What does MediBid offer that traditional network sources do not?

MediBid offers cash paying patients seeking care the ability to find the medical practitioner who best fits that patient's set of criteria. Criteria that can include price, location, time-to-treatment.... even professional credentials. Unlike traditional network sources, your healthcare decisions are in your hands, not someone else's.

Does MediBid share my information?

Absolutely not! MediBid will not sell or release your information to any insurance, pharmaceutical, or research company. We value your security and privacy.

What are MediBid's key values?

Access, Transparency, Quality, Privacy, and Choice. MediBid gives you access to the care you need with upfront pricing bringing transparency back to the healthcare system through quality providers in a private environment that lets you choose.

Have all specialists registered with MediBid been verified in any way?

MediBid requires doctors to submit their license number upon registration so that a Seeker may verify the specialist for themselves. MediBid recommends that Seekers call the state licensing board for the state of the doctor they are going to see to verify that everything is correct. Specialists that are reported to us as fraudulent will be removed immediately. Facilities also have the opportunity to submit their accreditation to MediBid for the Seeker to view.

What fees does MediBid charge?

There are fees for both Seekers and Bidders. This ensures that both parties are serious about creating a direct contract relationship.

Annual Bidder Membership Fees for 2011:
• $249 for Individuals
• $1,000 for a Facility with up to 10 Individuals registered
• $2,000 for a Facility with up to 20 Individuals registered
• $3,000 for a Facility with up to 50 Individuals registered

Seeker Membership Fees for 2011:
• $25 for one procedure request
• $49 for three procedure requests within 6 months
• $69 for six procedure requests within 6 months
• $99 for twelve procedure requests within 12 months

Where is MediBid located?

MediBid has offices in both the US and Canada. MediBid's corporate office information can be found here.

Does MediBid protect my privacy?

Yes! MediBid.com is HIPAA compliant through and through. Your information is safe with us. Physicians must be logged in to view your request information, which is provided to them anonymously. Only after you accept a Bid will a medical specialist find out who you are.

Do you accept insurance?

MediBid does not get involved in the financial transaction between Bidder and Seeker. The Bidders found on MediBid quote cash prices and accept only cash or credit cards at the time of service. If you want to find someone who will accept your insurance as part of your payment, please make a comment on your procedure request. You may also be able to send an invoice to your insurer after your treatment. Talk to your insurance company before making any decisions.

Can I find an elective surgery?

Yes, of course! MediBid is a great place to get upfront pricing on any surgery or medical procedure, including elective ones.

Can I use MediBid with a high deductible health plan?

You went with a high deductible to save money on your insurance premium. With MediBid, you can find out how much something is going to cost before you agree to be seen by the physician, so you'll know if it is going to meet or exceed your deductible. If it's under your deductible, then you can choose the medical specialist that is right for you without being restricted to a PPO list. If it's over your deductible, talk to your insurance company about your options. Some physicians on MediBid may be willing to work with you and your insurance company. It's always OK to put notes in your MediBid Request that say how much your deductible is and who your insurance carrier is if it is going to go over your deductible. Most medical specialists on MediBid give cash-price only quotes, but it doesn't hurt to ask for what you need.

What if I'm on a budget?

It is perfectly OK to state your spending limit or payment needs in your request. Many medical specialists on MediBid will offer payment plans for patients paying in cash. And because every Bid given on MediBid is custom, physicians will see your notes before they give you their price. There may be options available to fit every budget.

What if I have complications after a medical procedure?

All healthcare matters are strictly between you and the provider you selected. Be sure you understand fully what each bid covers before deciding. Seekers should provide as much health information in their request as possible to help Bidders provide accurate quotes. Bidders should not hesitate to quote a price range that includes the unforeseen.

Can I find a primary care physician on this site?

Absolutely. And we encourage you to do so.

Do you do any background checks on the doctors and medical facilities?

MediBid does not underwrite or make any claims as to the level of proficiency of the doctors and medical facilities listed on this site. Seekers should refer to the Medical Board of the State/Country in which the doctor practices for information. After you accept a bid from a facility or specialist, we will ask you to rate the quality of care you received. These ratings will become visible to other Seekers in the future.

What procedures can I create a request for?

A variety of medical specialists have registered with MediBid, which means that you can find someone for almost any medical procedure you can think of. MediBid can be used for something as simple as a second opinion consultation to something as advanced as the removal of a brain tumor. If you aren't sure about what the medical term for the procedure you need is, start by looking at the procedures at the bottom of this page.

How do I contact a local licensing board?

There are several organizations to help patients get information about licensure. The American Medical Association [http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/education-careers/becoming-physician/medical-licensure/state-medical-boards.shtml] has a site listing information for every state with a direct link to the contact information for that state.

I'm not getting any bids on my Request. What's wrong?

First, please check your zip code. If your zip code has a typo and is invalid, your request will not go out properly. Also, check the distance you will travel on the Request. If you said you will only go 10 miles, you have really limited yourself. A doctor that is 12 miles from you might give you a bid if you increase your distance from 10 to 50 miles or 50 to 100 miles. If you don't want to travel 100 miles, you can still see how far away the medical provider is before you accept their bid. You also may not have provided enough information for a physician to give you a Bid.

How do I contact the Doctor I've selected?

When you find a Physician you would like to be treated by, click on "Accept" to the far right of the Bid from your Full Request view. If the Bid is too far away, too expensive, or just not right for you, click on "No Thanks" to let the physician know you aren't interested in their Bid. After you accept a Bid, you will be able to view the entire contact information (including a phone number) for the Bidder you selected on their profile page.

What fees does MediBid charge?

There are fees for placing a Request as a Seeker (patient) on MediBid. This ensures that you are serious about creating a direct contract relationship with a physician on MediBid. Procedure Requests purchased by one Seeker can be shared with family members. When you create a request, you will be asked if this procedure is for you, or not. Answer no and enter in the medical information for your dependent family member and their Request will be paid for out of your membership.

Seeker Membership Fees for 2011:
• $25 for one procedure request
• $49 for three procedure requests within 6 months
• $69 for six procedure requests within 6 months
• $99 for twelve procedure requests within 12 months

Why become a Bidder with MediBid?

You'll expand your market -- with MediBid you immediately go from local to national -- even international. The demand for choice in health and medical care is growing and MediBid is positioned to give providers of those services access in a completely free market environment. You'll also enjoy all the benefits that come with providing care to cash paying patients, most notably lower overhead and better patient census. MediBid offers you a great value for your marketing dollars because we go directly to patients actively seeking the care you offer. A phone book ad can't offer you that.

What if I accept Medicare?

MediBid is STARK law compliant. Seekers must answer a question about their Medicare enrollment upon registration. If it is a procedure covered by Medicare and the patient is enrolled in Medicare, you do not have to place a bid. That will protect your practice from any complications with Medicare billing.

How can MediBid enhance my practice?

You can set your own rates to direct contract with cash paying patients from the US, Canada, and around the world. If you know a code is currently underpaying you for your time, forcing you to rush from patient to patient, charge a higher rate and spend more quality time with the patient. They'll be glad you did and more likely to become a patient for life. If you aren't seeing enough patients, give a few Bids at a lower rate and see if you can generate more foot traffic that way. MediBid is not just a virtual marketplace, it's an ethical healthcare marketing tool.

What's the difference between registering as an Individual or a Facility?

A Facility profile is a premium listing that includes three images of the facility as well as a list of the specialists registered as a part of that facility. Individual physician profiles are included with each Facility listing. Facility profiles are at the top of the page when a Seeker views available Bidders for their request. Individual profiles are for doctors and specialists who are responsible for their own inbound patients. Individual profiles also show the option if their services include all facility fees or not, for those providers who use various hospitals for operations or procedures. If you place the Bid yourself and treat the patient yourself, then you may only need an Individual profile.

What if I'm an Individual doctor who treats patients overseas?

MediBid recommends that you talk to the facility you treat patients in about registering. Most patients will not go overseas for care if certain arrangements are not going to be handled for them the way that a facility would. It is too difficult to make multiple arrangements with a facility, an anesthetist, a lab, a hotel, and/or other auxiliary requirements for their care in a foreign country.

I'm a healthcare facilitator who works with overseas hospitals. Is there a place on MediBid for me?

If the patient will pay the hospital directly, then the hospital pays you themselves, then yes. Overseas, those arrangements are allowed. You are an employee of the hospital handling inbound patients, similar to an office manager who might handle inbound patients for a doctor's office. However, fee-splitting is not allowed on MediBid, so if you collect any money from the patient, even with the intent of handing all or a portion of it to the facility, you will not be accepted. You may register your facility's profile and give your e-mail address. Be sure to make a proper note in the comments field that you are a facilitator of the hospital. If you can assist with other travel arrangements for the patient as well, let them know that in the Bid. Contact us at 888-855-6334 for more information.

What fees does MediBid charge?

There are fees for placing a Request as a Seeker (patient) on MediBid. This ensures that you are serious about creating a direct contract relationship with a physician on MediBid. Procedure Requests purchased by one Seeker can be shared with family members. When you create a request, you will be asked if this procedure is for you, or not. Answer no and enter in the medical information for your dependent family member and their Request will be paid for out of your membership.

Annual Bidder Membership Fees for 2011:
• $249 for Individuals
• $1,000 for a Facility with up to 10 Individuals registered
• $2,000 for a Facility with up to 20 Individuals registered
• $3,000 for a Facility with up to 50 Individuals registered