The Duggars
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Junior Member
Registered: 11-02-09
Posts: 4
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I just wonder how they afford health ins on them and all these kids ?? They don't have regular jobs that can cover them ?? Josh, is self-employeed, how did they afford Ins? What about the baby that was born last Dec? Insurance is very expensive if your not covered by your employer. Plus, most policy will not cover pregnancy for 2-3 years.
Anybody know?
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Senior Member
Registered: 12-23-08
Posts: 985
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That's really good question. I know what I used to pay for insurance, and if I multiplied that by 18, it would be a huge amount! I imagine that the kids and the adults have different prices, but still...
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Junior Member
Registered: 11-01-09
Posts: 39
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I THINK that they have major medical and pay cash for everything else like hospitalizations, doctors visists, births etc.
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Senior Member
Registered: 02-01-09
Posts: 813
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It has also been reported in the little bubbles on the show that they get discounts, etc. I know in the dentist show is said that the dentist discounts his rates for them.
(it actually peeves me hugely that they get discounts because they procreate to an extreme - there are people that really NEED discounts and the Duggar clan shouldn't be one of them since they are paid by TLC and should be able to provide for themselves....the Duggar fans are always talking about how they are self sufficient - sure they are when they get things comped, discounted and promote things on their show for payment or freebies.)
Laura
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Junior Member
Registered: 11-01-09
Posts: 39
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I don't know if they get discounts because of their large family or because they pay cash.
We did not have health insurance for about a year or more. If you pay cash, you get a "discount" if you haggle with the doctors a bit. Once you pay cash for your medical bills, the cost usually does go down.
That was my impression of it. Maybe I'm wrong?
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Senior Member
Registered: 02-01-09
Posts: 813
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I dont know in this instance Blueberry. Might be. To me, a cash customer should only pay what an insurance company would pay so that isn't a discount, but playing fair. It could be that the discount they were discussing was this.
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Junior Member
Registered: 11-01-09
Posts: 39
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I have no idea in other parts of the country. My doctors are in NYC and NJ. I would simply say "what is the cash discount" and they give you about 20% to 30% off. With four kids, who got sick constantly that year, and no health insurance, I made my rounds to doctors.  Everyone knew "cash discount" and everyone gave it to me. I didn't even need to haggle, actually.  It makes sense, there is no billing or paperwork involved for them. No staff to deal with the insurance companies. And, they don't have to wait 6 months for their money. It's cash right there, deposited that night. I guess that is worth something. Maybe they do get a discount for the large family? Like, if you buy three pairs of shoes, they will give you a deal rather than if you buy one pair. Bring 18 kids in for a dental check up and you get a discount. From my experiences with "self pay", I assumed it was the cash discount that I got. I really gotta find that book of theirs. It's in this house somewhere...I need Jessa and Jana and Jill to give me some organizational tips!  |
Senior Member
Registered: 04-28-05
Posts: 513
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something tells me that Jim-Bob wouldn't buy a pack of gum without asking for some kind of discount...He's done it numerous times on the show...and he pulled it off at the building supply place on the Bates re-do episode...THEN he joked about "free installation"...I know he was joking, but if they offered it, you know he would have taken it.....
He asked about a discount at Weight Watchers too...which seemed to embarrass Jana a bit...but I'm sure that wasn't the first time...or the last...
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Junior Member
Registered: 11-01-09
Posts: 39
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You are right, Jim Bob is the KING of discounts. |
Senior Member
Registered: 09-08-09
Posts: 74
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I can share what I know about Health Ins...maybe it will help. (Maybe not...  )) I work for a major children's hospital system. We have people who have insurance, state paid medical coverage or are self pay. I don't think that any insurance company pays what we charge. Say we charge $50.00 for a therapy visit-the insurance company says we'll give the clinic $40 and we (the clinic) eat the other $10. Then the family depending on what plan they have might pay say 80% of the $40. (Depends on their plan) For families who are self pay (they either don't have insurance or their insurance refuses coverage) our financial office will do a "sliding scale" so the family won't have to pay the whole $50 hopefully. I know some places do discount for cash probably becuase it totally eliminates the middle man. |
Senior Member
Registered: 09-08-09
Posts: 74
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Ok I couldn't resist another bit of insurance info. I have a Blue Cross Blue Shield plan through work. The way family coverage works is that once you have a child and both spouses are covered it's family coverage. It doesn't matter if you have 1 kid or 19-if the Duggars had for example the same insurance that I have, they wouldn't pay a penny more than I do though I would use it a lot less. Kind of not fair in my eyes, but I don't know at what amount of kids you would start charging higher rates.
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Senior Member
Location: Ohio
Registered: 12-26-08
Posts: 801
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Same as the plan we had for years thru my husbands employer.
I remember the McCaughey's, the family from Iowa that had 1 daughter and then gave birth to septuplets said their insurance plan covered everything (even the pre birth stay for over a month)and all of the NICU for all the babies.
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Senior Member
Registered: 09-08-09
Posts: 74
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Yes I remember too. The NICU is very expensive.
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Senior Member
Registered: 07-15-09
Posts: 573
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quote: Originally posted by lllovell:
It has also been reported in the little bubbles on the show that they get discounts, etc. I know in the dentist show is said that the dentist discounts his rates for them.
(it actually peeves me hugely that they get discounts because they procreate to an extreme - there are people that really NEED discounts and the Duggar clan shouldn't be one of them since they are paid by TLC and should be able to provide for themselves....the Duggar fans are always talking about how they are self sufficient - sure they are when they get things comped, discounted and promote things on their show for payment or freebies.)
Laura
I think they get discounts now because TLC shows the Doctor's and Dentist's name on camera umpteen times during the episode to let everyone know who they are, plus they agree to be on camera. But that's just my jaded opinion. |
Senior Member
Registered: 12-05-07
Posts: 559
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One thing you have to remember, most insurance companies don't cover "children" as children once they are past 18 or 19 if they are NOT in school. I've gone back and forth with this with my daughter who has taken some breaks from college.
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Senior Member
Registered: 02-01-09
Posts: 813
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quote: Originally posted by ppatten: quote: Originally posted by lllovell:
It has also been reported in the little bubbles on the show that they get discounts, etc. I know in the dentist show is said that the dentist discounts his rates for them.
(it actually peeves me hugely that they get discounts because they procreate to an extreme - there are people that really NEED discounts and the Duggar clan shouldn't be one of them since they are paid by TLC and should be able to provide for themselves....the Duggar fans are always talking about how they are self sufficient - sure they are when they get things comped, discounted and promote things on their show for payment or freebies.)
Laura
I think they get discounts now because TLC shows the Doctor's and Dentist's name on camera umpteen times during the episode to let everyone know who they are, plus they agree to be on camera. But that's just my jaded opinion.
Color me jaded as well because I agree with you. The OB Doc plugs were the worst to me. Anna and Josh walk through the door and there would be a 15-20 second pause on the sign on the glass, etc. |
Senior Member
Registered: 10-31-08
Posts: 313
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...and what about a will???? Who would be guardian to all those underage children...since they almost always travel together.
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Senior Member
Location: Ohio
Registered: 12-26-08
Posts: 801
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quote: Originally posted by Juju65:
Yes I remember too. The NICU is very expensive.
My son was in the NICU for 9 days and it cost us $20,000 and that was almost 9 years ago. |
Senior Member
Registered: 05-30-09
Posts: 188
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It said in the book that they have an insurance where you just mark Yes if you have kids but they don't ask how many.
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Senior Member
Location: Goblin City
Registered: 03-28-09
Posts: 157
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In a discussion about health care, a man told me that he had to pay over a hundred dollars on top of what his medical insurance was paying for his son's shots. That and other reasons made him give up his health care and start paying cash for everything. The next time he went to pay for shots for his son, he only paid around $5. When he asked the receptionist why there was such a huge difference in the cost between when he had insurance and when he paid cash, the receptionist explained that by not having insurance he was put into a certain category where he got the "discounted rate" on medicine, shots, etc. It is a government thing-- he told me.
I'm guessing that the Duggars get a similar or same discount. The man referred to it as a "poor man's discount" because by paying cash and not going through insurance, the government assumes you are poor and adjusts the prices accordingly.
However, when I didn't have insurance, I didn't get a darn thing discounted, lol. But I didn't have children either. So I don't know.
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Junior Member
Registered: 11-18-08
Posts: 30
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I work in medical billing and coding, and here's how "discounts" work: The truth is there really ARE no discounts. Different insurance plans pay different amounts for services. Let's say Insurance Company A is willing to pay $50 for a service, and Insurance Company B is only willing to pay $30, the medical practice will charge every insurance company $50, knowing they won't get that amount from every insurance company, then they adjust the paperwork. When you pay cash, you are paying the ACTUAL cost for the services that are rendered. So, when JB said that the dentist gives them a "discount", it's probably not really a discount. Doctors and dentists can actually get in trouble for waiving co-pays or giving REAL discounts to patients too often. They are allowed to waive co-pays once in a while if they know a patient is in financial hardship, but if it happens too often there will be an investigation.
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Senior Member
Registered: 08-15-07
Posts: 2028
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quote: Originally posted by MoDoodle:
I work in medical billing and coding, and here's how "discounts" work: The truth is there really ARE no discounts. Different insurance plans pay different amounts for services. Let's say Insurance Company A is willing to pay $50 for a service, and Insurance Company B is only willing to pay $30, the medical practice will charge every insurance company $50, knowing they won't get that amount from every insurance company, then they adjust the paperwork. When you pay cash, you are paying the ACTUAL cost for the services that are rendered. So, when JB said that the dentist gives them a "discount", it's probably not really a discount. Doctors and dentists can actually get in trouble for waiving co-pays or giving REAL discounts to patients too often. They are allowed to waive co-pays once in a while if they know a patient is in financial hardship, but if it happens too often there will be an investigation.
This may be the case in your state, but I would guess every state's laws on this are different. |
Junior Member
Registered: 11-18-08
Posts: 30
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quote: Originally posted by chrislukas: quote: Originally posted by MoDoodle:
I work in medical billing and coding, and here's how "discounts" work: The truth is there really ARE no discounts. Different insurance plans pay different amounts for services. Let's say Insurance Company A is willing to pay $50 for a service, and Insurance Company B is only willing to pay $30, the medical practice will charge every insurance company $50, knowing they won't get that amount from every insurance company, then they adjust the paperwork. When you pay cash, you are paying the ACTUAL cost for the services that are rendered. So, when JB said that the dentist gives them a "discount", it's probably not really a discount. Doctors and dentists can actually get in trouble for waiving co-pays or giving REAL discounts to patients too often. They are allowed to waive co-pays once in a while if they know a patient is in financial hardship, but if it happens too often there will be an investigation.
This may be the case in your state, but I would guess every state's laws on this are different.
Nope, that would be every state. |
Junior Member
Registered: 06-24-09
Posts: 37
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quote: Originally posted by ppatten:
I think they get discounts now because TLC shows the Doctor's and Dentist's name on camera umpteen times during the episode to let everyone know who they are, plus they agree to be on camera. But that's just my jaded opinion.
I'm not famous, I don't have a TLC show, nor do I have 18 children (and counting!). But every time I have offered to pay cash at a medical appointment I have gotten a substantial discount off of the original charge. My husband, does, in fact, have very good health insurance coverage through his employer. But sometimes I find it easier to just pay cash than to request referrals, etc. Most medical professionals that I have spoken to *love* cash payments, as it saves them a lot of paperwork. There are also "catastrophic" medical plans that can be purchased, which is similar to life/disability insurance. It doesn't pay for the regular expenses (the equivalent to changing the oil in your car or getting new tires) but only the biggies. You can shop these plans just like you can shop car insurance. |
Senior Member
Location: Ohio
Registered: 12-26-08
Posts: 801
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quote: Originally posted by MoDoodle:
I work in medical billing and coding, and here's how "discounts" work: The truth is there really ARE no discounts. Different insurance plans pay different amounts for services. Let's say Insurance Company A is willing to pay $50 for a service, and Insurance Company B is only willing to pay $30, the medical practice will charge every insurance company $50, knowing they won't get that amount from every insurance company, then they adjust the paperwork. When you pay cash, you are paying the ACTUAL cost for the services that are rendered. So, when JB said that the dentist gives them a "discount", it's probably not really a discount. Doctors and dentists can actually get in trouble for waiving co-pays or giving REAL discounts to patients too often. They are allowed to waive co-pays once in a while if they know a patient is in financial hardship, but if it happens too often there will be an investigation.
Yes basically you are stating that if a service actually cost $30 and they know an ins. co. will pay $50 they go ahead and bill more money. And there are MANY who pay the "more". So in fact they are billing the ins. companies on a different scale and pocketing the difference and hence the Ins. co. hikes the premiums on the policyholders and more policyholders cancel the policy because they can no longer afford it and end up having NO coverage and on and on it GOES!! That is the problem with healthcare. And I have worked in medical billing and coding for a multiple doctor health system and billed to Private Pay insurance, Medicare and Medicaid so I know that there are many services that are billed out way above what it actually costs for services rendered and even with adjustments, they are making $$$ out the wazoo. It is tantamount to my business charging the customer more labor and materials when they weren't used on their job. If we did that, we would be out of business and would have been investigated by the government because that would be considered unethical business. And in the medical profession, the customer (patient) drives across town and waits (many hours sometimes) to see the doctor for 15 minutes. And they say people in the service industry overcharge !! Not so much. |
Senior Member
Location: Ohio
Registered: 12-26-08
Posts: 801
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quote: Originally posted by catholicmama: quote: Originally posted by ppatten:
I think they get discounts now because TLC shows the Doctor's and Dentist's name on camera umpteen times during the episode to let everyone know who they are, plus they agree to be on camera. But that's just my jaded opinion.
Same here. In fact there is a Chiropractor that has certain days that he will do chiropractic adjustments for $20 cash, instead of the $60 he bills the insurances. My doctors office has payment plans which offer "Cash Discounts". The 1st question asked is if you have insurance or are Private Pay when you schedule a 1st appt with a doctor. And there are significant "discounts" offered if you pay cash. I'm not famous, I don't have a TLC show, nor do I have 18 children (and counting!). But every time I have offered to pay cash at a medical appointment I have gotten a substantial discount off of the original charge. My husband, does, in fact, have very good health insurance coverage through his employer. But sometimes I find it easier to just pay cash than to request referrals, etc. Most medical professionals that I have spoken to *love* cash payments, as it saves them a lot of paperwork. There are also "catastrophic" medical plans that can be purchased, which is similar to life/disability insurance. It doesn't pay for the regular expenses (the equivalent to changing the oil in your car or getting new tires) but only the biggies. You can shop these plans just like you can shop car insurance.
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Senior Member
Registered: 07-15-09
Posts: 573
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quote: Originally posted by catholicmama: quote: Originally posted by ppatten:
I think they get discounts now because TLC shows the Doctor's and Dentist's name on camera umpteen times during the episode to let everyone know who they are, plus they agree to be on camera. But that's just my jaded opinion.
I'm not famous, I don't have a TLC show, nor do I have 18 children (and counting!). But every time I have offered to pay cash at a medical appointment I have gotten a substantial discount off of the original charge. My husband, does, in fact, have very good health insurance coverage through his employer. But sometimes I find it easier to just pay cash than to request referrals, etc. Most medical professionals that I have spoken to *love* cash payments, as it saves them a lot of paperwork. There are also "catastrophic" medical plans that can be purchased, which is similar to life/disability insurance. It doesn't pay for the regular expenses (the equivalent to changing the oil in your car or getting new tires) but only the biggies. You can shop these plans just like you can shop car insurance.
When all I have to pay is the office visit fee co-pay of $25, why offer to pay cash for the entire visit, which could be in the hundreds?? That's what my insurance is for. My doctors accept what the insurance company deems an acceptable amount to charge for procedures so I let the insurance company pay for my medical bills. I still think their celebrity has given them more perks than the average family gets, including doctor and dentist "discounts" in exchange for free publicity on their show. Otherwise, they wouldn't flaunt the name of the doctor and the doctor would't be doing their work on screen unless they wanted to draw in more business. |
Senior Member
Location: Ohio
Registered: 12-26-08
Posts: 801
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Actually the words are usual and customary and they do because they have no choice but to do so or risk losing all patients w/o that insurance.
And not ALL are so lucky as to have a $25 copay. Many have major medical which covers nothing for doctor visits and such. And many have to meet a very high ded. before such copays kick in.
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Senior Member
Registered: 12-23-08
Posts: 985
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quote: Originally posted by mom9900:
Actually the words are usual and customary and they do because they have no choice but to do so or risk losing all patients w/o that insurance.
And not ALL are so lucky as to have a $25 copay. Many have major medical which covers nothing for doctor visits and such. And many have to meet a very high ded. before such copays kick in.
ppatten wasn't saying everyone had a $25 co-pay. She was pointing out though if you do have insurance, like catholicmama said she did, why would you pay more than you have to? It's a good point, if you ask me. Any time that a product or company is show on TV, they get compensation for it. There is no way that the Duggars aren't getting something out of the prominent placement of their doctors' and dentists' names. The Duggars are giving those medical professionals free advertising, you can bet that in return, the Duggars are getting something back. Give and take, that's how it works. |
Senior Member
Registered: 07-03-07
Posts: 291
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If your insurance covers the visit, it makes no sense to not use it. I only wish I had a co pay our deductible is 3000 to hit 80/20 and 6000 to hit 100 percent. I keep telling my husband I will push him off the deck. it is a nightmare
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Junior Member
Registered: 06-24-09
Posts: 37
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quote: Originally posted by arnaras:
ppatten wasn't saying everyone had a $25 co-pay. She was pointing out though if you do have insurance, like catholicmama said she did, why would you pay more than you have to? It's a good point, if you ask me.
For some areas that the insurance plan covers, the hoops I have to jump through and the paperwork required is more hassle than paying the cash up front for the doctor visit. Eye appointments/glasses are the primary one. We also pay cash for my husband's occasional chiropractor visits as we don't care for the provider that our insurance covers. My point is that many people think that if you have no insurance coverage or poor insurance coverage that you can't be seen or routine care is unaffordable. That isn't true in all cases. |
Senior Member
Registered: 06-03-09
Posts: 202
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I'd be surprised if health insurance isn't part of the contract with TLC...the network should want to protect their investment, right? This getting discounts at doctors/dentists is probably like a lot of their deals: mostly for show.
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Senior Member
Registered: 05-30-09
Posts: 188
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I already said they have health insurance- it was in the book. It is one where you just say you have kids and not the number. Didn't anyone read that? You all are assuming a lot about the insurance when I said they have it
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