NYS - withholding treatment

G

gerard2006

Member
Jurisdiction
New York
Is a private doctors office allowed to withhold treatment if a patient cannot satisfy deductible and copay at time of treatment even though they are agreeable to sign all financial responsibility forms including agreement to pay off bills at a later time?Thanks
 
gerard2006 said:
Is a private doctors office allowed to withhold treatment if a patient cannot satisfy deductible and copay at time of treatment
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Yes.

I can't tell you how many doctors' offices I go into that have signs posted about payment due at time of service.

I assume you made an appointment in advance of the visit and presumably also knew in advance what your insurance copay and deductible was, giving you enough time to arrange for the money.

Doctors, like everyone and everywhere, are entitled to get paid at time of service.
 
...assuming that your insurance contract does not prohibit it.

Admitted, it is unlikely to prohibit the doctor from requiring your co-pay upfront, but I have seen policies that prohibited requesting a deductible up front.

Read your policy.
 
gerard2006 said:
Is a private doctors office allowed to withhold treatment if a patient cannot satisfy deductible and copay at time of treatment even though they are agreeable to sign all financial responsibility forms including agreement to pay off bills at a later time?
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Imagine if you wrote the following:

"Is a private auto mechanic allowed to withhold service if a customer cannot pay at time of service even though he or she is agreeable to sign all financial responsibility forms including agreement to pay off bills at a later time?"

That would be a pretty absurd question, wouldn't it? So...why do you think private doctor's offices are any different?
 
zddoodah said:
Imagine if you wrote the following:

"Is a private auto mechanic allowed to withhold service if a customer cannot pay at time of service even though he or she is agreeable to sign all financial responsibility forms including agreement to pay off bills at a later time?"

That would be a pretty absurd question, wouldn't it? So...why do you think private doctor's offices are any different?
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Because medical doctor and auto mechanic belongs to different categories of service providers. A co-pay constitutes a subject line. Cutting a medical treatment put a human life in a threat while refusing to fix your vehicle is not. As well I believe the original question was posted by a health insurance holder, so a doctor is gonna be paid anyway.
 
Brooklyner12 said:
Because medical doctor and auto mechanic belongs to different categories of service providers. A co-pay constitutes a subject line. Cutting a medical treatment put a human life in a threat while refusing to fix your vehicle is not. As well I believe the original question was posted by a health insurance holder, so a doctor is gonna be paid anyway.
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What in the world are you saying? Your post is nonsensical.
 
Brooklyner12 said:
Because medical doctor and auto mechanic belongs to different categories of service providers.
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So what?


Brooklyner12 said:
A co-pay constitutes a subject line.
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That is an utterly meaningless statement.


Brooklyner12 said:
Cutting a medical treatment put a human life in a threat while refusing to fix your vehicle is not. As well I believe the original question was posted by a health insurance holder, so a doctor is gonna be pai
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While that may be factually true (depending on the nature of the medical treatment), it's legally irrelevant.


Brooklyner12 said:
As well I believe the original question was posted by a health insurance holder, so a doctor is gonna be paid anyway.
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The insurance company doesn't pay the co-pay or deductible, and the question is about the patient's inability to pay those things at the time treatment is rendered..
 
Bottom line, if a medical provider wants to receive full payment from an insurer, it is wise to collect the copay before providing services.

Why?

Because failure to do so, would likely end up being STIFFED by SOME (IF NOT A GREAT MANY) patients.

Finally, its in YOUR BEST INTERESTS to understand what's required of you as the insured/patient, regarding indemnification from your insurer.

Bottom line, life isn't replete with FREE LUNCHES.

Whatever we seek in this life is likely to cost us, one way or another!!!
 
It seems to me you guys are discussing judicial issues from an angle of a law application. I have tried to talk more materially, earthy about the issue. My physician bills my insurance for $459.00 for a 15 minutes visit ( well, got paid $195.00) and co-payment he asked is $10.00
What I want to bring on a table is a nature and a sense of that co-payment. I honestly believe that co-payment constitutes around 5% from the actually received money and such 5% could be a great gesture to be forgiven. I do understand, we are on The Law.com forum....
 
Brooklyner12 said:
It seems to me you guys are discussing judicial issues from an angle of a law application. I have tried to talk more materially, earthy about the issue. My physician bills my insurance for $459.00 for a 15 minutes visit ( well, got paid $195.00) and co-payment he asked is $10.00
What I want to bring on a table is a nature and a sense of that co-payment. I honestly believe that co-payment constitutes around 5% from the actually received money and such 5% could be a great gesture to be forgiven. I do understand, we are on The Law.com forum....
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Huh?
The $10 is a contractual matter, plain and simple.
 
I'll complete the hijack, since I did ask the question. With an HMO it is quite unlikely that your doctor has the option of waiving the copay for you, or that you have the option of not paying it. It's contractually written into your insurance policy.
 

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