posted
Curious if anyone has had similar experiences? As the pricing seems like highway robbery... Does anyone know of any doctors in NYC that charge more reasonable rates?
Thank you in advance,
C
Posts: 2 | From NYC | Registered: Jul 2011
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Abxnomore
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18936
posted
Do the research and you'll find out why. There are links all over the net and on this site about the Lyme controversy and the divide in the medical community. Just use Google.
None of us like the expense nor the illness but it's worth saving your life.
www.underourskin.com See the movie, rent it, buy or check for free screenings on their website.
Check youtube for lots of info about lyme disease, too.
[ 07-22-2011, 05:49 PM: Message edited by: Abxnomore ]
Posts: 5191 | From Lyme Zone | Registered: Jan 2009
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I am also new to this and did not like that either.
That plus the fact that everyone said you HAVE TO get a higher dose of doxy IMMEDIATELY but then nobody wanted to fit me in, even for a prescription for several months...
How serious are people about helping the needy versus making a lot of money from desperate people. I have asked myself that.
I don't know how much LLMDs have to charge to make a living and pay their liability or other insurances. I know running a regular business is often more expensive than people think.
Also, I don't know how much I would charge if I put my professional life and carreer on the line and/or I had the opportunity to get rich.
I would hope I would be a decent human being and charge an appropriate fee, whatever that is.
Be that as it may, at 850.-/hour I would look around and see if you cannot find another decent LLMD to help you.
That is what I would do, unless this particular doctor was definitely the one I wanted to see for some reason.
You may also ask if the 850 rate is always the same or just for the first appointment, which may be longer than any other and more expensive.
Good luck!
-------------------- Persistence, persistence, persistence!!! "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence... Persistence and determination are omnipotent." attributed to Calvin Coolidge Posts: 599 | From USA | Registered: Jun 2011
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posted
The initial appointment with an LLMD is often up to 3 hours long and very intensive. After that, the appointments are shorter - and the price of the office visit is less. At least that's what is going on with the doctors I've seen.
Also, we Lyme patients typically require a lot of extra attention between visits because we have such complicated cases and are so sick. Plus - speaking for myself - we've lost confidence in our local doctors, because they couldn't/wouldn't diagnose us correctly.
Posts: 78 | From South | Registered: Aug 2008
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Abxnomore
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posted
Very well said. What you described has certainly been my experience, too.
Posts: 5191 | From Lyme Zone | Registered: Jan 2009
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lou4656
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10300
posted
Chris -- MY LLMD's initial apppointment was $650.00 plus the cost of the Igenix testing ($600?). The doctor spent about 2 hours with me.
The next appointment was $250 and lasted about one hour. Each monthly appointment after that was about 30-40 minutes long and $125. This was in 2007-08.
I am well today. Worth every penny that I paid. I am still paying off credit card bills, but it is OK. Money well spent.
-------------------- LouLou Posts: 1276 | From maryland | Registered: Oct 2006
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Abxnomore
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posted
So true. Without your health you have nothing!
Posts: 5191 | From Lyme Zone | Registered: Jan 2009
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posted
My two cents - if folks have the money to pay, fine - the doctor works hard - however, those that don't have it, due to being broke from being sick, also need healthcare, so there needs to be arrangements for all. I'm able to go to my doctor because he takes insurance. I also live in a state that has a law protecting Lyme doctors more.
Posts: 13155 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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Abxnomore
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Lucky for you that you live in a state that has passed such a law. I wish all states did. Most of us are not that lucky, as you know.
Most of us live in states that don't even have LLMD's and they have been shut down by the state, such as in Texas. We have a broken medical system that few can afford and works poorly, in general, and those with Lyme suffer more due to the medical divide and controversy.
Most us of have very few options but spend our life's savings, even sell our homes to try and save our health and we have to do what we have to do to regain their it. And it's a crying shame that there are those who can no longer get help, as they have exhausted all their financial options and if they have no funds they cannot get treatment or many resort to self treatment if they can afford it.
Much of this is stems from the Lyme controversy and just as much of it is about the very terrible medical system we have. It's a very sad situation and sad comment about the American health care system.
Posts: 5191 | From Lyme Zone | Registered: Jan 2009
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littlebit27
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Member # 24477
posted
The best way it was explained to me once was kinda like this.
When you go to your PCP you pay $65-$100 per appointment depending on the time, location, and type of doctor.
I pay $65 an appt for me and $60 an appt for my daughters ped. My doctor has NEVER been in the room for more than 5 mins TOPS. So you do the math and get $780/hour. Give or take some money depending on if he spends longer time with some patients...but I doubt it. I've never waited longer than 20 mins after my appt time. So really asking for 300-700 for 1-3 hours is really not unreasonable.
Also take into account the risk they are under just by treating us, and while it sucks it's Lyme Disease.
And why it's been dubbed "The Rich Man's Disease."
Abxnomore
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
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posted
Point well taken but those who don't have the kind of funds that are involved to pay out of pocket are left in the lurch. That really is unacceptable in America and those that do often lose every thing they have worked for and are often left destitute.
Combine the controversy with Lyme and our terrible medical system and it's just a terrible situation.
Posts: 5191 | From Lyme Zone | Registered: Jan 2009
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posted
Abx, re your comment about Texas - I thought I read that legislation has been developed in Texas to protect the doctors - do you or anyone know what's happening with that?
Yes, all states' advocates need to work on getting their state to protect the doctors with legislation. Don't think there's any way around it - look at the states protecting - people had to develop their state legislation.
Still, back to the question raised initially - we still need other arrangements for people who have lost everything due to this disease.
Obviously, we are missing insurance coverage.
I think some charity could be done in this case - not everyone has to charge full rates all the time. What about a limited amount of sliding scale? Lawyers do pro bono work sometimes. Doctors sometimes volunteer their time.
I know - this isn't going to solve the problem, because there are too many people needing care who don't have the funds. And what about whole families who are sick?
I wish some really wealthy people would create a fund for sick people to apply to for funds - you know, there are a lot of people out there with tons of money - we do have billionaires in this world. Wish they could do something really helpful for others with their money. It would be easy for those who are really rich to do something like this - they'd never miss the money.
Or here's an idea: for all those who CAN afford to pay these rates, what about tithing a small amount into a fund so that others can get to the doctor who need to? Like 5-10% of the monthly amount spent on medical care?
I think we have someone in the Lyme community who's already set up a 501c3 to accept funds for such a purpose, and said that no one is contributing to it - at least that's the last I heard about it.
What if we were to check in with this person again and confirm that they still are set up to do such a thing - accept funds and applications for money grants and give out money?
Up for discussion. My two cents.
Posts: 13155 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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posted
My neurologist, who takes insurance,gets $140 from the insurance company for a 20 minute office visit. Looking at that, $650 for a 3 hour appt that includes reading the book I sent in with all my blood work for the past 3 years, seems pretty fair for all the time they put in. They read my file I sent before I go in for the visit and that is billed time too included in the first visit. So it is more than 3 hours that I am getting for the first visit fee.
I don't have the money either. I had to go to the bank and move finances around and borrow money. The office visits are less than what it would cost for my funeral.
-------------------- Faithful
Just sharing my experience, I am not a doctor. Posts: 2682 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2009
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philly78
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posted
I'm dishing out $1100 in September for my son just to see the doctor! Tests are going to be even more than that. Payment on that must be made in cash...no credit cards. Testing can be put on credit card though.
There aren't many of us who can actually afford these rates but it is worth it imo. I already told my hubby that if I have to, I'll go dark for awhile shutting off the internet, phone and cable and slash my plan for my cellphone to the bare minimum along with anything else I can do to save money.
I have basement full of things I don't need so we're having a flea market in August.
The way I see it...there are things that I can go without for a period of time.
-------------------- When faced with pain you have two choices....either quit and accept the circumstances, OR make the decision to fight with all the resources you have at your disposal. Posts: 1000 | From PA | Registered: Mar 2011
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posted
FYI it is underourskin.com not .org
Posts: 236 | From Zionsville IN | Registered: Jan 2011
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Abxnomore
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
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Thanks. I clicked on the link I provided and was quite surprised! I have corrected it.
Posts: 5191 | From Lyme Zone | Registered: Jan 2009
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