Natera pregnancy test scam

[Kolyan2k]

Just heads up. Company is a scam and they seem to be in with the doctors. Before test they tell you its $0-200 max expense out of pocket. After doing the test they send $8000 bill to insurance and try to shake you for the rest (insurance never pays for it in full so you end up being responsible for thousands). Its a pretty common practice/scam in USA but this one is just nuts....

[FlaPatsFan]

This happened to my wife and I this past August. We got a bill for 8000.00 and I flipped out. I have great insurance coverage and it was told to us the test is covered by insurance. Well needless to say I called Natera and bitched and they finally backed down saying it was a mistake and I only had to pay 150.00 dollars. Crazy

[upstatedoc]

Wait, what?!?

[Delta0311]

WTF and this company is still operating?

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

WTF and this company is still operating?

It's open because it's very common practice in USA. This exact thing happened to me with another company many years ago. Doctors are on it and they get a cut from selling products and medicine that you really don't need. The sad part is that they are scamming pregnant women here....i have no words. It's bad enough USA is 2nd worst country in the world when it comes to maternity leave

[Kolyan2k]

Called them up just now. Basically the try to get money from insurance (whatever they can), then bill you for whatever amount they like....in my case its about $500 bucks they said, and if you call them within 30 days they can reduce the amount to the initial $200 that you agreed to pay at the doctors office. I read that some get away settling for $100-150 bucks....

This reminded me of the phone booth scam that were popular in early 2000s. Also CA based company that avoided FCC regulation by running scams in other countries. The brilliant idea was to bill international calls at like $10-20 per minute rate without you knowing anything. And after you see huge charges on you credit card, you call them up and they immediately do you a favor by reducing the bill to a comfortable $100 bucks or so.

[davis449]

This is happening with the mandatory drug screening labs and doctors as well. You have to get screened if you're on controlled substances, by law, so you're told it will cost you nothing because your insurance will cover it. My most recent one came with a $500 bill for what "ins. didn't cover". Yeah, they got nothing from me.

[Kolyan2k]

I never pay those either and so far I haven't had a single problem with my credit history, but at this point in life I just don't want to risk it. If I was in my 20s, I wouldnt even give them the agreed $200 after all this

[KenB925]

PIITB

[Alfisti]

Your entire medical system is a joke, it really is. The money you spend as a country on it is astronomical because the med companies know they can juice insurance.

[HRE_Wheels]

My wife and I are expecting and we've been contacted as well by this company. Thanks for posting up your experience.

[FlaPatsFan]

Unfortunately here in America medical insurance is big big business. It’s all about money and profit. Actually helping and taking care of ppl is not there primary focus. Very sad

[RickFLM4]

Is it some sort of special pregnancy test? Why this test vs. something else?

[jaye944]

looks like Genetic testing

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

Is it some sort of special pregnancy test? Why this test vs. something else?

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by HRE_Wheels

My wife and I are expecting and we've been contacted as well by this company. Thanks for posting up your experience.

Just fyi, I don't know how good and accurate their tests are. It's the billing issue. There is a free option that's covered under most insurances (different name) and then there is this premium. Some refuse to do any of them....
You can still opt for Natera just expect to fight with them when they send u a bill

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Your entire medical system is a joke, it really is. The money you spend as a country on it is astronomical because the med companies know they can juice insurance.

110% agree. I've had and heard of many cases doctors scamming and screwing patients. I think John Oliver has done an episode on this as well.

[jesm]

The test is called NIPT(non-invasive prenatal testing). Fetal DNA is obtained from the mom's blood and it can screen the pregnancy for Down Syndrome, Trisomy 18, Trisomy 13 and Turner Syndrome. It is the best screening exam available for now.
I do offer it to my patients but I do NOT get any kickbacks or anything from them. It can be done as early as 9 weeks. I do agree unfortunately between insurance companies and hospitals they are killing the healthcare system. Hope this helps....

[TrevorM3]

Originally Posted by KenB925

PIITB

lmao

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by jesm

The test is called NIPT(non-invasive prenatal testing). Fetal DNA is obtained from the mom's blood and it can screen the pregnancy for Down Syndrome, Trisomy 18, Trisomy 13 and Turner Syndrome. It is the best screening exam available for now.
I do offer it to my patients but I do NOT get any kickbacks or anything from them. It can be done as early as 9 weeks. I do agree unfortunately between insurance companies and hospitals they are killing the healthcare system. Hope this helps....

But why does Natera acts this way? Why do doctors tell patients its $200 without the insurance and yet Natera bills insurance $8000? and then send the 2nd bill to patients for whatever amount they choose thats never $200?

How can one trust a company that lies from the very beginning?

[jesm]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

But why does Natera acts this way? Why do doctors tell patients its $200 without the insurance and yet Natera bills insurance $8000? and then send the 2nd bill to patients for whatever amount they choose thats never $200?

How can one trust a company that lies from the very beginning?

I think if you tell them from the get-go that you will be paying cash for the exam, you will skip all this. Only reason they do this, I think...is because insurance companies low-ball you(big-time) for any service that is provided. They give out this insanely high amount so they will get paid 600-700. I have been paid 25-50 dollars for assisting in a high risk emergency cesarean hysterectomy procedure...terrible...

[hongsc]

My friend worked for a private lab. They got audited and in a lot of trouble. They were overcharging, charging for tests they did not perform. It figures all the technologists were driving brand new BMWs, Benzs, Audis.... , expense accounts....And the topper they had the cheating bed in the back. Plus they switched samples on each other. Luckily no one died. It was like a frat there.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by HRE_Wheels

My wife and I are expecting and we've been contacted as well by this company. Thanks for posting up your experience.

Without starting new thread. What's your take on Vitamin K injection?

I am watching this now. Planning on rejecting all vaccines to wife and to child at birth