12.28.2007

Is this any way to run a business?

I received an explanation of benefits on some lab tests today.

LabCorp bill reductions are always the most egregious.

They bother me because the only people paying the "retail" price are the people who can't afford it -- those without insurance.

Here's the retail (i.e. what you pay if you're uninsured) vs. insurance rates (i.e. what is considered "customary" for that service... what is paid by the insured, the government, or the uninsured but lawyered) for unknown (bill didn't say) blood tests.

Retail: 81.62 Insurance: 4.67
79.00 / 7.71
78.84 / 4.50 <----- 1652% markup!
78.73 / 4.50
78.00 / 13.08 <---- "only" 496% markup
68.00 / 5.86
56.00 / 6.41
40.81 / 2.34
36.76 / 4.95
36.00 / 2.04
27.24 / 3.67

Total Retail: 661.00
Total Insured Rate: 59.73
Average Markup LabCorp is Charging the Uninsured: 1006%

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