[Dean UK]

Typical cost of myeloma specialist visit in the U.S.?

by Dean UK on Sat Sep 10, 2016 1:07 pm

I'm paying private here in the UK to have a myeloma specialist double check all is ok with my team of doctors. I'm doing this partly based on advice I got here. In the UK you pay roughly around £200 for each appointment . I am just wondering roughly how much patients pay for each appointment to see their myeloma specialist in the States? I read most people have insurance, but just won­dered how much compared to the UK.

Thanks,
Dean

[Multibilly]

Re: Typical cost of myeloma specialist visit in the U.S.?

by Multibilly on Sat Sep 10, 2016 4:21 pm

My specialist bills insurance $148 USD (£111) for a routine visit (this is what somebody without insurance would pay).

My insurance company adjusts that $148 USD amount to $108 USD based on their negotiated rates.

Of the $108 USD, I pay a $30 USD "specialist copay" and the insurance company pays the remaining $78 balance. If I had the same type of visit with my general physician (family doctor), then my copay would have been $15.

A complete battery of accompanying lab tests would cost me either $0 or $30, depending on when and where I had the tests done.

But, we have MANY different insurance plans in the USA, with many different copays and deductibles that come into play for each individual.

[NStewart]

Re: Typical cost of myeloma specialist visit in the U.S.?

by NStewart on Sat Sep 10, 2016 7:38 pm

My insurance is billed $260 for each of my visits to the specialist. All of the blood tests end up being billed at a few thousand dollars per visit. But, I do have a lot of bloodwork done each time. I just did an equivalency of the pound to the dollar and found that you are paying about what my insurance is billed for my specialist.

If you have the money to pay for the extra assurance that your myeloma is being monitored well by the specialist, I think it is well worth the expense. I'm assuming that you are being seen on a regular basis by an oncologist with the NHS and are paying for the specialist on an infrequent basis.

Nancy in Phila

[Dean UK]

Re: Typical cost of myeloma specialist visit in the U.S.?

by Dean UK on Sun Sep 11, 2016 1:11 pm

Thanks to you both for your reply. Yes, Nancy, I'm paying private as I go, using the doctors on the NHS, but have my specialist just keeping an eye on things. The set up in the UK is different and I was advised from the NHS doctors it won't help, but I thought it certainly won't do no harm, so I still went ahead.

Thanks again for all your replies.