Sagicor Life Jamaica yesterday announced that changes in the administration of its swipe machine system could result in clients spending more out of their pockets for each doctor visit.

In an emailed notice to clients yesterday, Sagicor reasoned that it has been receiving feedback from clients and their members over the past month regarding increased out of pocket expenses for doctor visits.

The life insurance company added that with recent industry wide changes in the administration of the electronic claims submission (swipe machine system), medical doctors, which were once exempted from a transaction fees per swipe, are now required to pay a small percentage of the approved benefit amount.

The administration of the electronic claim submission system is provided by a third party. Upon until January 2018, the administrative service fee which was calculated on a per transaction or per swipe basis was borne by all medical services providers with the exception of medical doctors.

Sagicor noted that after extensive dialogue between industry and all providers, the decision was made to regularise the treatment of fees to include the medical doctors. Its unclear if the system changes has affected clients on Guardian Life’s health insurance.

“We anticipate that this change will, at least partially, be reflected in the doctor’s fees, as it now become a cost of doing business. If your doctor’s visit benefit is $3,000, the additional cost to the physician for the transaction fee will $61.17,” the company said.

“Nonetheless, while out of pocket expenses have been impacted, an electronic method for claims submission at the point of receiving services represents significant value by providing on the spot confirmation of benefits available to each member and allowing for patients to immediately take advantage of the benefit.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business-observer/doctor-fees-impacted-by-swipe-card-changes_132671