Are medical co-pays negotiable?

Question

I have insurance, and I was wondering if medical co-pays are negotiable. For some, I understand the need, but then there are other types of things that need to be done such as seeing another doctor and following up and the procedure. A good example would be cataract surgery, you need to have many many appointments and a co-pay of $30 can really add up, Chiropractic would be the same thing. I know they say that Dr. visits are negotiable, but are medical co-pays?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Sometimes co-pays are negotiable.  It won't hurt to ask.  When I had my hysterectomy, I paid a co-pay on the first visit, but then the other visits and the after surgery visits were all included with the first co-pay.  I think the drs office can waive a co-pay if they want to.

Answer 2

Contrary to your statement,co-pays and doctors fees are not negotiable when billing your insurance for them. They are part of the contract your physicians agrees to when he accepts your insurance and their reimbursement. If a doctor negotiated a further discount on your co-pay, he would be in violation of that contract and it would negate any payment made by your insurance. Some insurances allow a follow-up without a co-pay after a procedure-but this depends on the insurance and the procedure done.

They might be negotiable if you are paying cash however.

Answer 3

Only with the doctor - but not a MEDICARE copay.   And most of the time, they won't - because the insurance is usually paying $12 or so towards the visit, and your copay is the rest of it.

Answer 4

Negotiable by whom?   Your health insurance company certainly negotiates them, mostly with the people who choose the company's health care policy.

As to the service provider, they may be able to waive them, but it's their money they are giving away. All you can do is ask.