Could DJs operate like Medical facilities, and send bills after service?

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Big Dan said:
I seen this in action recently. I've been going back and fourth for 'oral surgery'. I'm getting teeth pulled why the hell I need a surgeon to do it is beyond me. Anyhow, I've been going to this dentist err..oral surgeon since I'm a kid. I'm very comfortable with the guy. Before I had insurance if I went in to get a tooth pulled (which I'd only do as last resort) it was $250 per tooth. Now, I have insurance and they only will only pay $50 per tooth. Guess what he's pulling my teeth for? $50 a pop including X Rays

Keep in mind I'm an easy patient. I don't get put to sleep so there's no 'pre-op', no heart monitor, etc. It's numbing gel, a shot of Novocain, and he gets to work with the shoehorn looking thing. In most cases he waits longer for the Novocain to kick in than he does to pull the tooth.

I mentioned to him back when I was a cash patient that since I'm an 'easy' patient could he cut me a break on the price or at least do a payment plan with me. No dice.

"Obamacare" has helped people like me. I could never afford insurance in the private marketplace which led to me doing the bare minimum to stay relatively healthy (BP meds and blood thinners). No preventative care which is part of the reason I'm in the process of getting 7 teeth yanked. I would've went to a dentist had I had insurance or it been affordable.



The first thing that has to happen is malpractice suits need to be capped then insurance premiums will go way down which will bring the cost of doing business as a doctor down and thus in theory the cost to the insurance co or patient down.


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Sorry to triple post the messed up state of medicine in America is a passion of mine.
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Correct, the biggest problem are the greedy insurance companies. In my case my diabetes causes everything and they don't want to pay a dime. My lawyer and my medical records have shown that my diabetes has done squat. They didn't want to pay my cataract surgery on both eyes and the retina surgery on my right eye ($18,000 USD).

Again my lawyer and my doctor had to educate somebody who knew squat about the situation. You'd guess they had a specialist going over each case but, no they would have to pay too much. The insurance company is starting to learn not to mess with me.
 
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I am going to do something silly , and answer Ricky's question :laugh:, I personally dont think I would go that route with doing a gig and then billing months later, I think its best in my opinion for lets just say 99% of the gigs to get paid before the end of the gig.
 
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Never happen.
If you try to stiff a medical facility, they have a better chance at getting their money.
They have better lawyers.
 
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We're not back in the 90's. The price of things go up because the cost of living goes up. Where you a DJ back in the 90's? If you were do you still charge the same price today that you did in the 90's? You're not just paying for the cost of medicine and seeing the doctor. Other things have to get paid. The light bill. The electricity to use the X-ray machine has to get paid. The taxes for the hospital and so on.

What you're describing is like what some think of us DJs. Over priced for the work we do. Those people don't understand that many of us have years of experience and that experience shouldn't come cheap. Am I right or wrong? Why do you insist on getting paid what you do? If I were a doctor that it took me 8 years to be able to practice my craft I wouldn't be cheap either. Like Steve said that bill isn't much. It just might be much to you because either you can't afford to pay it or just pissed that you got this bill. Especially since you had to give up a co-pay.
 
Well, I am calling Patient First customer service to see what exactly this bill is about, and ask if the insurance company told them this was going to my deductible, or if they basically got no response from my insurance company. ...If they got no response...I'm telling them to send it back to them, and verify my insurance company's address. ...If insurance company told them this is going to my deductible, then I'm calling my insurance company to ask why. ...If insurance company isn't paying it, and I am left with this bill, then I'm calling patient first to work out a discounted rate. I am personally not paying $362...I already paid $37.85...they can work out a lower price, or go kick dirt. I don't care about collections and owing some company a few hundred. I have a clean slate, and always paid my bills, loans etc. but there is bound to be a point when somebody isn't going to get paid by me, and this could be that time if insurance company doesn't pay or Patient First doesn't work out a lower price for me.


The last time I had X Rays done, I received a line item statement from my insurance company explaining what they paid. They only paid like $15.80 for an X Ray when Patient First tried to bill $97. Patient First apparently accepted the $15.80. They also had a bill for services for much higher than what Insurance was willing to pay, and they accepted their payment. I had to come up with like $33 as a remainder after the insurance company payment. That was earlier this year when I had Sinusitis, and they x rayed my chest since I had a bad cough, and some wheezing to make sure my lungs looked good.
 
MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
We're not back in the 90's. The price of things go up because the cost of living goes up. Where you a DJ back in the 90's? If you were do you still charge the same price today that you did in the 90's? You're not just paying for the cost of medicine and seeing the doctor. Other things have to get paid. The light bill. The electricity to use the X-ray machine has to get paid. The taxes for the hospital and so on.

What you're describing is like what some think of us DJs. Over priced for the work we do. Those people don't understand that many of us have years of experience and that experience shouldn't come cheap. Am I right or wrong? Why do you insist on getting paid what you do? If I were a doctor that it took me 8 years to be able to practice my craft I wouldn't be cheap either. Like Steve said that bill isn't much. It just might be much to you because either you can't afford to pay it or just pissed that you got this bill. Especially since you had to give up a co-pay.
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Comparing Oranges to Asparagus Macho.

Doctors have many, many, many more "customers" on a daily basis. What they saw me for also was the least amount of time on their part compared to deejaying somebody's wedding which only is suppose to occur ONCE in their life time.

My back problems didn't require surgery or some specialty practice. The Doctor literally looked at my back, felt around quickly and basically confirmed what I already knew "I threw my back out" and ordered the X RAYS to be done as a precaution ....The only reason I went was to get the pain killers since my back was bothering me, and that needs a prescription. The X Rays were done to make sure I didn't break any bones. I knew I didn't break any bones, but they had the x rays done as a precaution.

I'm all for Doctors getting paid their due compensation. However, for taking up 5 minutes of a doctor's time, and getting some pain killers I'm just asking to be treated reasonably. I already pay for insurance as well...every month...and likely over pay for it! ...Hiring a DJ is a one time or on a per event type of expense. The cost for my health care is on going.

And yes, you could argue that there are DJs out there who do charge ridiculous rates. However, seeing that we are a luxury service in a period where most people's wages are down or stagnant...the Ridiculous priced DJ getting people to book them probably doesn't happen often.


If you equate this $400 or so bill for quick medical services into basic terms. ...To the typical employee out there earning $10 or $11 an hour. That quick visit to the doctor cost that person 40 hours or so worth of work time to pay this one bill. To many, that is nearly an entire 2 week pay check after taxes just about. ...Ask that person out there to pay $400 for their quick trip to the doctor, and see how they feel about it! Could they even afford to pay it?
 
Big Dan said:
Agreed. I love that a lot of medical seems to be billed as "we could've been doing this". My ex was Medivaced out of a local hospital as a precaution after a car accident as she was a transplant recipient. I seen the bill 12k for 33 miles 'as the crow flies'. Yeah, they could've been resuscitating her, pumping her full of drugs, etc but they weren't. It was simply a transport flight. She was knocked out before they left the hospital all the medics were doing is monitoring her vitals.

How do you bill based on what you could have been doing? It makes absolutely no sense.
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12k for 'transport service' is alot, especially if they're only monitoring. This guy that fell off the roof was being medically attended to. The relative that fell off the mountain needed a bit of special skills to get him in the chopper in the first place, then to treat him on the way.
 
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DJ Ricky B said:
My back problems didn't require surgery or some specialty practice. The Doctor literally looked at my back, felt around quickly and basically confirmed what I already knew "I threw my back out" and ordered the X RAYS to be done as a precaution ....The only reason I went was to get the pain killers since my back was bothering me, and that needs a prescription. The X Rays were done to make sure I didn't break any bones. I knew I didn't break any bones, but they had the x rays done as a precaution.
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An old story ...

KNOWING WHICH BUTTON TO PUSH

It’s What You Know That Counts.

The plant went down with a crash. Died in the traces. A redefinition of ‘power failure.’ Technicians and managers went scampering all over the facility, tinkering, thunking, tampering and trying to coax things back to life. Nothing worked, and desperation reigned.
Finally the plant manager and the Chief Operating Officer admitted the solution was beyond the means and expertise of the staff. The needed a real expert—an outside consultant. So they placed a frantic call. The trouble-shooting ace said he’d pack his bag of miracles and be right there.
The pro arrived and hung up his coat. He looked the situation over. He squinted his eyes in a Clint Eastwood way, then he walked into the bowels of the plant. People watched respectfully, and some held their breaths.
The consultant pulled open the door of a little metal box on the side of a monstrous machine. He put out his hand, and with his right forefinger, he touched a button.
The plant sprang to life. Lights came on, machines hummed, systems resumed vigorous activity.
The plant manager shook his consultant’s hand. The CEO, overcome with relief, clapped him on the back. “This is wonderful,” he gushed. “What do we owe you?”
“Four thousand dollars,” replied the consultant.
“Four thousand dollars!” gasped the CEO. “All you did was walk over and push a little button on the side of that machine. Can you give us a breakdown?”
The consultant jotted on a piece of paper and handed it to the CEO.

“Pushing button: $1
Knowing which button to push: $3999″

“And if you’d known which button to push, you could have done the same thing.”
Sometimes you have to be willing to pay for what people know.
 
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DJ Ricky B said:
Insurance is a fraud. Obama Care made it worse because deductibles went way high, and we still have to pay hefty monthly payments...only now we are required to buy health insurance by law. If I were to make under $24,000 a year, I could get substantially reduced health care costs, and the insurance is actually better. Normal wage earners pay full price and have to choose from worse policies available. My policy is a $5,000 deductible, and 20% co insurance after $5,000. I pay $265.62 a month for the premium. They usually pay the bills from Patient First. Every other time they have, then I might get a small bill from patient first telling me I need to pay what the insurance didn't. I just go ahead and pay it, but this time apparently they paid nothing, and Patient First wants me to pay some crazy price for what I actually got.

My current insurance is not doing business in Maryland after next March because of the ACA. I am switching to Carefirst Blue Choice in 2016. Through the ACA I can get a similar policy to what I have now except the deductible is actually higher at $5,500, but the monthly cost will be about $183.

Just a few years ago I was paying $162 for my current plan. It has gone up $103 over 3 years since ObamaCare went into effect.
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You're just confused... at least according to Josh Ernest (White House Press Secretary). According to Mr. Ernest, the widespread dissatisfaction with Obamacare is caused by Republican propaganda, FOX News, and Talk Radio, causing confusion within the public. Confusion... that's what's causing you to THINK you're paying more (LOL).

Edit: Oh... and when asked about the double digit health insurance rate increases, Mr. Ernest noted that double digit rate increases were quite common BEFORE Obamacare... but wasn't that part of the rationale for passing Obamacare???... To end the doubled digit rate increases??? I'm confused! (LOL)

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DJ Bobcat said:
You're just confused... at least according to Josh Ernest (White House Press Secretary). According to Mr. Ernest, the widespread dissatisfaction with Obamacare is caused by Republican propaganda, FOX News, and Talk Radio, causing confusion within the public. Confusion... that's what's causing you to THINK you're paying more (LOL).

Edit: Oh... and when asked about the double digit health insurance rate increases, Mr. Ernest noted that double digit rate increases were quite common BEFORE Obamacare... but wasn't that part of the rationale for passing Obamacare???... To end the doubled digit rate increases??? I'm confused! (LOL)

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Wait, are you confused about the confusion over the confusion? Or are you confused about why there is confusion about the confusion over the confusion?

;)
 
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ittigger said:
Wait, are you confused about the confusion over the confusion? Or are you confused about why there is confusion about the confusion over the confusion?

;)
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No... I'm confused. At my age, it's not unusual. I quite enjoy it, honestly, although most of the time I don't really know I'm confused. When I watch a White House press conference it goes beyond confusion. It's more like this...
LMAO!
 
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DJ Ricky B said:
Comparing Oranges to Asparagus Macho.

Doctors have many, many, many more "customers" on a daily basis. What they saw me for also was the least amount of time on their part compared to deejaying somebody's wedding which only is suppose to occur ONCE in their life time.

My back problems didn't require surgery or some specialty practice. The Doctor literally looked at my back, felt around quickly and basically confirmed what I already knew "I threw my back out" and ordered the X RAYS to be done as a precaution ....The only reason I went was to get the pain killers since my back was bothering me, and that needs a prescription. The X Rays were done to make sure I didn't break any bones. I knew I didn't break any bones, but they had the x rays done as a precaution.

I'm all for Doctors getting paid their due compensation. However, for taking up 5 minutes of a doctor's time, and getting some pain killers I'm just asking to be treated reasonably. I already pay for insurance as well...every month...and likely over pay for it! ...Hiring a DJ is a one time or on a per event type of expense. The cost for my health care is on going.

And yes, you could argue that there are DJs out there who do charge ridiculous rates. However, seeing that we are a luxury service in a period where most people's wages are down or stagnant...the Ridiculous priced DJ getting people to book them probably doesn't happen often.


If you equate this $400 or so bill for quick medical services into basic terms. ...To the typical employee out there earning $10 or $11 an hour. That quick visit to the doctor cost that person 40 hours or so worth of work time to pay this one bill. To many, that is nearly an entire 2 week pay check after taxes just about. ...Ask that person out there to pay $400 for their quick trip to the doctor, and see how they feel about it! Could they even afford to pay it?
Click to expand...
So someone making $10-$11 an hour need to be givin a break on the price? Do you feel sorry for those people when you quote them a price? You went to see some that this is their job and want to complain about how much they charge. Do you allow people to set your prices or do you tell people how much you are to get paid for them wanting to use your services?

Now that you got this bill how do you plan to pay for it if you do decide to pay for it? Over a period of time or all at once? So if you knew ahead of time how much you were going to be charged would you have looked else where for a cheaper solution? That's like someone deciding that one DJ is charging to much and want to go looking elsewhere. They have that right if that's how they feel. So now what should I do? Lower my price to meet someone else price? Haven't you heard someone tell you that this other DJ said they would do it for this price? Meaning their price is cheaper than yours. So in reality their price wasn't good enough and they wanted to see if they could find someone to do it for a cheaper price or else they would have went with that DJ. What about the expenses that the doctor has to pay? The office space has to be paid for doesn't it? The people working for the doctor have to get paid too don't they? What about the supplies for the office and equipment in the office?

What about you the DJ? Don't you have expenses to be paid? What about when you want something new for your business? Someone needs to feel sorry for you and give you something for free? I guess someone should since you got this bill to pay.:cheers: Hell you got so many bills to pay just tell a manufacture the next time you want to get an item to not charge you because you got so many bills to be paid. Those last 2 comments I'm just having fun with you. Did what they do for you work?////
 
MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
So someone making $10-$11 an hour need to be givin a break on the price? Do you feel sorry for those people when you quote them a price? You went to see some that this is their job and want to complain about how much they charge. Do you allow people to set your prices or do you tell people how much you are to get paid for them wanting to use your services?

Now that you got this bill how do you plan to pay for it if you do decide to pay for it? Over a period of time or all at once? So if you knew ahead of time how much you were going to be charged would you have looked else where for a cheaper solution? That's like someone deciding that one DJ is charging to much and want to go looking elsewhere. They have that right if that's how they feel. So now what should I do? Lower my price to meet someone else price? Haven't you heard someone tell you that this other DJ said they would do it for this price? Meaning their price is cheaper than yours. So in reality their price wasn't good enough and they wanted to see if they could find someone to do it for a cheaper price or else they would have went with that DJ. What about the expenses that the doctor has to pay? The office space has to be paid for doesn't it? The people working for the doctor have to get paid too don't they? What about the supplies for the office and equipment in the office?

What about you the DJ? Don't you have expenses to be paid? What about when you want something new for your business? Someone needs to feel sorry for you and give you something for free? I guess someone should since you got this bill to pay.:cheers: Hell you got so many bills to pay just tell a manufacture the next time you want to get an item to not charge you because you got so many bills to be paid. Those last 2 comments I'm just having fun with you. Did what they do for you work?////
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WHAT!!! did you say???
 
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There are things you shouldn't go cheap on. Doctors, Lawyers and Condoms are 3 of those things ;)
 
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tunes4046 said:
I would add toilet paper to this list
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Go affordable, but don't get the commercial brand UBER CHEAP big rolls of toilet paper that restaurants and malls carry.

I get 12 packs at Big Lots for $5.00 each. Their toilet paper is very similar to Angel Soft except AS comes a part easier. I usually buy two 12 packs at a time. 300 squares per roll. Sorry...I'm not spending $8.99 - 9.49 for a 12 pack of quilted Northern or Charmin. :sqlaugh:
 
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many issues with the end result that is obamacare.
the issue is : should everyone have affodable healthcare/insurance or not? If yes, then the only question is how ot pay for it.

other countries have a one-payer systems - the govt pays.
We went another route and now have a for-profit arrangement with many insurance companies. to go to govt pay setup would essentially put all those insurance companies out of business instantly.
they don't want that and have lots of money to lobby for their continued existence.

what they got was a govt mandate that we all must be their customers - and that has people pissed off, but we've had that for decades for car insurance and unless you pay cash for a house you are required to buy insurance for that too.

Jeff Romard said:
I think $362 is pretty reasonable. About 10 years ago I paid more than that at a Veterinarian for pretty much the same service you had for a cat I had...

I'm pretty left leaning but I got to say Obama Care was a big disappointment. He talked about health care reform but this plan isn't it's insurance reform. Maybe I didn't understand it from the start or maybe this is the watered down congressional version but either way I suspect it's a good screwing for the middle class while the rich and poor walk away scott free
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DJ Ricky B said:
Go affordable, but don't get the commercial brand UBER CHEAP big rolls of toilet paper that restaurants and malls carry.

I get 12 packs at Big Lots for $5.00 each. Their toilet paper is very similar to Angel Soft except AS comes a part easier. I usually buy two 12 packs at a time. 300 squares per roll. Sorry...I'm not spending $8.99 - 9.49 for a 12 pack of quilted Northern or Charmin. :sqlaugh:
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But it's squeezably soft.

:)

IceBurghDJ said:
unless you pay cash for a house you are required to buy insurance for that too.
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True .. but the bank probably has their own insurance on top of that. For any of you with mortgages and 30 year fixed, have you seen how much that house actually cost you at the end of 30 years? Advice, if you can do it - refi.
 
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The question about billing someone after services is performed by a DJ wouldn't work very well for several reasons. What if someone disagrees with the bill and want to dispute the charges. Also how many people would pay the full bill as soon as it's given to them? Some would claim they never received it. Others would just not pay it forcing you to have to either take them to court or have it go to collections. Not worth all that much trouble. Best thing is to do your best to get paid in full before the event date. If they don't like what's in your contract then they are free to go elsewhere. Most don't have a problem with my contract. They see it and sign without any big issues. They agree that I need to get paid and the sooner the better.
 
IceBurghDJ said:
...we've had that for decades for car insurance and unless you pay cash for a house you are required to buy insurance for that too.
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In most states, you are required to have insurance if you drive, but you could ride the bus, take a cab, or ride your bicycle... no insurance required. You have a choice. With Obamacare... no choice. Buy insurance or get fined. When the government compels you to buy something you don't want to buy and did not even give you the opportunity to vote it up or down... well, that's a problem for me!

And as for insurance on your house, the government does not require that; the bank does. If you don't insure your property, some banks take out insurance on it and charge it back to you, some just call the loan.


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