HDHP - possible to negotiate?

[schildi]

Question for all of you on a high deductible health plan: have you been able to negotiate the price after the doctor / lab / ER / whatever has billed you (after the insurance discount was applied)?
I've tried a few times this year (for the first time), and have always been told "no", and that my price was already discounted. Except an ER bill, they offered 10% off right after me asking.
What's your experience? Any success?

[Gardening Grandma]

DH has a HDHP plan. As was pointed out in both posts, a discount has already been negotiated, so we've never even bothered to try asking for a further discount.

[schildi]

Yeah, I never tried in the last three years since being on the HDHP, but tried for the last few bills just to see. I came up with that idea because almost all the time the billing person seems stunned when I tell them I want to pay the full amount. I always call them and pay with the debit card that comes with our HSA, and I am always asked how much I can/want to pay. It sounds like full payment is the exception.
Asking did help with the ER, it saved me $65 or so immediately. I will ask again should we have another ER bill (hopefully not). :-) I am sure that even after the insurance discount, and the 10% off, I still paid for my sons visit plus a couple others!

[alabamagal]

I just got off the phone with billing from my son's ER bill. The bill was not a huge amount, but was going to be difficult to pay off this month (due to other large expenses - house taxes). I was just going to offer to pay over 4 months. Before I could even make the offer, the person offered a 20% discount to pay today. I said that would be a little difficult right now, so she said, ok 20% off pay half of the remainder today, half in one month. So in 5 minutes, I just got a 20% discount.

I guess so many people just don't pay at all, they are quick to get your money.

[jeffreymo]

I had thought about trying this when I call in a payment for my son's ER visit/overnight stay.

The only thing holding me back is that we hit our max out of pocket for the year so I'm curious as to how that would even be reflected.

Will a revised statement be shared with my insurance company showing an additional amount that was written off? I'd think this would be an issue.

[mcmommy]

When I paid my hospital bill after giving birth, I was offered a 10% discount for immediate payment in full. I didn't even have to ask.