How to Get Your Next Doctor’s Appointment for “Free”

There was once a time long ago when many economies ran on a barter system. There was no fiat money. There was no central banking system. There was no Federal Reserve to insure the validity of any currency. If you wanted a bag of rice you traded with what you grew or produced. As financial currencies came about, and now as electronic finances control the way we purchase and sell goods, barter systems are rare.

In medicine, the barter system is dying off as well. Patients used to come to the office, and if they could not pay, they would offer their services such as landscaping, contractor services, or a good deal on whatever they sold. Sometimes patients would do this on top of their payment so the physician would treat them better and take that “extra” step to make sure they were OK. But now as we come to this modern day in medicine, we see patients mostly concerned with the amount of copayments. Front office personnel are more concerned with payments and insurance status. There is a veil between the physician and the patient when it comes to payments and negotiations.

It is really a shame because these days many doctors are turning away patients who do not have insurance or who have bad insurance. I can tell you that there is no greater feeling than to see a patient without direct financial compensation and then have him do a favor for you that is in his line of work. It’s a win-win for both parties, and better yet, it leapfrogs the entire financial system. One patient gets his medical care and one doctor gets something in return. Even if the values are not commensurate, it gets down to the true values of a barter system – people exchange their own products and goods because that is all they have to give.

Next time you visit your physician, perhaps this is something to consider. I know a lot of doctors that would happily work “pro bono” to get something they need.

Editor’s Note: The word “free” in the title is in quotes because, according to Robert Heinlein, “There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch” (even in the non-scifi world).