That was part of my point. Even adding the full price of an office visit shouldn't get near $300, unless their idea if an "office visit" is hitting the nearest ER.
I think I had to visit the doctor three times before they prescribed me it. The first time was too early to give me anything (I've had this issue multiple times so I went in the first day I had symptoms). The second time they gave me something less potent. The third time they gave finally gave me it. That comes to around 3x75(doctor visit)+3x10(gas)=$261. I can imagine it costing more if they lived farther from a doctor.
Plus the cost of the two rounds of drugs that were ineffective. Plus any other incidental expenses, such as OTC meds taken for symptom management because of not getting the drug needed right off the bat, takeout food due to being too sick to cook, etc.
If you don't have the $60-$100 or more to pay for the office visit or urgent care, the ER is one's only choice because they bill you later. It's all well and good to tell folks they should wait, but waiting a month to save the money isn't always an option. And waiting isn't an option if the sick one is your child, lest you get in trouble for neglect.
Not always - some offices are simply like that. I was shopping for a doctor once (while sick, bad idea). A couple of them couldn't get me in to see anyone in the office for 4-6 weeks. This was not a specialist.
Naturally, I chose another doctor. This is more difficult when a doctor you have seen for a while becomes this busy for whatever reason.
yeah it’s like that at my doctor; if I’m willing to see an FNP or a resident it’s still at least several weeks’ wait. so the alternative is urgent care or the ER, which both mean sinking at least half the day waiting.
