Am I crazy to really hate my health provider’s new payment policy?
I have to have a credit card on file
They will auto charge on that card any fee not covered by insurance
When my card is charged, a 3.15% fee will incur
Am I wrong to feel that I really dislike this policy? I was given no choice but to eat that 3.15% fee.
I kinda want to leave them because I really do not want to support this kind of policy. Should I leave them?
Quite a few clinics and dentists wrestle with the issue of whether or not to shift the 3% credit card processing fee onto the patients. Some have done so way earlier while others haven’t yet due to concerns that it’ll drive away patients to competitors and result in negative gossip. We haven’t yet but it comes up for discussion every few months.
We also don’t do any auto charging. That’s a bit too aggressive for us.
@Vernon
I really like this provider. But I really hate to see myself supporting something I don’t like. The world might end up with customers paying credit card fees as the norm in the future. But I just don’t want to give up right now and help with that process.
At least they should have offered some other payment method. Bill pay, Zelle, cash, etc. I hate being forced like that.
@Paden
Can’t hurt to ask about other forms of payment. Don’t know how flexible they are and how willing they are to work with you. If they’re more corporate with a 51% management-owned clinic, they may be more rigid.
I personally don’t like businesses pushing the 3% expense onto customers so I’ve always said no way during our discussions.
@Vernon
What’s the reasoning for wanting to pass that expense on to the customer? In my business, I pay the fee and consider it the cost for the convenience of accepting credit cards. I set my prices with that cost in mind, along with the other costs of running my business. I think my customers really appreciate not seeing that fee added to every transaction. Also, since I use that cost as a tax deduction, I feel it would be sort of “double dipping” if I had the customers pay those fees.
@Aiden
We don’t get to set prices as we wish when getting paid by insurance companies. They set the amount they’re willing to pay and for small private practice clinics, we take it or leave it if we want to be in-network. We can bill $100 or $1M, it doesn’t really matter. They pay the same amount, so we can’t incorporate the processing fee that easily. Still, I think it’s not big enough to be worth causing ill feelings with patients, so we’ve continued as we have.
We look around our local area and wonder what the trend is for small businesses and clinics. We’ve noticed slowly but gradually, credit card processing fees are pushed onto customers.
@Paden
They won’t take cash?
Terry said:
@Paden
They won’t take cash?
No. They just don’t want to chase their patients for bills. So they want a credit card on file and do auto charge.
@Paden
Are you sure they don’t accept other forms of payment? They might want to have a card on file in case you don’t pay, but I’m sure they will gladly take a check or cash.
caleb said:
@Paden
Are you sure they don’t accept other forms of payment? They might want to have a card on file in case you don’t pay, but I’m sure they will gladly take a check or cash.
Yea. Their purpose is to not spend effort and time to chase patients down to pay their bill.
@Vernon
They always will. Either they tell you, or they don’t and hide it behind inflated prices.
I would be finding another provider. Auto charging your card without prior approval is absolutely unacceptable. Medical billing is such a scam as it is I have never given a provider any credit card information and never will. I’ve worked my ass off for an 800 credit score and who knows what a medical biller would do to that. If they won’t take my check or cash I’ll get my medical care elsewhere. It’s a good idea to thoroughly review the office’s financial policy documents before you sign them. I have walked out of offices that try to pull this kind of crap.
I’m a small business owner and I absolutely do not charge my customers a credit card fee. It’s rude, tacky, and unprofessional to do so. Here’s an obligatory “IMHO.”
I don’t love their automatic transactions either, but I can understand that more. They probably wind up losing a ton of money because of charges that don’t get covered by insurance and then the patient never comes back to pay the bill.
I don’t think they’re allowed to do that? I think they’re required to offer you a way to pay that does not incur a fee from them if it is in the US. I could be wrong though.
Mark said:
I don’t think they’re allowed to do that? I think they’re required to offer you a way to pay that does not incur a fee from them if it is in the US. I could be wrong though.
[deleted]
@Dezi
Why the ccc? It won’t cover the fee.
Mark said:
I don’t think they’re allowed to do that? I think they’re required to offer you a way to pay that does not incur a fee from them if it is in the US. I could be wrong though.
I think that may vary by state. Georgia has a law that specifically says just that.
I’m strongly against CC surcharge fees and will actively avoid places that do this whenever possible. I do less business with these places than I’d otherwise do. Decide what your price is and be done with it regardless of payment method.
Most businesses are a dime a dozen; what are the policies of other facilities?
TBH I’d just suck up the 3% fee and pay it even though I hate it - it is SO HARD to find good doctors (in my experience) that I’m absolutely willing to pay 3% extra for someone I know I like.
Alternatively…
Most credit cards have a “virtual card number” generator in your online account. Login to your account, set up a virtual card number, and set the maximum spending amount on that card to something low like $10. Give them that account number to keep on file. When they attempt to autocharge for an actual bill, it will be declined (assuming it’s more than the $10 limit you set), they’ll call you, and you can offer payment through cash or check without a fee.
I can see auto-charging accounts with past-due balances, but to not send you a bill and give you 30 days to pay it by check or EFT to avoid the extra fee is, to me, a bit unfair.