Financing Health Care

So, had my initial follow-up with the orthopedic surgeon and, while going over some paperwork with his staff, noticed this brochure in a handy rack on the desk:

"We offer No Interest Payment Plans..."

Given that I don't know yet the final cost of all the medicine that was (and continues to be) committed upon me, I was curious about non-insurance options in these circumstances. Credit cards and home equity loans are popular and well-known choices, but this alternative intrigued me, and seemed to be interesting blog-fodder.

On a consumer bulletin board that Bob and I frequent, we often see posts by folks looking for ways to trim and/or manage large health care bills. It makes sense that a surgeon's office would have this kind of option available; perhaps other big-ticket providers offer similar plans. I'd be very interested in IB readers' experiences with such a plan (a note in the comments, perhaps, or an email).

Regular reader Rick B alerted me some time ago to one carrier's financing option, as well. This "CareCredit" plan offers two alternatives: a kind of "90 days same as cash" deal, and an extended version which offers discounted interest rates (although discounted from what is not entirely clear). The interest-free option seems to be available to more mundane services (under $300), while the low-interest plan is for higher ticket (over a grand) procedures.

I also noticed that my orthopedist and my vet can both offer this plan:

"CareCredit...can be used repeatedly for yourself, your entire family, and even your pets." [ed: emphasis added]

Nice to know.

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Financing Health Care

So, had my initial follow-up with the orthopedic surgeon and, while going over some paperwork with his staff, noticed this brochure in a handy rack on the desk:

"We offer No Interest Payment Plans..."

Given that I don't know yet the final cost of all the medicine that was (and continues to be) committed upon me, I was curious about non-insurance options in these circumstances. Credit cards and home equity loans are popular and well-known choices, but this alternative intrigued me, and seemed to be interesting blog-fodder.

On a consumer bulletin board that Bob and I frequent, we often see posts by folks looking for ways to trim and/or manage large health care bills. It makes sense that a surgeon's office would have this kind of option available; perhaps other big-ticket providers offer similar plans. I'd be very interested in IB readers' experiences with such a plan (a note in the comments, perhaps, or an email).

Regular reader Rick B alerted me some time ago to one carrier's financing option, as well. This "CareCredit" plan offers two alternatives: a kind of "90 days same as cash" deal, and an extended version which offers discounted interest rates (although discounted from what is not entirely clear). The interest-free option seems to be available to more mundane services (under $300), while the low-interest plan is for higher ticket (over a grand) procedures.

I also noticed that my orthopedist and my vet can both offer this plan:

"CareCredit...can be used repeatedly for yourself, your entire family, and even your pets." [ed: emphasis added]

Nice to know.

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Rats! It's the MVNHS©!

One of the, um, benefits of socialized medicine is the dedication of its providers to timely service (if not an emphasis on sanitation). Unfortunately, that "rush to excellence" may have been a bit misplaced:

"A patient was told there was no reason why he couldn't have surgery in a hospital, despite the smell caused by a dead rodent trapped in the building's ceiling."

One supposes that a dead rodent is preferable to a live one, perhaps scurrying around the OR supervising the procedure.

Or perhaps not:

"(D)espite being told that the trust's infection control experts had stated that Mr Cowper was not being exposed to an infection risk, he decided not to proceed with the operation."

I'm sure he was comforted by the fact that he had waited only a scant 11 months for the surgery to take place.

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Rats! It's the MVNHS©!

One of the, um, benefits of socialized medicine is the dedication of its providers to timely service (if not an emphasis on sanitation). Unfortunately, that "rush to excellence" may have been a bit misplaced:

"A patient was told there was no reason why he couldn't have surgery in a hospital, despite the smell caused by a dead rodent trapped in the building's ceiling."

One supposes that a dead rodent is preferable to a live one, perhaps scurrying around the OR supervising the procedure.

Or perhaps not:

"(D)espite being told that the trust's infection control experts had stated that Mr Cowper was not being exposed to an infection risk, he decided not to proceed with the operation."

I'm sure he was comforted by the fact that he had waited only a scant 11 months for the surgery to take place.

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Cavalcade #47: Submissions Due

John Cogan hosts next week's edition of the Cavalcade, scheduled for Wednesday the 12th. Please make sure to get your submissions in by Monday (the 10th). John asks that you PLEASE include:

■ Your blog's url
■ Your post's url
■ The post's trackback URL (if available)
■ A (brief) summary of the post

You can submit them via Blog Carnival or email. We have slots available for April and May, so PLEASE drop us a line to reserve yours.

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Cavalcade #47: Submissions Due

John Cogan hosts next week's edition of the Cavalcade, scheduled for Wednesday the 12th. Please make sure to get your submissions in by Monday (the 10th). John asks that you PLEASE include:

■ Your blog's url
■ Your post's url
■ The post's trackback URL (if available)
■ A (brief) summary of the post

You can submit them via Blog Carnival or email. We have slots available for April and May, so PLEASE drop us a line to reserve yours.

Read More