I've read the same thing about people using ERs because they can't legally be turned away. I wonder if the new requirement that everyone must have insurance or pay a fine will change that.
Half price for cash sounds like a win-win-win:
You pay less (presumably)
Your insurance pays nothing
Your doctor gets paid without having to hassle with the insurance co and wait for payment
The only downside I can think of is that it's not applied to your yearly deductible that way.
There was an opthalmologist's (sp) office in our area that had a sign saying they accepted payment in gold. Never tried it though. Seemed odd to me.
