I was just wondering who here admits that they ask their physician and/or their dentist for a discount when they go in for an office visit or treatment? And does your physician and/or dentist comply with your request?

Also on the same subject........ who here admits to asking their supermarket for a discount on the food they buy.... or their mechanic on the repairs of their cars...... or the paperboy for their newspaper....... or the pharmacist for their drugs.... or the post office for their postage.... or their internet server or telephone company or electric company or beautician or landscaper??

Who here is self employed? How do you handle the request from a customer who asks you to discount your prices? Or do you offer discounts automatically on ALL of your services?

Not looking to debate or throw stones here ...... just genuinely curious where the line is drawn, if it is drawn at all.

Thanks..
Bryanna

Bryanna, I think I may have hit a nerve when I told you that its common practice to seek cash discounts on medical/dental and other services in this neck of the woods. As I said before my dentist has a sign on the counter that "if you are paying cash for services, please ask about your discount." It is an automatic 10%. If you or your family are in financial strain, it can be discounted further. My MDs and the local hospital here also discount for cash services. Many MDs collect pennies on the dollar from insurance companies, and are happy to discount for cash and collect 90% of the fee. My intention was not to upset you, but to try to educate others that it is a growing common practice of many areas of the USA. I am one that hopes it catches on.

To answer your question

I clip coupons, and use my store shopper card to get a discount on groceries.
I have insurance so I dont pay for medical/dental care, but if paying cash, I indeed would ask.
The elderly couple next door and my family share a news paper subscription. They are very early risers, and when done, slip it in my box on their morning walk. I pass it on when I sit for a morning cup of tea at the local coffee house.
If you order your stamps ONline, they provide discounted services too.
I use an mail order pharmacy provided by my carrier and it shaves at least 15% off the total.
I get discounts at the mechanic because they send coupons in the mail, and I ask.
I call my internet/phone/cable provider once a year to upgrade or change my service to take advantage of the latest specials they are running.
I use supercuts for my haircuts, as I am not willing to pay $40 to have my bangs trimmed.
The local college offers discounted landscaping services if you allow them to use college students in training in the job.
I also receive a discount on electric service because I took advantage of a special program they had going to do an "energy audit" I followed the guidlines they gave, and when I submitted my paperwork with proof, I get 5% off for a year!
I get a discount on my warehouse shopper card because I belong to a certain credit union. I pay 15% less for that card.




I think offering discounts, or cash adjusted services is a wonderful thing! I am a cash customer, and when I am paying the whole amount upfront, and in full at the time of service, it pays off. I am not looking to rip anyone off, or slice into anyones paycheck. If a business doesnt want to discount for services, they dont have to, but it never hurts to ask, and 9 times out of 10, I get at least 10% off.

I do have to admit, that about 5+ years ago I DID ask my dentist [of over 20+ years] for a discount...why? Because it was to do crowns on work he'd been doing for the prior 20+ years? AND it entailed crowns on reciprocal[right term?] upper and lower molars..something he'd said he'd never had to 'do' before. Well, If I am gonna be the guinea pig? As well as a long term client/patient, I think a little abatement was due. I did get a 'little' abatement along with a 'you are right' to go with it. But am still paying the price long term from that dentist.
As for other stuffs? I SHOP! Viciously! It's ingrained in me or something. I don't like being cheated nor will I cheat. Plain and simple. With this tho, I also shop cautiously? In that I look for safety in products and quality as well. The rest is gravy in my book.
I DO admit asking one doctor to possibly give a break to give a basic exam to a person I know who did not have insurance nor could afford the simplist of treatments.. That was granted...but only once. Fine by me? But it was a few years ago.
Times now? Only you as a professional can determine and decide who and what sort of fees you charge or abate.... I can't speak to that, as I've never expected much in the way of professional 'breaks'. When I get them tho
I am one very happy and grateful camper! Maybe I'm rare? Hugs! - j

Dejibo,

I definitely have a little bee in my bonnet over this discount thing that you brought up, no insisted on in the previous thread. Your response HERE talks about people being in a financial strain and clipping coupons and taking advantage of marketing offers/discounts. Those are completely different issues than what the original discussion was about.

I am the first person to stand up for anyone in need. I have helped many, many people who have been in financial distress get the proper dental care at discounted rates. I am also very instrumental in finding creative ways for people to afford their dentistry without reducing the fees. The situation is dealt with on an individual basis and no one is turned away who is in need. But if every patient that walked in the door was given reduced fees I would be out of a job...... especially in todays economic mayhem.

For the record, dental insurance is very different than medical insurance. Most claims are submitted electronically and benefits are received within 7-10business days. There is no haggling with the insurance companies over treatment or benefits in offices where the dentist does not have a contract with the insurance company. The dental policies are very cut and dry and offer a yearly maximum benefit per individual with a pre determined percentage paid for each procedure. The closet comparison between medical and dental insurance is with the dental offices that are insurance driven, those which participate in various insurance plans. They are contracted to accept the pre determined fee per procedure set by the insurance company and either the patient or the insurance company pays the dentist that said fee. FYI...... it is illegal for "these" dentists to offer these patients a discounted rate below what they have already contracted/negotiated with their insurance. That however, is another matter...........

As far as taking advantage of marketing discounts....

I too use my supermarket card, cash back credit card, and department store card to get reductions on certain items. It would be silly not to.

I too use supermarket coupons, but only for the items that I would normally purchase. I have set a certain standard of what type of food I will buy and I personally don't buy something just because I have a coupon for it. Different strokes for different folks.

Unlike yourself, I don't have an employer who pays for my health insurance. My husband is self employed....... we pay $12,000 a year for medical insurance for just the two of us. I have chosen a plan that allows me to choose my physicians and affiliates so I am not forced to accept care from someone I don't want to. I also have a moderate yearly deductible and co payments on all diagnostic tests and hospital care. It's insane the amount of money we pay for our medical care, but I find ways to afford it without asking someone else to discount their fees. Quality care is utmost important to me...... that's why I chose the insurance plan that I did in the first place.

Kudos to you for being a cash customer and for being so diligent on getting your discounts! Seriously, you must be incredibly thrifty and organized to keep track of who's offering what!

Bryanna






QUOTE=Dejibo;487906]Bryanna, I think I may have hit a nerve when I told you that its common practice to seek cash discounts on medical/dental and other services in this neck of the woods. As I said before my dentist has a sign on the counter that "if you are paying cash for services, please ask about your discount." It is an automatic 10%. If you or your family are in financial strain, it can be discounted further. My MDs and the local hospital here also discount for cash services. Many MDs collect pennies on the dollar from insurance companies, and are happy to discount for cash and collect 90% of the fee. My intention was not to upset you, but to try to educate others that it is a growing common practice of many areas of the USA. I am one that hopes it catches on.

To answer your question

I clip coupons, and use my store shopper card to get a discount on groceries.
I have insurance so I dont pay for medical/dental care, but if paying cash, I indeed would ask.
The elderly couple next door and my family share a news paper subscription. They are very early risers, and when done, slip it in my box on their morning walk. I pass it on when I sit for a morning cup of tea at the local coffee house.
If you order your stamps ONline, they provide discounted services too.
I use an mail order pharmacy provided by my carrier and it shaves at least 15% off the total.
I get discounts at the mechanic because they send coupons in the mail, and I ask.
I call my internet/phone/cable provider once a year to upgrade or change my service to take advantage of the latest specials they are running.
I use supercuts for my haircuts, as I am not willing to pay $40 to have my bangs trimmed.
The local college offers discounted landscaping services if you allow them to use college students in training in the job.
I also receive a discount on electric service because I took advantage of a special program they had going to do an "energy audit" I followed the guidlines they gave, and when I submitted my paperwork with proof, I get 5% off for a year!
I get a discount on my warehouse shopper card because I belong to a certain credit union. I pay 15% less for that card.




I think offering discounts, or cash adjusted services is a wonderful thing! I am a cash customer, and when I am paying the whole amount upfront, and in full at the time of service, it pays off. I am not looking to rip anyone off, or slice into anyones paycheck. If a business doesnt want to discount for services, they dont have to, but it never hurts to ask, and 9 times out of 10, I get at least 10% off.[/QUOTE]

I agree ! ANY cash customer whether in financial corners or liquid in cash SHOULD ask for a discount.

I would not pay sticker price for a car, and I dont buy generic food to save a buck. I get high quality food at a good price. Yes, it can be work to clip coupons and find out who is offering the better service at the better price. If monaco mufflers and mineke mufflers are both doing the same service on my car and monaco is $50 cheaper. you can bet I am going to monaco each and every time.

As I stated before, it never hurts to ask for a discount because you are a cash customer. 9 times out of 10 its granted. I do not know much about billing for dental clients, but I do know that 99% of the dentist in THIS area encourage cash shoppers. They all speak about how it saves them money to get cash, and prevents the tie up of staff, and resources to chase a parital refund from an insurance company. I didnt start the policy, but if I am showing up with cash in hand, you bet your bottom dollar I am taking them up on it.

I as you dont wish to have debate. It remains my statement that ALL customers carrying cash should ask for that discount, and I betcha, most will receive it. If your business doesnt wish to grant it that is up to you. I hear wonderful things about you, and you have provided a wonderful service here for so many who have shown up lost, confused, and feeling out of touch with their own dental team. For that you are owed a huge debt of gratitude. I for one would never be able to do what you do...discounted or not.

dahlek,

Your dental situation is the stuff that concerns me..... alot! You basically took the bait at the discounted dental care and continue to pay the price for it. So what did you actually gain?

There are some ethical practitioners out there that offer qualtity dental work to patients who can afford to pay but still ask for a discount. But those guys are not the norm........believe me they will get you to pay in one way or another.

Offering or accepting reduced fees with patients who are in financial distress is a different story. But even in these cases, the quality of care or quality of materials can be questionable in some offices. Which IMO, is very wrong.

I like the way you shop dahlek! It's brutally honest and doesn't dip into anyone elses pocket unnecessarily.

Thanks for sharing your story here......

Bryanna

Dejibo,

Honestly, I think we are talking about two different things here. And I DO NOT agree with you about asking for a discount on dental or medical fees if you can afford to pay your way...... whether you're paying in cash or not.

Purchasing a car or something similar that already has an inflated price is again, a completely different issue than what I have been speaking about.

I also think your reference to the number (99%) of physicians willing to accept discounted fees is a bit exaggerated irrelevant of where you are.

My whole point with this is to be cautious about misleading people into thinking that their dentist will be overjoyed with their request to discount his fees. Without any hesitation, I can honestly say he most likely won't be. Dental offices that are equipped with the latest technology have huge overheads due to the cost and maintenance of their equipment. I'm talking about things that make a patients visit less traumatic, more pleasant if possible. Also using quality dental labs for the prosthetic work carries a higher price tag than using one of less quality. These offices could not survive if they discounted their fees for every patient that walks in their door. Oh sure, you want your dentist to have the best equipment and all the niceties to make you comfortable, but you want him to do all that for free. It's not going to happen, it's just not practical.

Again, we are talking about two different "cash" buying issues here. On a different note, thanks for the kind words about my efforts here, they are much appreciated.

Bryanna

funny how we 'trust' our dentists MORE than we do our physicians at times? Tho we've not a CLUE as to what all is being done to us!

My old ex-dentist was area president of the dental assn! And was a top rated area dentist to boot. I was with his practice from ground zero too. I am ever soo glad that my neuro issues couldn't allow me [tho I mightily tried] to get up the 2+ flights of steps! Saved my mouth...so to speak.

While I have some dental insurance? I've never used it because the cost of filing for the reimbursements vs what that $ would be are negelible to me.

Please, do NOT get me started on the escalating costs of medical insurances! Non-profit PROFIT companies all of them! There!

Hugs and good things to all! - j

Hi dahlek,

Actually your dental experience with your ex dentist is not that exceptional, unfortunately. You would assume that this guy should know what he's doing and in a sense he does because he has won over his colleagues with his grandeur associations. However, his ego is more polished than his technical skills and ironically..... those that have seen his dentisty know he's lousy but they won't step on his toes no matter what.

I see this stuff all the time from patients who have been treated in dental schools where the dental work is overseen by Dr Big Guns..... it's truly criminal!

I don't understand this statement:
<<While I have some dental insurance? I've never used it because the cost of filing for the reimbursements vs what that $ would be are negelible to me.>>
Is there a fee to file your own insurance claims? If you are paying a premium out of your own pocket for your dental coverage, then it behooves you to use it because if you don't then you are wasting your money on the premium. Please explain this to me, perhaps I can offer some insight to get you reimbursed.

Bryanna

Bryanna, thank you for your point of view. As I have stated before, I have seen what a value you are to this space, and I am in awe of what you do. I certainly couldnt and wouldnt do what you do. Thanks for that.

As for the other, lets just agree to disagree. I dont feel I am misleading anyone, and since it is the policy of the dentists/medical offices in my area, and wasnt my idea, I am going to continue to encourage others to ask. At best, they receive money back, at worse, they get told no, sorry.

I think many will receive substandard dental care regardless of the price, or discounted service. I think many will receive exceptional dental care regardless of the price. it depends on the team providing the care. It appears as those you are one of the good guys. thanks for that.

My dental office carries the latest greatest machines, gadgets and ammenities, and happily provides at least a 10% discount for a cash patient. If using a credit card to pay for services they have to pay a percentage to the credit company, MY dentist is happy to pass the savings on to the customer, as are most others in this neck of the woods. It was not meant to poke at any other office. At best, you get a discount, at worst, you get told no. either way, the dentist is the same dentist, and using the same machines, and techniques.

I am stepping out of this conversation, as I feel my opinion has been heard, and acknowledged. I have also heard and acknowledged others opinions. It truly was not my intention to inflame, or incite. I am simply bringing the knowledge that in this neck of the country, when we use cash, we get a discount. It was not meant as anything more than that.

Have a great day.