LLMD charged more but my first appt., but she also spent almost 2 hours with me then.
I have seen her every 4 or 6 weeks since then (usually every 6 weeks).
In subsequent appointments, she has spent about 90 minutes with me.
Even with all the bloodwork and tests, my costs have been much less than yours.
Andie
Posts: 2549 | From never never land | Registered: May 2005
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Andie333
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7370
posted
delete
Posts: 2549 | From never never land | Registered: May 2005
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Areneli
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6740
posted
My visits are 10-15 minutes long but he is no LLMD- regular family physician.
I come prepared; have list of my symptoms printed, list of suggestions printed, list of questions printed. He doesn't have to write much as he keeps my reports so visit time is used very efficiently. I see him every 4-6 weeks.
He is paid by Candian Healhcare about $30 per visit.
Posts: 1538 | From Planet Earth | Registered: Jan 2005
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liz28
Unregistered
posted
That's the normal fee most medical specialists charge for out-of-pocket services. Especially on our super-snobby East Coast. Most LLMDs have either been booted out of insurance companies, or won't go near them in order to protect their practices.
If you force yourself to read through, say, two years' worth of past Lymenet posts, kind of like you were cramming for a Harvard entrance exam (or whatever you value most as incentive), you would have a handle on nearly every single treatment currently used to treat Lyme, and twice as much as your doctor. ESPECIALLY if you memorize, word for word, Dr. B's 2005 treatment guidelines. In a way, you can think of Lymenet as a laboratory for Dr. B's theories, since we are all trying different versions of them and reporting back. That's why it's good to force yourself to read every single post. You'll get completely unexpected insight from out of left field.
If you have an LLMD who is willing to help you, and to try aggressive treatment, he or she is worth the money as long as you are highly proactive. If you come in armed with your Lymenet background, with all your symptoms detailed, material on the exact antibiotic combinations you want to try, and the determination to ask for what you want, one of two things will happen. You'll either get well a lot faster than you would if you waited for the doctor to figure out what you need --since as a Lymie, you probably have an exquisite sense of what's going on with you--or your doctor will bail, and you'll be able to take your money to another doctor who will provide your preferred treatment.
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
Hello, 4 of the LLMD's that I checked out charged from $375 up to $600 for the first visit (most visits were at least an hour some were 2 hours), money due at the time of the visit with deposits before hand.
None of them bill regular insurance and the most expensive one took medicare. 2 of them require a visit every 6 weeks unless they are not prescribing the medication except that one will stretch it to 3 months after the first few visits. By law their office said they have to see the patient every 3 months if prescribing antibiotics. I didn't get that far to find out about the other 2 in terms of how often follow-ups will be.
They all charge a hefty fee for phone consultations, almost as much as an actual visit. One does not phone consultations and will not give any test results out except in an office visit, period. Follow-ups were $200-300.
Another one that I contacted charges less for medicare patients because they don't accept medicare and so it is all out of pocket because medicare won't let a patient bill them like other insurance companies. The reduced rate is $127.50 for initial visit and $57.50 for subsequent visits.
The charge depends somewhat on the going rate for the area. I've found that CA is more expensive than WA, probably because the cost of living is higher in CA.
I think there are several factors involved, one relates to the going rate for the area, another is that they seem to spend more time with the patients than typical allopathic doctor. I guess part of it is supply and demand too. If you are really in demand then you can charge what you want. One more factor is that LLMD's are taking a bit of a risk in that some have had to defend themselves in order to keep their license from being revoked.
I do agree that some doctor's are in the profession for the money but bucking the medical system in order to treat lyme patients seems like risky business and treating really ill and often explosive patients seems like a tough job. I think there are probably easier ways to make money.
It's really awful though for some who simply cannot afford to pay these high prices, especially when unable to work. Regards, Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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