BY PAM LOBLEY
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
NOW THAT’S FUNNY
You may have used Groupon or other coupon sites to get a good deal on a facial, or to try a new restaurant. Now you can use it to pay for your medical care, too.
The uninsured, and the underinsured, have discovered that these coupon sites offer deals not just on karate lessons or hotel rooms, they also offer deep discounts on Lasik eye surgery, dental care, and a range of other healthcare services. This only makes sense, as healthcare costs keep rising, adequate medical coverage is hard for many people to get, and let’s face it – America loves a coupon! It was just a matter of time before coupons and the medical profession got together.
Doctors have been forced into discounting their services for many years due to managed care. When I read the Explanation of Benefits from my insurance company, it tells me that my pediatrician charged $350 for my son’s annual checkup, but the insurance company only “allows” $270. The doctor has already accepted a bargain price for his services … so what’s the difference whether the discount is through Blue Cross or Groupon?
