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/nyc2pit 13d ago

I'm sorry you're not properly being compensated for your time and expertise.

Doesn't mean that others don't deserve to be.

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u/[deleted] 13d ago

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u/nyc2pit 13d ago

You should stick to what you're good at and not opine on what someone else's work day and workload looks like.

My bet is you would collapse under the workload of a normal PCP.

Tldr the rest of your rambling.

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u/Pitch_forks 13d ago

We (physicians) aren't salaried. If you weren't salaried, would you maintain such availability? I hope you have enough respect for yourself and place enough value on your time to demand compensation for it.

I like my line of work - it's mentally stimulating, and it's gratifying to help folks. It feels like my work matters and is a worthy use of my time. But you'd better believe I'm out if I hit the lottery. I do not have some higher calling to dedicate my life to helping others. At the end of the day, we are just people who chose this method to pay our mortgages and be able to do the things we want to do. Same as you.

And frankly, if the layperson wants to get mad at physicians finally standing up for themselves and try to turn on us due to their lack of perspective, I invite them to FAFO. Honestly, I'm getting tired of the 5-minute expert anyway.

Fortunately, in my neck of the woods, most of them are coming around. I am a PCP (family med physician) on call for my group today, actually. Several stupid phone calls that absolutely could have waited til Monday (or just not have even been made...), but one lady did apologize for intruding on my day off and thanked me for my help on a Saturday. That meant more to me than she could know!