My doctor is offering me a 30% discount on my outstanding bill if I pay in CASH (no check). Is this ethical?

I've seen gas stations that offer discounts on gas if you pay with cash, and the reason they do that is because that have to pay the credit card companies every time someone pays with credit. So by you paying cash, they save money, and can offer you a discount. But I don't know why they'd offer a discount if you're using a check... maybe to just get you to pay it off sooner. Your Dr. situtation though sounds fishy.. especially "meeting you somewhere". Dr.'s offices do not do that! Be sure to keep paying with checks so there is proof of payment. I would get a written agreement from the office stating multiple payments are acceptable until the bill is completely paid. If they send you to collections you can fight back. Also, I would report the nurse that was trying to do that to you... if the Dr. is in on it, report it to the police, and quit going to that Dr.

Call the receptionist and ask if she will send you a revised bill on the balance due showing that there is a discount for cash. Oil delivery companies do something like this, with a stated price per gallon if paid early, or by a certain date, or at the time of the bill. Basically, ask for this suggested discount in writing. Put together a record of the bills you were served, the amounts you have paid on the bills, and a record of each payment, just so you can produce copies of this at any time. The receptionist may not know her implied threat was not legal, and she may be under pressure to close out the outstanding accounts and is only doing what she knows how. Write a letter to the doctor - keep a copy - asking about continuing the payment schedule which will mean steady income from you for ___ months until it is paid. Include copies of your good payment record.

sounds very sketchy to me. Don't mess with your health.. or anyone who is involved in your health... thats my advise. plus if its cash, there is no proof you even paid it... so they might still send it to the collectors.

Yes it is unethical and in fact he is committing tax evasion. When I first read your question I thought there was a possibility it was OK because you could be paying cash through the accounts and getting a receipt. But if the idea is to keep it off the doctors books then he is committing a crime, but the more I read it the more it sounds shady.

Interesting. I guess he just wants to get paid whatever he can get. I've never had a medical bill. Government pays everything in Canada.