Comments on: The Discount Card: It’s Better than Insurance http://healthblog.ncpa.org/the-discount-card-its-better-than-insurance/ Health Care Policy and Reform Insights | NCPA Fri, 25 May 2012 12:21:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Stephanie http://healthblog.ncpa.org/the-discount-card-its-better-than-insurance/comment-page-1/#comment-90804 Stephanie Thu, 02 Jun 2011 19:51:47 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=3475#comment-90804 If you need discount insurance that has 1 million providers take a look at this its the best on the market! And no complaints on the web. http://stephaniecampbell.xpressabo.com/go1 If you need discount insurance that has 1 million providers take a look at this its the best on the market! And no complaints on the web.

http://stephaniecampbell.xpressabo.com/go1

]]> By: Devon Herrick http://healthblog.ncpa.org/the-discount-card-its-better-than-insurance/comment-page-1/#comment-42685 Devon Herrick Tue, 19 May 2009 16:46:06 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=3475#comment-42685 Discount cards are arguably better than nothing. But they appear rather pricy compared to the benefits received (e.g. $66 per month for access to negotiated rates). A recent start up, Health Care Blue Book (www.healthcarebluebook.com), provides a free, web-based consumer tool that patients can use to find the average price a mid-sized PPO might pay for a variety of services. Armed with this knowledge, most patients can shop around and secure a similar price if they offer to pay cash up front. In some markets, participating providers are displayed along side the price estimate. In Ron’s example of a cancer diagnosis (discounted price of $360,000), I would opt to receive treatment at an Apollo Group hospital in India, where the price would likely be less than $50,000. Discount cards are arguably better than nothing. But they appear rather pricy compared to the benefits received (e.g. $66 per month for access to negotiated rates). A recent start up, Health Care Blue Book (www.healthcarebluebook.com), provides a free, web-based consumer tool that patients can use to find the average price a mid-sized PPO might pay for a variety of services. Armed with this knowledge, most patients can shop around and secure a similar price if they offer to pay cash up front. In some markets, participating providers are displayed along side the price estimate.

In Ron’s example of a cancer diagnosis (discounted price of $360,000), I would opt to receive treatment at an Apollo Group hospital in India, where the price would likely be less than $50,000.

]]> By: Ron Greiner http://healthblog.ncpa.org/the-discount-card-its-better-than-insurance/comment-page-1/#comment-42663 Ron Greiner Mon, 18 May 2009 20:09:20 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=3475#comment-42663 State insurance departments have warned agents about these discount plans. The people selling them call the discounted rate a "Co-Pay" which is a lie. A family of 4 would pay $263 a month for their so-called preventative plan. We have discussed that 30-year-old couple and 2 children can get HSA insurance for $207 a month in Michigan that has a ZERO deductible on preventative services and $8 million per person life time max. All services are also discounted until the deductible is met. Get a discount plan and a $500,000 cancer will be discounted to $360,000. Sign here. State insurance departments have warned agents about these discount plans. The people selling them call the discounted rate a “Co-Pay” which is a lie.

A family of 4 would pay $263 a month for their so-called preventative plan. We have discussed that 30-year-old couple and 2 children can get HSA insurance for $207 a month in Michigan that has a ZERO deductible on preventative services and $8 million per person life time max. All services are also discounted until the deductible is met.

Get a discount plan and a $500,000 cancer will be discounted to $360,000. Sign here.

]]> By: Ken http://healthblog.ncpa.org/the-discount-card-its-better-than-insurance/comment-page-1/#comment-42660 Ken Mon, 18 May 2009 19:34:20 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=3475#comment-42660 More evidence that when doctors compete on price, the market works. More evidence that when doctors compete on price, the market works.

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