I am trying to decide wether it is worth going the HSA route.
The one thing I cannot find out so far is how much I would pay for medical services.

Say I go to a doctor and their charge is $120. Without insurance I usually get a discount of anywhere between 15 and 50% for self pay, sya in this case I would pay $100 if I didn't have insurance. When I did have a 'normal' insurance plan they would reduce the charge to $90 (including the copay).

So now if I go to a doctor do I pay the $90 that the HDHP provider has contracted, the $100 I would pay if I were self-pay or the full $120.

Another example would be lab fees. They typically charge $100 but the insurance companies pay a reduced rate which is often less than $10.

Assuming I pay self-pay ($100) does the full amount count towards my deductible or only the $90 the insurance carrier has negotiated?

Do I have to pay at the time of service or do I have to wait for the insurance company to process the claim?

Thanks
Marc

You will need to double check with your insurance broker or employer but I can give your questions a stab.

1. You usually will pay the negotiated rates that the HDHP has negotiated on your behalf.

2. The same goes with most pharmaceuticals but you will definitely need to read your policy to confirm.

3. If you self pay, you will more than likely get have the $90 count towards your deductible.

4. In most cases, you will pay for services after you get a bill so that the insurance company can track how much you have paid toward the deductible.

I hope this helps and I strongly encourage you to review your policy and ask your insurance broker to work on your behalf to get your answers.