A Plymouth woman told Whistleblower that last summer, she dutifully went to her doctor for her annual physical, knowing that it was 100 percent covered by her health insurance. The checkup took about 10 minutes, and then her doctor asked if she had any other concerns.
Yes, in fact, she did. She was feeling fatigued, and her period seemed heavy. The doctor ordered some lab work and sent her on her way. The entire visit took about 20 minutes.
Four months later, the woman got a bill from the doctor's office. It included charges for a second office visit and for lab work, adding up to nearly $200 out of pocket. When she inquired about it, she was told that talking about her health concerns amounted to a second office visit that wasn't covered in the annual checkup.
In her view, that policy defeats the purpose of covering an annual physical because any discussion of specific complaints starts the meter running. "This just seems wrong," she said.
What do you think? Is the extra charge a disincentive for patients to talk to their doctors?
