OK, that wasn't very nice but I'm not feeling nice or charitable right now. I understand the need for patients to be invested in their care. If they didn't have to pay anything, the doctors would be over run with visits that need not occur. But it looks to me they've found a way to profit from it.

I had a $45 co-pay today at a "specialist". Haven't seen a doctor there in a few years, I get to see a nurse each time. She waddles in armed with a bottle of liquid nitrogen and proceeds to cause plenty of pain. Not her pain, mine. So when I made the appointment for today, I simply suggested it would be nice to see a doctor since I didn't think the nurse was qualified to diagnose the spot on my face. The reason being the last 3 or 4 visits were just a waste of everyone's time. And of course my $45 co-pay.

So today I got a different nurse. But at least she was cute and approached me in a different way. Sure, she found a bottle of pain and sprayed one place. But then she did biopsys on 2 other places that were a problem and had been for a couple of years.

What we can learn from all this is that I'm cheap. But I don't really think the little nursy is always worth the co-pay, much less whatever they bill the visit for. Looks like a doctor can expand his practice just by hiring a bunch of nurses and moving forward.

Are these nurse practitioners or physician assistants? I didn't think a nurse could diagnose anything on their own.

One of the top medical professionals in this area is a nurse practitioner. Better at diagnosing things than most doctors.

That said, I'm like you and prefer to see a doctor.

Unless it is an urgent care visit and I have no choice I want to see the physician. Your insurance company sets the copay. Copays never stop until you hit the out of pocket maximum.

All you have to do is ask. If there is no other option go elsewhere.

Mines the same way, some times scheduling doesn't allow seeing the Main Dr. so you get a nurse practitioner, while I don't mind that with many things I do mind getting billed at the rate for seeing the main Physician.

If you're sending me to the second level team then you shouldn't be billing for the main Dr's rates.

Lot of folks now going online with doctor services for scripts, colds, etc, why spend the full rate.

Dr On Demand is an app with video conference meetings with physicians for significantly less cost. If you have high deductible plans, it's a great option for minor things.

I wonder how long it will be before the annual physical is replaced by some lab work and an online visit.