r/HealthInsurance • u/arwenthenoble • 14d ago

Claims/Providers Full office visit co-pay charged for MyChart message

I had a question about a temporary medication I was taking and sent a message via MyChart. The message was only regarding the medication (no other health questions were asked).

I received my EOB and was charged a full $50 co-pay like when I go in person for a visit or have a full video visit. When I looked online, I see in general messaging costs listed as much lower than a visit. Does this mean my insurance doesn’t differentiate a full visit from a brief question in a message? If I had known, I would’ve scheduled an online telehealth visit instead.

I’ve had a lot of medical costs this year and another random $50 stings. I will avoid using MyChart going forward.

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u/Comfortable_Two6272 14d ago

I get why. They get hundreds of messages a week some spending 2-3 extra hours each night to answer. Some are now removing messaging access vs billing for questions via My Chart.

Its crappy insurance is charging a $50 copay vs say $10-$20.

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u/Living-Target-9355 14d ago

If it’s individuals utilizing it too much, talk to those individuals. If it’s because you have too many patients, that’s not the fault of the patients. I’d also argue if it is a lot of patients then you’re not communicating well in office.

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u/HeparinBridge 13d ago

It’s not about whose fault it is, really. If patients want their doctor to answer a question, they should expect to pay for the doctor’s time and labor. Twenty years ago you couldn’t really ask the doctor question without paying for a full appointment, and the invention of MyChart does not entitle you to free labor.

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u/Lauren_RNBSN 13d ago

Louder for the people in the back 👏👏👏

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u/Bigboss_26 13d ago

A lot of patients want their doctors to answer questions, but can’t possibly fit them into the 5-minute appointment window allotted by corporate medicine.

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u/UTGSurgeon 13d ago

So doctors should just work for free I guess right?

1

u/Bigboss_26 13d ago

If the answer to the patients question is something which reasonably should have been answered during the visit (which you’ve already billed them for), then you’re not working for free but you’re finishing the work you allegedly should have done, no different than a contractor being called back to finish an improperly installed sink.

Now I’m sure you’ll say “But I’m not like those other doctors, I take time with my patients!” - and maybe you are. Based on what I hear from my pharmacy patients about their experiences with both specialists and primary care, however, odds are that you’re not.

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u/Ridgewoodgal 13d ago

I used to call and ask a question and was never charged for that though.

7

u/BitterEndRomance 13d ago

If you're getting medical advice from a doctor, it should be a billable service.

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u/Silentnapper 13d ago

They cant bill the code if it is related to a recent visit. So it is not a communication thing.

I can tell you that patients, due to ease of access and the reality of not being charged for medical care in these messages, have over the years utilized these messages more and more.

This is a very well documented issue in the medical field. Also, as a counterpoint, patients can go elsewhere but I think the era of free endless MyChart messages is coming to a justified end.