Typically after a medical procedure such as surgery, the bills come trickling in from the hospital, the\u00a0surgeon, the anesthesiologist, the physical therapist…and the list goes on. It can be difficult to\u00a0accurately plan for what your total out-of-pocket costs will be, once all is said and done.\u00a0With bundled payments, the patient pays a single, all-inclusive bill for a medical procedure or surgery\u00a0upfront. Surprises are eliminated and in some cases, costs are lower.<\/p>\n
Gaining Popularity<\/b><\/p>\n
The \u201cbundled payments\u201d model of care has been gaining popularity over the past decade. Medicare\u00a0began testing the model in 2012 and made a bundled payment option mandatory for select procedures\u00a0in some markets. Studies have found that surgery payment bundles can reduce costs without impacting\u00a0quality of care, outcomes or patient satisfaction.<\/p>\n
Why Pay Out-of-Pocket?<\/b><\/p>\n
There are a number of situations where it might make sense to consider bundled payments, including if\u00a0you choose an out-of-network provider, have a high-deductible plan, or don\u2019t have health insurance\u00a0coverage.<\/p>\n
Some health insurance plans don\u2019t cover out-of-network services at all, while others provide a lower\u00a0level of coverage. If you\u2019ve chosen an out-of-network provider for a particular procedure, there might\u00a0not be any value to processing the payment through your insurer. If your healthcare provider offers\u00a0cash-bundled services, you could benefit from knowing exactly what your costs are ahead of time. Be\u00a0sure to check your insurance coverage before making a decision.<\/p>\n
Some patients with high-deductible plans chose cash-bundled payments, particularly if they are\u00a0approaching the end of the year and aren\u2019t going to meet their annual deductible. In a case like this,\u00a0where the patient will be paying out-of-pocket anyway, a cash-bundled bill can be less expensive and\u00a0will make planning easier. The same may be true if you don\u2019t have health insurance coverage.<\/p>\n
MSA Offers Bundled Payment Options<\/b><\/p>\n
If you\u2019re interested in cash-bundled payment for a medical procedure, start by asking your surgeon if it\u2019s\u00a0an option. Not all providers offer cash-bundle pricing, and those that do may limit it to specific\u00a0procedures. If cash bundling is available, ask for a quote and information about financing options during\u00a0your consultation with your doctor.<\/p>\n
Muskegon Surgical Associates offers a cash-bundled payment option for select procedures, providing\u00a0patients with a transparent, upfront cost without surprises. Payment is required in full prior to surgery,\u00a0with the option of working with Care Credit, a financing provider that offers programs such as 12\u00a0monthly payments at 0% interest.<\/p>\n