Cost of urologist visit by state

The following estimated costs are based on cash prices that providers have historically charged on average for urologist visit and will vary depending on where the service is done. The prices do not include the anesthesia, imaging, and other doctor visit fees that normally accompany urologist visit.

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What is a urologist?

A urologist is a physician that specializes in the treatment of medical conditions and surgical problems that involve the urinary tract (the kidneys, ureters, bladder, prostate, and urethra). They can prescribe medications and perform surgery. Many urologists specialize in specific conditions or surgeries.

What are some reasons to see a urologist?

Most people are referred to a urologist if they develop any condition that prevents the body from expelling urine effectively. Some of the most common are:

  • Prostate enlargement (BPH)
  • Prostate cancer
  • Kidney stones
  • Multiple severe urinary tract infections
  • Abnormalities in the urethra, penis, or bladder that are present at birth

Men see urologists more commonly than women given that prostate issues (which only occur in men) are one of the most common reasons for urology referral. Despite this, many women still see urologists for issues related to urination.

What does a urologist do on your first visit?

Your first visit with a urologist will be very similar to a regular yearly doctor's visit. They will ask you about what led you to see them and your medical history, and then  perform a physical examination. If you are seeing a urologist for a surgical referral they may order scans or tests that need to be done after the visit.

How do I prepare for a urologist visit?

No special preparation is required for a majority of visits to the urologist. In some cases, they may want to perform a procedure in the office. If this is the case, they will often ask you not to eat or drink anything other than water for 6 to 12 hours before your appointment. 

In the event you are going to the urologist for surgery, you will have to take multiple steps to prepare. These steps will depend on what surgery is being performed and will be discussed in detail with you at the urologist’s office.

What are urology problems?

The majority of urology problems result in difficulty urinating, pain, or infections. 

  • Difficulty urinating can be caused by damage to the bladder or urethra from trauma, enlargement of the male prostate, blockage by a kidney stone, or abnormalities in the urinary tract that you are born with. 
  • Pain is most commonly caused by kidney stones. A urologist may treat you with medications if you are having repeated episodes of kidney stones. They will also perform surgeries to remove especially large stones that cannot be urinated out. 
  • Infections, specifically urinary tract infections, can be triggered by urine that is stuck in any area of the urinary tract. If an obstruction exists that is leading to multiple infections, surgery may be recommended to relieve the obstruction.

What questions should I ask my urologist?

Your urologist will have a large amount of information regarding any condition that affects the urinary tract. It is always a good idea to ask about the different treatment options for your condition, what symptoms should lead you to come back to the urologist, and any potential side effects of whatever treatment they recommend.

* Savings estimate based on a study of more than 1 billion claims comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of a frequency-weighted market basket of procedures to insurer-negotiated rates for the same. Claims were collected between July 2017 and July 2019. R.Lawrence Van Horn, Arthur Laffer, Robert L.Metcalf. 2019. The Transformative Potential for Price Transparency in Healthcare: Benefits for Consumers and Providers. Health Management Policy and Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3.

Sidecar Health offers and administers a variety of plans including ACA compliant and excepted benefit plans. Coverage and plan options may vary or may not be available in all states.

Your actual costs may be higher or lower than these cost estimates. Check with your provider and health plan details to confirm the costs that you may be charged for a service or procedure.You are responsible for costs that are not covered and for getting any pre-authorizations or referrals required by your health plan. Neither payments nor benefits are guaranteed. Provider data, including price data, provided in part by Turquoise Health.

The site is not a substitute for medical or healthcare advice and does not serve as a recommendation for a particular provider or type of medical or healthcare.

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How Much Does It Cost To See A Urologist? (Updated Prices)

  • June 3, 2023

If you’re experiencing issues related to your urinary tract or reproductive system, you may need to see a urologist for diagnosis and treatment. However, before making an appointment, you may wonder how much it will cost to see a urologist.

The cost of seeing a urologist can vary depending on various factors such as insurance coverage, location, and the reason for the visit.

Exploring the Cost of Visiting a Urologist: What You Need to Know

The cost of visiting a urologist varies depending on different factors such as location, insurance coverage, and the nature of the visit. For patients without insurance, the cost of a first-time consultation with a urologist can range from $200 to over $550, with an average cost of $260 nationwide.

This cost may not include additional tests, treatments, or procedures the urologist may recommend. If diagnostic tests such as blood work, urinalysis, or imaging tests are required, they may also incur additional costs. Insurance coverage plays a significant role in the cost of seeing a urologist. Patients with insurance may have a lower out-of-pocket cost than those without coverage. 

However, insurance policies vary, and some plans may not cover certain tests or procedures. It is essential to understand the specifics of your insurance coverage to avoid surprises in your medical bills. 

Northwell health urologist

What to Expect and How to Prepare for a UROLOGIST VISIT

When preparing for a visit to a urologist, patients may feel anxious or uncertain about what to expect. A urologist is a medical specialist who focuses on diagnosing and treating conditions related to the urinary tract and male reproductive system. 

During the initial consultation, the urologist will likely ask questions about the patient’s medical history, symptoms, and current medications. They may also perform a physical exam, including a genital exam, to evaluate the patient’s condition. 

Depending on the reason for the visit, the urologist may order additional tests or procedures, such as a urinalysis or ultrasound. It is essential for patients to be honest and open with their urologist, as this information can help with an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. 

Additional Costs Associated with Seeing a Urologist and What Patients Should Be Aware Of

While the cost of a urologist visit can vary depending on several factors, there may be additional costs beyond the initial consultation fee. One potential cost is diagnostic tests, which are often necessary to diagnose and treat urological conditions accurately.

These tests may include blood work, urine analysis, imaging tests, or biopsy procedures, each of which can incur additional expenses. Another potential cost is treatment or procedures, which may include medication, surgery, or ongoing therapy. 

Actual urologist check up

The cost of these treatments can vary significantly depending on the severity of the condition and the specific treatment recommended by the urologist. Patients should also be aware of any out-of-pocket costs associated with their insurance coverage, as some policies may require patients to pay a percentage of the total cost of treatment.

To avoid unexpected expenses, patients should discuss potential costs with their urologist and insurance provider before undergoing any tests or procedures. By understanding the potential additional costs associated with urological care, patients can better plan and budget for their healthcare needs.

Tips for Saving Money on Urological Care

Urological care can be expensive, but there are steps patients can take to save money without sacrificing quality of care. 

One option is to shop around and compare prices among different urologists and healthcare providers in the area. Patients can also consider telemedicine or virtual consultations, which may be less expensive than in-person visits. 

Blood chem

Another option is to ask the urologist or healthcare provider about generic medication options, which can be significantly less expensive than brand-name medications. Patients should also review their insurance coverage and understand their out-of-pocket costs to avoid any unexpected expenses. 

Additionally, patients can take steps to prevent urological conditions by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, such as staying hydrated and practicing safe sex. By taking a proactive approach to their urological health, patients can potentially save money on medical expenses in the long run. 

Whether or not it is necessary to visit a urologist depends on your specific circumstances and symptoms. If you have a family history of urological conditions or are at risk for certain conditions, such as prostate cancer, it may be beneficial to see a urologist for preventative care.

However, if you have no symptoms or concerns related to your urinary tract or reproductive system, it may not be necessary to see a urologist. It is always best to discuss any concerns or questions with your primary care physician, who can help determine if a visit to a urologist is necessary.

Noah Miller

Noah Miller

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How Much Does a Urologist Visit Cost?

Certified CFA

Seeing a urologist can provide essential care for conditions affecting the urinary tract and reproductive organs. However, these specialist visits can also come with significant costs. Let’s break down the key factors that influence the price of a urologist appointment and how to keep expenses affordable.

How Much Does a Urologist Visit Cost Without Insurance?

Typical urologist visit costs when paying cash or through insurance include:

  • New patient consultation:  $200-$400
  • Established patient follow-up:  $150-$300
  • Office cystoscopy exam:  $300-$800
  • Vasectomy:  $500-$1,000
  • Kidney stone removal:  $4,000-$8,000
  • Prostate biopsy:  $1,000-$3,000

On MDsave , the cost of a Urology New Patient Office Visit ranges from $141 to $404 .

Sidecar Health notes that market average cash prices for urologist visit procedures in New York start around $115 and can cost as much as $153 .

The New York Urology Specialists practice offers a prepayment discount for urologist consultation visits, with the cost for a new visit being $185 and a return visit being $85 .

Your actual costs depend on location, the provider, and insurance coverage. Billing for a single appointment can total $1,000 or more with labs, scans, and procedures.

Urologist Visit Costs With Health Insurance

Insurance plans handle urology costs differently, so it’s key to understand your specific benefits. Here are some key factors to check:

  • Specialist Copays:  This is the set fee paid per urologist visit, often $30-$75. Many plans also charge separately for tests.
  • Deductibles:  You pay 100% of medical costs until meeting this annual threshold, which can be $1,000+ with high deductible health plans.
  • Coinsurance:  After deductible, you pay a percentage of costs, usually 10-30%. Better plans have lower coinsurance.
  • Coverage Limitations:  Some insurance providers restrict urology visits or impose stiff pre-authorization requirements. This can result in higher out-of-pocket costs.
  • In-Network Discounts:  Seeing an in-network urologist results in substantially lower prices negotiated by the insurer. Out-of-network care costs considerably more.

Factors Affecting the Cost of a Urologist Visit

The main components that determine the total price of seeing a urologist include:

  • Consultation Fees:  The basic charges for an office visit, consultation, or telehealth appointment with a urologist. This can range from $100-$500+ depending on the provider, length of visit, and location.
  • Diagnostic Tests:  Urologists frequently order lab tests, imaging scans, cystoscopies, biopsies, and other diagnostics to evaluate symptoms. These additional services can quickly add hundreds or thousands to the total bill.
  • Treatment Costs:  If a condition requires surgery, medications, or procedures like a vasectomy or kidney stone removal, the costs stack up even more. Treatment expenses vary widely based on the complexity of care.
  • Insurance:  The amount covered by health insurance can significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs for those with urology benefits. But copays, deductibles, and uncovered services also impact real-world prices.

Payment Options for Urology Care

Urologist Visit

  • Health insurance plans, whether employer-sponsored, individual, or government (Medicare, Medicaid)
  • Health savings accounts (HSAs) and flexible spending accounts (FSAs)
  • Direct primary care membership models
  • Cash prices and payment plans offered by some urology clinics
  • Financial assistance programs provided by hospitals and community health organizations

Discuss payment options with your urologist’s billing office if you are concerned about affording needed care.

Tips for Managing Urology Costs

To reduce expenses associated with seeing a urologist, keep these tips in mind:

You might also like our articles about the cost of an Annual physical exam , a Chiropractic treatment, or a well-baby visit .

  • Use in-network providers  – This is the #1 way to control costs with health insurance.
  • Understand your plan’s benefits  – Then utilize appropriate services while avoiding unnecessary care.
  • Ask about cash prices  – Negotiated rates for patients paying directly can be significantly discounted.
  • Inquire about financial assistance  – Uninsured and underinsured patients can get help through various programs.
  • Use telehealth when appropriate  – Virtual visits are usually a fraction of the cost of in-office appointments.
  • Take advantage of preventive services  – Many health plans provide certain urology screenings at low or no cost.

How Do Telehealth Urology Visits Compare Cost-Wise?

Seeing a urologist via phone or video conferencing is generally much cheaper than an in-person visit. Costs for telehealth appointments may range from:

  • $40 – $75  for a brief virtual consultation
  • $100 – $250 for a more comprehensive televisit
  • 80%+ less  than comparable in-clinic services

Telehealth provides a convenient lower-cost alternative to in-office urological care when possible. Limitations include the inability to provide hands-on exams or on-site procedures.

Final Words

Visiting a urologist results in bills ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on your insurance and medical needs. With smart planning, utilizing preventive services, and seeking financial assistance when required, most individuals can access essential urological healthcare without breaking the bank.

Prioritizing this specialty care provides the best opportunity for early detection and effective management of any issues involving the urinary tract or reproductive system.

What does a urologist do on a first visit?

On an initial urologist appointment, the urologist typically reviews your full medical history, asks about any urinary or reproductive symptoms you’re experiencing, performs a physical exam of your abdomen and genitals, orders any needed lab tests or imaging, and discusses possible diagnoses and treatment options.

A proper evaluation at the first visit is essential for identifying the cause of your symptoms and developing an effective care plan.

How often should you see a urologist?

For routine urological health maintenance, yearly visits may be recommended starting at age 50.

Those with active conditions like infections, kidney stones, or prostate issues should follow their urologist’s advice on visit frequency, which could range from every few months to a few times per year. Immediate appointments are warranted for any severe or alarming new urinary symptoms.

At what age should you see a urologist?

It’s reasonable to have an initial preventive urology evaluation in your 40s or 50s, earlier if risk factors are present.

Both men and women should have periodic urology check-ups to screen for common conditions like prostate cancer, kidney disorders, urinary incontinence, and more that become more prevalent with age. If urinary symptoms appear at any age, prompt urological assessment is recommended.

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Chance Cook

My primary care physician told me that I need to see a urologist. So I appreciate your step-by-step explanation of what they will do to help me. I have never been before so I didn’t know they’d ask for a urine test before starting and that they’ll focus on my genitourinary system.

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What to Know About Telehealth With a Urologist

  • When to Use

Benefits and Challenges

  • How to Prepare
  • What to Expect

Although telehealth was regarded as a temporary measure to relieve the burden on hospitals and clinics during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic , it is being embraced as a mainstream facet of health care by many medical specialists, including urologists .

Urology is a field well suited for telehealth, with practitioners utilizing it for the complete spectrum of adult and pediatric consultations, preoperative and postoperative evaluations, and routine care for skilled nursing home residents.

With the decision by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to pay for telehealth services at the same rate as in-person visits, telehealth today is regarded as a means to expand access to urologic services safely and effectively—particularly in rural communities, where urologists are historically in short supply.

This allows urologists to remotely treat a broad range of urologic conditions affecting the male and female urinary tracts and male reproductive organs. This includes preliminary assessment of infections, obstructions, incontinence, congenital malformations, traumatic injuries, male sexual dysfunction, and urinary tract cancers .

According to the American Urological Association, roughly 62% of counties in the United States have no urologists, while fewer than one in 10 urologists practice in rural communities.  

When to Use Telehealth With a Urologist

While many aspects of urology require a traditional hands-on examination, there are numerous conditions and phases of treatment that can be managed as effectively with a telehealth consultation.

In some cases, the initial online consultation might precede a hands-on exam, allowing doctors to review symptoms and medical history before ordering next-step procedures. At other times, a urologic condition can be diagnosed and treated entirely online.

A telehealth appointment with a urologist may be appropriate in the following situations:

  • The diagnosis and treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs)
  • The diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED)
  • The routine monitoring of lab results for benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate)
  • The post-treatment monitoring of Peyronie's disease (PD)
  • The management of delayed or premature puberty in boys
  • The monitoring of vesicoureteral reflux (urinary reflux) in infants and children
  • The initial and follow-up consultation for prostatitis (prostate inflammation)
  • The initial consultation for hematuria (blood in the urine)
  • The initial consultation and ongoing management of premature ejaculation , low libido, delayed ejaculation , and other types of male sexual dysfunction
  • The initial consultation and ongoing management of hypogonadism (low testosterone )
  • The initial consultation and ongoing management of male infertility (including the assessment of semen analyses, hormone and genetic tests, post-ejaculation urinalysis , imaging, and potential partner workup)
  • The initial and follow-up consultations for interstitial cystitis (painful bladder syndrome)
  • The initial and follow-up consultations for urinary incontinence
  • The initial and follow-up consultations for overactive bladder (OAB)
  • The initial consultation and follow-up evaluation of kidney stones or bladder stones
  • The initial consultation and follow-up management of varicoceles
  • The initial consultation and post-treatment monitoring of a traumatic injury (such as straddle injuries to the perineum or urethral strictures and bleeding caused by crush injuries)
  • Preoperative and postoperative consultations for vasectomy
  • Preoperative and postoperative consultations for hypospadias , epispadias , and other congenital malformations in males
  • Preoperative and postoperative consultations for bladder , kidney , prostate , or testicular cancer

You Will Need to Be Seen in Person If...

  • You are unable to urinate and have swelling and pain in the lower abdomen (symptoms of acute urinary retention).
  • There is a sudden onset of pain in the scrotum, accompanied by swelling or a lump in a testicle and blood in semen (symptoms of testicular torsion ).
  • You experience a prolonged and painful erection for more than four hours (symptoms of priapism ).
  • You are unable to return your retracted foreskin to its normal position, causing the foreskin and head of the penis to become swollen and painful (symptoms of paraphimosis ).
  • You have severe pain and swelling of the penis, scrotum, or perineum with fever, chills, and foul-smelling tissues (symptoms of Fournier's gangrene ).
  • You have severe flank pain and/or a fever over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, which could represent a kidney stone with blockage and infection.

If experiencing symptoms like these, go to your nearest emergency room, as they are considered urological emergencies.

Telehealth services have their benefits and limitations and may not be appropriate for everyone. In the end, there are times when a telehealth visit is extremely useful and others in which a physical exam is crucial to rendering the correct diagnosis.

Telemedicine is now being used across many urology subspecialties, expanding the reach of a medical practice and the volume of patients a urologist can see.

Among some of the benefits of a telehealth urology visit:

  • Access : Telehealth services can connect residents in underserved communities to consistent, quality urological care.
  • Convenience : Telehealth services offer convenience to people with mobility issues, including those in nursing homes or skilled nursing facilities.
  • Choice : Telehealth services provide people a greater choice of specialists, as providers are less constrained by distance.
  • Information access : Telehealth services increasingly allow patients to review lab tests, scans, and other results with their doctors, satisfying the CMS's requirement for the "meaningful use" of electronic health records .
  • Group participation : Telehealth services allow you to bring family members and others into the online visits, particularly in cases of illness or incapacity.
  • Dual consultation : Some telehealth services enable multiple specialists (such as your urologist and oncologist ) to sit in on a consultation.
  • Less waiting time : Compared with in-office visits, waiting times for telehealth appointments are reduced by around 50%, according to the American Urological Association.
  • Cost : Telemedicine was found to save people an average of $19 to $121 per visit, due largely to the avoidance of emergency room visits.
  • Insurance coverage : Telehealth services are covered in part by Medicare Part B, Medicaid (either in part or full depending on the state), and many private and employer-based health insurance plans.
  • Consultation times : The time spent between a urologist and patient during a telehealth visit is essentially the same as an in-office visit, according to a 2020 review of studies in European Urology .
  • Satisfaction : With the increasing acceptability of telehealth services, the rate of satisfaction is generally on par with that of in-office urologist visits.
  • Impact on care : The completion rate of certain urological treatments, such as prostate cancer treatments , is the same for telehealth patients as for traditional patients.

Audiovisual vs. Audio-Only Telehealth

Telehealth includes both audiovisual and audio-only consultations. With that said, Medicare and Medicaid cover only certain audio-only visits (typically diabetes management , speech therapy , psychotherapy, smoking cessation , alcohol/opioid treatment, and certain prolonged care services).

Call your insurance provider or the Medicare and Medicaid hotline at 800-633-4227 to determine if an audio-only consultation is covered.

Despite the high levels of acceptance among consumers, telehealth services are not without their limitations. This is particularly true in urology, where subtle symptoms often point the doctor in the right direction.

Among some of the things that can undermine a telehealth urology visit:

  • Lack of broadband access : According to data published in the Journal of Law and Medical Ethics, approximately 24 million people in the United States live without broadband access, including 19 million rural Americans and 1.4 million Americans living on Tribal lands.
  • Technical limitations : Even in areas with broadband access, problems with host reliability, outdated hardware, and incompatible software can hinder telehealth service. Even the type of mobile device used can limit interactions due to screen size, volume, or image resolution.
  • Cost : Even if the cost of telehealth is covered by insurance, the costs of acquiring a mobile device and broadband services are not. This places an undue burden on people who are unemployed or have limited incomes.
  • Diagnostic limitations : Many urological conditions require a hands-on examination to feel for masses, swelling, or changes in the size, structure, or texture of an organ. Examples include a digital rectal exam (DRE) for people with enlarged prostate or the palpation of fibrous plaques in people with Peyronie's disease.
  • Missed observations : Providers who rely heavily on telehealth can miss subtle changes, such as the onset of neurological symptoms in people with neurogenic bladder . Some symptoms, such as a full bladder or undescended testicle , can only be detected manually. Without these subtle clues, conditions can be misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated.
  • Liability and malpractice : Not all liability insurers cover telehealth malpractice . It is for this reason that high-risk specialists, like neurosurgeons , less commonly provide telehealth services. Those offered by other specialists tend to treat conditions that are less subject to malpractice suits.

Although certain state regulations were relaxed in response to COVID-19, such as the issuance of waivers for in-state licensing of telehealth providers, it is unclear how long (or if) these measures will last.

State laws pertaining to the prescribing of medications can vary, with some states requiring a hands-on exam before certain drugs can be prescribed. Check the laws in your state before a telehealth visit so that you are aware of any restrictions.

Because urologic telehealth is still in its infancy, the long-term outcomes of care—particularly with respect to cancer and traumatic injuries—have yet to be established when compared with traditional in-person care.

How to Prepare for a Telehealth Visit With a Urologist

Some preparation is needed before scheduling a telehealth visit with a urologist. If you already have a urologist, they will be able to tell you if a telehealth appointment is appropriate for your condition.

If you don't yet have a urologist, you can ask your family doctor , gynecologist , or pediatrician for a referral and request an initial telehealth appointment.

If the urologist does not offer telehealth services, you can use the digital health directory offered by the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) and endorsed by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

Finding a telehealth doctor is only the first step in preparing for an online visit. In addition, you will need to:

  • Compare prices . If you don't have insurance, shop around for the best price and ask the provider if they offer financial assistance, no-interest payment plans, or discounts for upfront payment.
  • Determine what type of visit it will be . Will it be a phone call, a one-on-one video conference, or a Zoom-like consultation with more than one provider? If scans or other files are being shared, for example, you may want to use a laptop or tablet rather than a smartphone.
  • Ask what to expect . The appointment scheduler should be able to walk you through what to expect. If vital signs or lab tests are needed, they will tell you where to get these done. They should also tell you if you are seeing a doctor, nurse practitioner , or some other healthcare professional.
  • Check your Internet connection . If your WiFi at home is spotty, find someplace with a strong connection (like a friend's house) where you can conduct the consultation privately. Avoid public places that not only lack privacy but offer less secure connections.
  • Prepare your space . If the appointment is audiovisual, find a well-lit room that is relatively quiet. Avoid sitting in front of a sunny window, as you will likely be hard to see on the screen.
  • Check your audio . This is especially true if you're using a laptop or tablet and have never done videoconferencing before. Test and adjust the audio settings in advance, and turn up the volume if needed so that you can better hear.
  • Dress for the appointment . If you have a lump you want the doctor to see or a surgical wound that needs to be checked, wear something that is easily removed and replaced.
  • Make a list of questions . Write down any questions you have so you don't forget, as well as a list of symptoms with dates that can aid in the diagnosis.
  • Forward relevant files . If your primary care physician has lab reports, scans, or other information relevant to your appointment, ask that they be forwarded electronically several days in advance. Send only relevant materials, not your complete medical history.
  • Complete your intake forms . You will likely be forwarded intake documents, including informed consent and medical history forms, to fill out in advance of your appointment. Today, most are done via online portals that you can complete on your smartphone or laptop.
  • Prepare contact information . This includes the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of your primary care doctor or pharmacy.

Telehealth providers must comply with the same regulations regarding patient confidentiality outlined in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) . This includes utilizing secure portals to interact and share electronic files.

Will Insurance Cover Telehealth With a Urologist?

Medicare Part B  covers certain telehealth services. With Original Medicare , you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for the doctor or health provider's services, and the deductible applies.

Medicare Advantage Plans may offer more telehealth benefits than Original Medicare. Check your plan to see what telehealth services are offered.

For beneficiaries of Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) , telehealth benefits can vary by state. Even if a state decides to cover telehealth, it may do so only for certain providers. Call your state Medicaid office for information about covered services in your state.

Telehealth benefits for those with private insurance, including employer-sponsored insurance, can also vary. While more private health insurers are offering telehealth benefits for primary or urgent care , they may not do the same for specialists like urologists.

If you have private insurance, check that the telehealth provider is covered, whether they are in-network or out-of-network , and what the copay or coinsurance costs will be.

What Happens During the Visit

At its heart, a urology telehealth visit is the same as an in-office visit, albeit without the means for a physical exam.

Oftentimes, the office will call you shortly in advance of the appointment to confirm that you are ready or to let you know if they are running behind. They may also take prepayment with a credit or debit card.

Just before the meeting is to start, turn off any TVs, radios, or mobile devices that might interrupt the consultation. Let everyone in the house know that you are not to be disturbed. If they are to join you, have them there with you when you begin rather than hunting them down halfway through the appointment.

When it is time for your consultation, the appointment will follow the same basic steps as any other telehealth appointment:

  • Using the link provided by the office, sign in to the secure portal and wait in the virtual "waiting room."
  • The doctor or other healthcare professional will greet you and discuss your concerns, symptoms, and medical history. To streamline the appointment, save your questions for last.
  • If a visual examination is needed, the healthcare professional will walk you through what to do and what they need to see.
  • If lab reports or scans are reviewed, ask what they mean and be sure that they are shared with your primary care provider.
  • Ask any questions you have prepared or have come up with during the consultation. If something is unclear—particularly what a diagnosis means or doesn't mean—do not hesitate to ask.
  • The provider will summarize what was discussed, including any tests, procedures, or treatment plans you have agreed to. If an in-office visit is needed, that will be discussed as well.
  • The provider will confirm what medications, if any, have been prescribed and confirm to which pharmacy the prescription will be sent.
  • If an in-office or follow-up appointment is needed, you will be forwarded to a scheduler. Confirmation of the appointment will be sent by email and/or text.
  • If further tests are needed, a nurse or physician assistant will give you a rundown of what to do and forward instructions by email if needed. Referrals will also be shared if requested.

A Word From Verywell

Telehealth, initially seen as a way to alleviate the burden of COVID-19 on hospitals , is today revolutionizing health care as we know it. It is not only attractive to patients, offering convenience at generally lower costs, but allows specialists like urologists to reach underserved communities and housebound residents.

Even so, telehealth is not a one-size-fits-all substitute for in-office care. If you are experiencing signs of a urological emergency, do not turn to telehealth services. Seek emergency care without delay.  

Gadzinski AJ, Ellimoottil C. Telehealth in urology after the COVID-19 pandemic .  Nat Rev Urol. 2020;17:363-4. doi:10.1038/s41585-020-0336-6

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Medicare telemedicine health care provider fact sheet .

Gettman M, Rhee E, Spitz A, American Urological Association Telemedicine Workgroup. Telemedicine in urology .

Manjunath AS, Hofer MD. Urologic emergencies . Med Clin North Am . 2018 Mar;102(2):373-85. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2017.10.013

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Public health and promoting interoperability programs: introduction .

Kichloo A, Albosta M, Dettloff K, et al. Telemedicine, the current COVID-19 pandemic and the future: a narrative review and perspectives moving forward in the USA . Fam Med Community Health . 2020;8(3):e000530. doi:10.1136/fmch-2020-000530

Medicare.gov. Your Medicare coverage: telehealth .

Novaro G, Checcucci E, Crestani A, et al. Telehealth in urology: a systematic review of the literature. How much can telemedicine be useful during and after the COVID-19 pandemic? Eur Urol . 2020;78(6):786-811. doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2020.06.025

Medicare.gov. Medicare telemedicine health care provider fact sheet .

Crock Bauerly B, McCord RF, Hulkower R, Pepin D. Broadband access as a public health issue: the role of law in expanding broadband access and connecting underserved communities for better health outcomes . J Law Med Ethics . 2019;47(2 Suppl):39-42. doi:10.1177/1073110519857314

Fogel AL, Kvedar JC. Reported cases of medical malpractice in direct-to-consumer telemedicine . JAMA . 2019;2;321(13):1309-10. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.0395

Urology Times. State telemedicine rules relaxed during COVID-19 crisis .

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prescription drug physical examination requirements .

Telehealth.HHS.gov. Finding telehealth options .

Office of Civil Rights/U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. FAQs on telehealth and HIPAA during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency .

Medicare.gov. Telehealth .

Medicaid.gov. Telehealth .

Manjunath AS, Hofer MD. Urologic emergencies . Med Clin North Am . 2018 Mar;102(2):373-85. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2017.10.013

By James Myhre & Dennis Sifris, MD Dennis Sifris, MD, is an HIV specialist and Medical Director of LifeSense Disease Management. James Myhre is an American journalist and HIV educator.

How Much Does a Urologist Visit Cost?

Urologists help diagnose and treat the male and female reproductive system, particularly the kidneys, adrenal glands, urethra, bladder and reproductive organs.  They are also trained in the surgical and medical treatment of diseases that affect these organs.

If you need to visit one soon, you will find the prices will be all over the place, depending on a few factors.

How much does a urologist visit cost?

Without insurance, plan on budgeting anywhere from as little as $200 to as much as $550+ for a simple first-time consultation with a urologist, with the nationwide average at $260.  If you were an established patient, then the costs could be half this amount.   This price, however, will not include other services, if required, such as lab tests or treatment.  The costs will depend on the type of visit, if additional tests are needed, the doctor and geographical location.

Dr. James G. Knight, MD , for example, lists his prices on his official website.  A standard consult can cost $183, whereas a cash discount can bring the costs down to $91 for just the visit.  Other procedures, as he lists on his website, can range anywhere from as little as $3 for a urinalysis to as much as $3.400+ for an extensive prostate surgery.

Urologist visit overview

During a visit, your urologist will almost always request a urine specimen before the consult, and just like any other doctor’s visit, you will also be asked to fill out paperwork regarding your ailment and provide a staff member with a detailed health history.

During the exam, the urologist will concentrate on your genitourinary system and evaluate other systems based on your symptoms.  He or she will also perform a genital exam and digital rectal exam to assess the prostate.  After this exam, depending on his or her findings, they will discuss a treatment plan to determine the root of the issue.  This may include a blood count test, PSA test and/or an imaging scan, all of which won’t be included in the estimates.  These tests will, again, depending on the findings and can greatly vary.

What are the extra costs?

The prices mentioned above only include an initial consultation without any sort of additional testing and are a slim part of the budget if you were to have an ailment.  These prices will not include any medication, scans, surgeries and/or laboratory expenses; therefore, if any additional tests were required, it could add hundreds or even thousands of dollars to the estimates mentioned above.   Popular tests often considered during a visit may include a urinalysis, cystoscopy, uroflowmetry test or biopsy.

In some cases, a urologist may recommend a cystoscopy to examine the bladder and urethra.  This procedure is often done at a third party ambulatory center outside of the urologist office.

How can I save money?

Talk with a urologist over the phone ahead of time to see what they can do for you.  Most offices will be more than happy to give you a ballpark estimate over the phone, and while you don’t want to focus on the price tag, you will want to pay close attention to their reputation, experience and their affiliation with hospitals.

If you have health insurance,  they will more than likely cover just about every procedure a urologist performs as long as it’s medically necessary.  Always talk with your health insurance provider ahead of time to be certain the urologist you’re using is covered by your policy.  For those looking for a new policy, consider browsing through hundreds for free at eHealthInsurance.com .

If you do not have health insurance, you can always ask your Urologist for a discount by paying in either cash or even by a credit card.  Most offices are more than willing to negotiate on the final price.

New York Urology Specialists offers some helpful cost saving advice.  For example, ask for generic medication instead of the name branded alternative.  If at all possible, try to use a non-hospital affiliated outpatient testing center for any lab work.

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Average Reported Cost: $2620

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Does Medicare Cover a Urologist?

Urologists specialize in treatments that focus on the urinary tract, bladder, kidneys, adrenal glands and the male reproductive system. A primary care physician will refer patients to this specialist when their needs indicate specific treatments are required.

Who Should See a Urologist?

Men, women and even children may need the specialized care a urologist offers if they are experiencing acute or chronic conditions that cannot be treated by their primary physician. Some urologists may further specialize their practice to treat age-related issues, the male reproductive system, women’s urological needs or pediatric care.

If your physician has referred you to the services of a urologist, it is likely because you are experiencing issues that exceed the scope of general care. Discuss your needs with your referring physician to determine if your condition requires a urologist with a specific focus to better suit your treatment plan.

What Conditions Do Urologists Treat?

A broad range of medical conditions related to the function of the urinary system and male reproductive organs fall under the scope of a urologist’s practice:

  • Chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs). Although more common in women, anybody can develop a urinary tract infection and certain environmental or medical conditions can cause UTIs to recur frequently. These factors should be examined closely to treat and reduce the number of occurrences.
  • Bladder issues. Age-related incontinence or incontinence caused by other issues with the urinary system, such as a bladder prolapse or bladder cancer, can be treated with medication and, in some cases where it’s appropriate, surgery.
  • Medical conditions involving the kidneys. Renal failure can be fatal if not treated properly. Urologists can help design an effective treatment plan to restore kidney function or perform a kidney transplant.
  • Male reproductive health. Much like a gynecologist who focuses on women’s reproductive health, urologists can focus on the full spectrum of male reproductive health through all stages in life.

Depending on the treatment required for any given issue, a urologist may use diagnostic tests and tools to refine their diagnosis and choose which procedures or prescriptions are necessary for your needs. Urinalysis, or a urine test, is commonly used to check kidney function or to look for the presence of blood or bacteria in the urine stream. An initial physical examination is also common. Imaging tests may be ordered in some cases where diagnosis is not readily apparent.

Medicare Coverage for a Urologist

The circumstances under which you are seen by a urologist may determine which part of your Medicare benefits cover the costs associated with that visit. If you’re seen as an inpatient during a hospital stay, Medicare Part A will apply. If you schedule appointments with a urologist in an outpatient setting, Medicare Part B may help cover the cost of your care and services.

Any deductibles, copays and coinsurance amounts will also factor into your coverage terms and any out-of-pocket expenses you may face. Cost-sharing obligations may also apply to any diagnostic tests and procedures a urologist orders. If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you may need a referral from your primary care physician before you see a urologist or undergo tests or treatment.

Related articles:

Does Medicare Cover Urinary Catheters?  (Opens in a new browser tab)

Does Medicare Cover Annual Wellness Visits? (Opens in a new browser tab)

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How Much is a Urologist Visit without Insurance

If you’re wondering about self-pay rates for a urologist visit, then you’re probably not happy with insurance companies. I don’t blame you at all. They are part of the reason I founded VirtuCare.

Each year they raise your premiums and deductibles, so you’re essentially paying a lot of cash for healthcare anyway. All for the privilege of someone else deciding who you can see for your healthcare.

Doctors are frustrated as well. Each year insurance companies decrease our reimbursement, keeping a little more for themselves and their stockholders. This is in addition to refusing to pay for services we’ve already provided.

Imagine you’re a plumber. You’re called to fix a leaky pipe. You do a great job. The client is happy. But then some 3rd party, who’s responsible for paying you, refuses because you didn’t ask them “permission” (we call these prior authorizations) to render such services! What a mess.

Don’t get me started on the countless hours that our staff members wait on the phone to speak with a human being at these insurance companies. If you’ve ever wondered why you can’t reach anyone at the doctor’s office, it is because all of the staff are on the phone with insurance companies.

Shouldn’t healthcare be primarily about the doctor and the patient? What if patients could see a urologist without insurance? Well you can.

At VirtuCare we’re breaking down all the obstacles to expert medical care. Insurance companies, travel, and long wait times to name a few.

Let’s focus our discussion for the moment on cost. You work hard for your money (or maybe you just shake your tushy on Instagram and are loaded), so allow us to guide you through the costs of seeing a urologist without insurance.

How much is an initial visit to a urologist without insurance?

Almost all urologists are happy to see patients outside of insurance companies. Although I recently came across an academic practice that “doesn’t accept cash patients” (Ummm  . . . OK). The main issue is cost transparency. How much are you going to pay?

Very few medical practices post their in-person initial visit rates on-line. One individual practice last updated their cash pay prices in 2009! I’m not certain their office is in business to say the least.

Probably the best data is from healthcare brokerage sites like MD Save. They have a transparent marketplace that posts the cost of seeing a urologist without insurance.

A search on MD Save shows the average cost for an initial urologist consultation is $140 – $353 across 8 states.

Having practiced for 10+ years across the country, I think this range is pretty representative of cash rates to see a urologist. Are these numbers too high? Too low? Well it depends on where you live and who you ask.

I can’t ask an attorney a question without being charged a couple hundred bucks. My actual plumber makes more money per hour than I do as a “plumber” treating prostate blockages. Plus he doesn’t have to do prostate exams.

Certainly the cost to run a medical practice is higher in Nashville, TN than it is in rural Alabama. You also have to consider the reimbursement rates from insurance contracts (>90% of healthcare is still beholden to this terrible system). If insurance companies aren’t paying the doctor squat, unfortunately they have to make it up somewhere.

Regardless, medical care is expensive. That’s why a urologist telemedicine visit without insurance through VirtuCare is $89 . A nice savings over your other options. Don’t even ask about insurance, because we don’t take it. We are building a direct pay system between you and your doctor.

urologist visit cost with insurance

How much is a follow-up visit to a urologist without insurance?

The cost of a follow-up visit without insurance is even more difficult to know for certain. Test, procedures, and follow up visits can alter pricing significantly. The best data is again on MD Save. Their published “established patient” rates for 7 different offices ranges from $94 – $232.

With VirtuCare you can have as many visits as you like for  . . . $89. We also offer an annual partnership option for $99 which provides:

  • Discounted follow-up visits ($59)
  • Ability to see the same doctor for continuity of care.
  • Messaging capabilities with your doctor for direct access.

Access to expert care, on an on-going basis. Now we’re making some progress!

How much is a urologist surgery without insurance?

Here’s where things start launching into the next stratosphere. As surgeons, urologists perform invasive procedures. This ranges from a no-needle, no-scalpel vasectomy to a complete removal of your bladder with reconstruction.

Some of these procedures require very expensive toys. Lasers, scopes and robots cost hospitals tens of thousands to millions of dollars. This doesn’t include the cost of disposable components. Keep this in mind as you see the prices below.

As you can imagine, the cost of these procedures can vary greatly. In addition to the type of procedure, you have to consider WHERE the procedure is being performed. Anything beyond local anesthesia (with the exception of “laughing gas” in the office) is going to cost in the thousands of dollars. Surgery centers and hospitals are EXPENSIVE.

Now let’s look at some numbers. Here are some published rates for various procedures and locations (some costs are approximated):

  • Office cystoscopy (MD Save ) $277 – $522
  • Office vasectomy (MD Save) $532 – $748
  • Surgery center cystoscopy (various sources) $2500 – $4000
  • Surgery center kidney stone removal (various sources) $3500 – $8000
  • Hospital robotic prostate cancer surgery (various sources) $18,000 – $20,000

That’s a lot of zeros. However, now you can plan.

One trendsetter in transparent pricing is the Surgery Center of Oklahoma. They have been “posting prices since 2009” and are the model of a direct pay system. You can go to their website and easily cost compare to your local options.

Conclusions: Urologist Visit without Insurance

There is no doubt that healthcare costs are staggering. But at least we are starting to have some transparency in our healthcare costs. Don’t worry, insurance companies have transparency as well . . . like UnitedHealth having made $4.9 BILLION in the first quarter of 2021 as well.

Take a moment to let that sink in. Almost $5 billion dollars in profit, over just 3 months. You can guess where the money is coming from.

VirtuCare is different. We put the patient and physician first. You deserve transparent affordable pricing. My colleagues deserve to be paid directly and 100% of the time for their expertise.

We can’t treat everything with telemedicine, but what we can treat, we treat exceptionally well. If you require an in-person evaluation, then we’ll do our best to find you a trusted colleague, ideally with transparent cash fees.

That sounds like progress . . . doesn’t it?

Dr. Joe Pazona

We’re here to help..

At VirtuCare, we believe that patients deserve direct access to the experts. There should be no gatekeeper standing between you and a healthcare specialist. VirtuCare puts you in control.

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How Much is a Urologist Visit without Insurance

Stethoscope sitting on medical billing statement next to a calculator

If you’re wondering about self-pay rates for a urologist visit, then you’re probably not happy with insurance companies. I don’t blame you at all.

Each year they raise your premiums and deductibles, so you're essentially paying a lot of cash for healthcare anyway. All for the privilege of someone else deciding who you can see for your healthcare. 

Doctors are frustrated as well. Each year insurance companies decrease our reimbursement, keeping a little more for themselves and their stockholders. This is in addition to refusing to pay for services we’ve already provided. 

Imagine you’re a plumber. You’re called to fix a leaky pipe. You do a great job. The client is happy. But then some 3rd party, who’s responsible for paying you, refuses because you didn’t ask them “permission” (we call these prior authorizations) to render such services! What a mess.

Don’t get me started on the countless hours that our staff members wait on the phone to speak with a human being at these insurance companies. If you’ve ever wondered why you can't reach anyone at the doctor’s office, it is because all of the staff are on the phone with insurance companies.

Shouldn’t healthcare be primarily about the doctor and the patient? What if patients could see a urologist without insurance? Well you can.

At Pazona MD Urology we’re breaking down all the obstacles to expert medical care. Insurance companies, travel, and long wait times to name a few. 

Let’s focus our discussion for the moment on cost. You work hard for your money (or maybe you just shake your tushy on Instagram and are loaded), so allow us to guide you through the costs of seeing a urologist without insurance.

How much is an initial visit to a urologist without insurance?

Almost all urologists are happy to see patients outside of insurance companies. Although I recently came across an academic practice that “doesn’t accept cash patients” (Ummm  . . . OK). The main issue is cost transparency. How much are you going to pay?

Probably the best data is from healthcare brokerage sites like MD Save. They have a transparent marketplace that posts the cost of seeing a urologist without insurance.

A search on MD Save shows the average cost for an initial urologist consultation is $140 - $353 across 8 states.

I can’t ask an attorney a question without being charged a couple hundred bucks. My actual plumber makes more money per hour than I do as a “plumber” treating prostate blockages. Plus he doesn’t have to do prostate exams.

Certainly the cost to run a medical practice is higher in Nashville, TN than it is in rural Alabama. You also have to consider the reimbursement rates from insurance contracts (>90% of healthcare is still beholden to this terrible system). If insurance companies aren’t paying the doctor squat, unfortunately they have to make it up somewhere.

Regardless, medical care is expensive. That’s why a urologist telemedicine visit without insurance through Pazona MD is $150. A great value to see a provider with Nashville’s top urology practice (over 600 five-star reviews on Google) from the comfort of your home.

How much is a urologist surgery without insurance?

Here’s where things start launching into the next stratosphere. As surgeons, urologists perform invasive procedures. This ranges from a no-needle, no-scalpel vasectomy  to a complete removal of your bladder with reconstruction.

Some of these procedures require very expensive toys. Lasers, scopes and robots cost hospitals tens of thousands to millions of dollars. This doesn’t include the cost of disposable components. Keep this in mind as you see the prices below.

Now let’s look at some numbers. Here are some published rates for various procedures and locations (some costs are approximated):

  • Office cystoscopy (MD Save) $277 - $522
  • Office vasectomy (MD Save) $532 - $748
  • Surgery center cystoscopy (various sources) $2500 - $4000
  • Surgery center kidney stone removal (various sources) $3500 - $8000
  • Hospital robotic prostate cancer surgery (various sources) $18,000 - $20,000

That’s a lot of zeros. However, now you can plan.

One trendsetter in transparent pricing is the Surgery Center of Oklahoma . They have been “posting prices since 2009” and are the model of a direct pay system. You can go to their website and easily cost compare to your local options

Conclusions: Urologist Visit without Insurance

There is no doubt that healthcare costs are staggering. But at least we are starting to have some transparency in our healthcare costs. Don’t worry, insurance companies have transparency as well . . . like UnitedHealth having made $4.9 BILLION in the first quarter of 2021 as well. 

Take a moment to let that sink in. Almost $5 billion dollars in profit, over just 3 months. You can guess where the money is coming from.

Pazona MD Urology is different. We put the patient and physician first. You deserve transparent affordable pricing. Physicians deserve to be paid directly and 100% of the time for their expertise.

We can’t treat everything with telemedicine, but what we can treat, we treat exceptionally well. If you require an in-person evaluation, then we’ll do our best to find you a trusted colleague, ideally with transparent cash fees.

That sounds like progress . . . doesn’t it?

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Chevrolet Bolts on an assembly line.

Automakers Are Sharing Consumers’ Driving Behavior With Insurance Companies

LexisNexis, which generates consumer risk profiles for the insurers, knew about every trip G.M. drivers had taken in their cars, including when they sped, braked too hard or accelerated rapidly.

Some drivers of General Motors cars, like these Chevrolet Bolts, may not realize that their driving data is being shared with insurance companies. Credit... Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

Supported by

Kashmir Hill

By Kashmir Hill

Kashmir Hill has been writing about technology and privacy for more than a decade.

  • Published March 11, 2024 Updated March 13, 2024, 5:48 p.m. ET

Kenn Dahl says he has always been a careful driver. The owner of a software company near Seattle, he drives a leased Chevrolet Bolt. He’s never been responsible for an accident.

So Mr. Dahl, 65, was surprised in 2022 when the cost of his car insurance jumped by 21 percent. Quotes from other insurance companies were also high. One insurance agent told him his LexisNexis report was a factor.

LexisNexis is a New York-based global data broker with a “Risk Solutions” division that caters to the auto insurance industry and has traditionally kept tabs on car accidents and tickets. Upon Mr. Dahl’s request, LexisNexis sent him a 258-page “ consumer disclosure report ,” which it must provide per the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

What it contained stunned him: more than 130 pages detailing each time he or his wife had driven the Bolt over the previous six months. It included the dates of 640 trips, their start and end times, the distance driven and an accounting of any speeding, hard braking or sharp accelerations. The only thing it didn’t have is where they had driven the car.

On a Thursday morning in June for example, the car had been driven 7.33 miles in 18 minutes; there had been two rapid accelerations and two incidents of hard braking.

According to the report, the trip details had been provided by General Motors — the manufacturer of the Chevy Bolt. LexisNexis analyzed that driving data to create a risk score “for insurers to use as one factor of many to create more personalized insurance coverage,” according to a LexisNexis spokesman, Dean Carney. Eight insurance companies had requested information about Mr. Dahl from LexisNexis over the previous month.

“It felt like a betrayal,” Mr. Dahl said. “They’re taking information that I didn’t realize was going to be shared and screwing with our insurance.”

The General Motors headquarters, several connected glass buildings that tower over a nearby street.

In recent years, insurance companies have offered incentives to people who install dongles in their cars or download smartphone apps that monitor their driving, including how much they drive, how fast they take corners, how hard they hit the brakes and whether they speed. But “drivers are historically reluctant to participate in these programs,” as Ford Motor put it in a patent application that describes what is happening instead: Car companies are collecting information directly from internet-connected vehicles for use by the insurance industry.

Sometimes this is happening with a driver’s awareness and consent. Car companies have established relationships with insurance companies, so that if drivers want to sign up for what’s called usage-based insurance — where rates are set based on monitoring of their driving habits — it’s easy to collect that data wirelessly from their cars.

But in other instances, something much sneakier has happened. Modern cars are internet-enabled, allowing access to services like navigation, roadside assistance and car apps that drivers can connect to their vehicles to locate them or unlock them remotely. In recent years, automakers, including G.M., Honda, Kia and Hyundai, have started offering optional features in their connected-car apps that rate people’s driving. Some drivers may not realize that, if they turn on these features, the car companies then give information about how they drive to data brokers like LexisNexis.

Automakers and data brokers that have partnered to collect detailed driving data from millions of Americans say they have drivers’ permission to do so. But the existence of these partnerships is nearly invisible to drivers, whose consent is obtained in fine print and murky privacy policies that few read.

Especially troubling is that some drivers with vehicles made by G.M. say they were tracked even when they did not turn on the feature — called OnStar Smart Driver — and that their insurance rates went up as a result.

“GM’s OnStar Smart Driver service is optional to customers,” a G.M. spokeswoman, Malorie Lucich, said. “Customer benefits include learning more about their safe driving behaviors or vehicle performance that, with their consent, may be used to obtain insurance quotes. Customers can also unenroll from Smart Driver at any time.”

Even for those who opt in, the risks are far from clear. I have a G.M. car, a Chevrolet. I went through the enrollment process for Smart Driver; there was no warning or prominent disclosure that any third party would get access to my driving data.

“I am surprised,” said Frank Pasquale, a law professor at Cornell University. “Because it’s not within the reasonable expectation of the average consumer, it should certainly be an industry practice to prominently disclose that is happening.”

Policymakers have expressed concern about the collection of sensitive information from consumers’ cars. California’s privacy regulator is currently investigating automakers’ data collection practices. Last month, Senator Edward Markey of Massachusetts also urged the Federal Trade Commission to investigate.

“The ‘internet of things’ is really intruding into the lives of all Americans,” Senator Markey said in an interview. “If there is now a collusion between automakers and insurance companies using data collected from an unknowing car owner that then raises their insurance rates, that’s, from my perspective, a potential per se violation of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act.”

That is the federal law that prohibits unfair and deceptive business practices that harm consumers.

‘Smart Driver’

Mr. Dahl shared his experience on an online forum for Chevy Bolt enthusiasts, on a thread where other people expressed shock to find that LexisNexis had their driving data. Warnings about the tracking are scattered across online discussion boards dedicated to vehicles manufactured by G.M. — including Corvettes, a sports car designed for racking up “acceleration events.” (One driver lamented having data collected during a “track day,” while testing out the Corvette’s limits on a professional racetrack.)

Numerous people on the forums complained about spiking premiums as a result. A Cadillac driver in Palm Beach County, Fla., who asked not to be named because he is considering a lawsuit against G.M., said he was denied auto insurance by seven companies in December. When he asked an agent why, she advised him to pull his LexisNexis report. He discovered six months of his driving activity, including many instances of hard braking and hard accelerating, as well as some speeding.

“I don’t know the definition of hard brake. My passenger’s head isn’t hitting the dash,” he said. “Same with acceleration. I’m not peeling out. I’m not sure how the car defines that. I don’t feel I’m driving aggressively or dangerously.”

When he finally obtained car insurance, through a private broker, it was double what he had previously been paying.

The Cadillac owner, Mr. Dahl and the drivers on the forums had all been enrolled in OnStar Smart Driver. OnStar is G.M.’s Internet-connected service for its cars and Smart Driver is a free, gamified feature within G.M.’s connected car apps (all part of OnStar, but branded MyChevrolet, MyBuick, MyGMC and MyCadillac).

Smart Driver can “help you become a better driver,” according to a corporate website , by tracking and rating seatbelt use and driving habits. In a recent promotional campaign, an Instagram influencer used Smart Driver in a competition with her husband to find out who could collect the most digital badges, such as “brake genius” and “limit hero.”

In response to questions from The New York Times, G.M. confirmed that it shares “select insights” about hard braking, hard accelerating, speeding over 80 miles an hour and drive time of Smart Driver enrollees with LexisNexis and another data broker that works with the insurance industry called Verisk.

Customers turn on Smart Driver, said Ms. Lucich, the G.M. spokeswoman, “at the time of purchase or through their vehicle mobile app.” It is possible that G.M. drivers who insisted they didn’t opt in were unknowingly signed up at the dealership, where salespeople can receive bonuses for successful enrollment of customers in OnStar services, including Smart Driver, according to a company manual .

The Cadillac owner in Florida said he had not heard of Smart Driver and never noticed it in the MyCadillac app. He reviewed the paperwork he signed at the dealership when he bought his Cadillac in the fall of 2021 and found no mention of signing up for it.

“When a customer accepts the user terms and privacy statement (which are separately reviewed in the enrollment flow), they consent to sharing their data with third parties,” Ms. Lucich wrote in an email, pointing to OnStar’s privacy statement .

But that statement’s section on “third-party business relationships” does not mention Smart Driver. It names SiriusXM as a company G.M. might share data with, not LexisNexis Risk Solutions, which G.M. has partnered with since 2019 .

Jen Caltrider, a researcher at Mozilla who reviewed the privacy policies for more than 25 car brands last year, said that drivers have little idea about what they are consenting to when it comes to data collection. She said it is “impossible for consumers to try and understand” the legalese-filled policies for car companies, their connected services and their apps. She called cars “a privacy nightmare.”

“The car companies are really good at trying to link these features to safety and say they are all about safety,” Ms. Caltrider said. “They’re about making money.”

Neither the car companies nor the data brokers deny that they are engaged in this practice, though automakers say the main purpose of their driver feedback programs is to help people develop safer driving habits.

After LexisNexis and Verisk get data from consumers’ cars, they sell information about how people are driving to insurance companies. To access it, the insurance companies must get consent from the drivers — say, when they go out shopping for car insurance and sign off on boilerplate language that gives insurance companies the right to pull third-party reports. (Insurance companies commonly ask for access to a consumer’s credit or risk reports, though they are barred from doing so in California, Massachusetts, Michigan and Hawaii.)

An employee familiar with G.M.’s Smart Driver said the company’s annual revenue from the program is in the low millions of dollars.

LexisNexis Risk Solutions, which retains consumers’ driving data for six months, has “strict privacy and security policies designed to ensure that data is not accessed or used impermissibly,” the company said in a statement.

Verisk provides insurers with trip data and a risk score “approved by insurance regulators in 46 states and the District of Columbia,” said a spokeswoman, Amy Ebenstein. Automakers that Verisk gets data from “provide their customers notice and obtain appropriate consents,” she said.

Some drivers who had Smart Driver turned on, though, said they did not even realize they were enrolled until they saw warnings on online forums and then checked their app. They quickly unenrolled themselves by turning off Smart Driver in their car app.

Omri Ben-Shahar, a law professor at the University of Chicago, said he was in favor of usage-based insurance — where insurers monitor mileage and driving habits to determine premiums — because people who are knowingly monitored are better drivers. “People drive differently,” he said. “The impact on safety is enormous.”

But he was troubled, he said, by “stealth enrollment” in programs with “surprising and potentially injurious” data collection. There is no public safety benefit if people don’t know that how they drive will affect how much they pay for insurance.

‘Real-World Driving Behavior’

General Motors is not the only automaker sharing driving behavior. Kia, Subaru and Mitsubishi also contribute to the LexisNexis “ Telematics Exchange ,” a “portal for sharing consumer-approved connected car data with insurers.” As of 2022, the exchange, according to a LexisNexis news release , has “real-world driving behavior” collected “from over 10 million vehicles.”

Verisk also claims to have access to data from millions of vehicles and partnerships with major automakers, including Ford, Honda and Hyundai.

Two of these automakers said they were not sharing data or only limited data. Subaru shares odometer data with LexisNexis for Subaru customers who turn on Starlink and authorize that data be shared “when shopping for auto insurance,” said a spokesman, Dominick Infante.

Ford “does not transmit any connected vehicle data to either partner,” said a spokesman, Alan Hall, but partnered with them “to explore ways to support customers” who want to take part in usage-based insurance programs. Ford will share driving behavior from a car directly with an insurance company, he said, when a customer gives explicit consent via an in-vehicle touch screen.

The other automakers all have optional driver-coaching features in their apps — Kia , Mitsubishi and Hyundai have “Driving Score,” while Honda and Acura have “Driver Feedback” — that, when turned on, collect information about people’s mileage, speed, braking and acceleration that is then shared with LexisNexis or Verisk, the companies said in response to questions from The New York Times.

But that would not be evident or obvious to drivers using these features. In fact, before a Honda owner activates Driver Feedback, a screen titled “Respect for your Privacy” assures drivers that “your data will never be shared without your consent.” But it is shared — with Verisk, a fact disclosed in a more than 2,000-word “terms and conditions” screen that a driver needs to click “accept” on. (Honda does mention Verisk in an FAQ on its website and Kia highlights its relationship with LexisNexis Risk Solutions on its website . A Kia spokesman said LexisNexis can’t share driving score data of Kia participants with insurers without additional consent.)

Drivers who have realized what is happening are not happy. The Palm Beach Cadillac owner said he would never buy another car from G.M. He is planning to sell his Cadillac.

How to Find Out What Your Car Is Doing

See the data your car is capable of collecting with this tool: https://vehicleprivacyreport.com/ .

Check your connected car app, if you use one, to see if you are enrolled in one of these programs.

Do an online search for “privacy request form” alongside the name of your vehicle’s manufacturer. There should be instructions on how to request information your car company has about you.

Request your LexisNexis report: https://consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com/consumer

Request your Verisk report: https://fcra.verisk.com/#/

Find something interesting, or know more about this? Contact me at [email protected].

Susan C. Beachy contributed research.

An earlier version of this article referred imprecisely to Honda’s disclosure of its relationship with Verisk, the data broker. That relationship is described in an FAQ on Honda’s website.

How we handle corrections

Kashmir Hill writes about technology and how it is changing people’s everyday lives with a particular focus on privacy. She has been covering technology for more than a decade. More about Kashmir Hill

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The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20500

FACT SHEET: President   Biden Announces Plan to Lower Housing Costs for Working   Families

Building and preserving over 2 million new homes to lower rents and the cost of buying a home

President Biden believes housing costs are too high, and significant investments are needed to address the large shortage of affordable homes inherited from his predecessor and that has been growing for more than a decade. During his State of the Union Address, President Biden will call on Congressional Republicans to end years of inaction and pass legislation to lower costs by providing a $10,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers and people who sell their starter homes; build and renovate more than 2 million homes; and lower rental costs.  President Biden also announced new steps to lower homebuying and refinancing closing costs and crack down on corporate actions that rip off renters.

We are starting to see some progress. More housing units are under construction right now than at any time in the last 50 years, rents have fallen over the last year in many places, and the homeownership rate is higher now than before the pandemic. But rent is still too high, and Americans who want to buy a home still have difficulty finding one they can afford. That is why President Biden has a landmark plan to build over 2 million homes, which will lower rents, make houses more affordable, and promote fair housing.

Lowering Costs of Homeownership For many Americans, owning a home is the cornerstone of raising a family, building wealth, and joining the middle class. Too many working families feel locked out of homeownership and are unable to compete with investors for a limited supply of affordable for-sale homes. President Biden is calling on Congress to enact legislation to enable more Americans to purchase a home, including:

  • Mortgage Relief Credit. President Biden is calling on Congress to pass a mortgage relief credit that would provide middle-class first-time homebuyers with an annual tax credit of $5,000 a year for two years. This is the equivalent of reducing the mortgage rate by more than 1.5 percentage points for two years on the median home, and will help more than 3.5 million middle-class families purchase their first home over the next two years. The President’s plan also calls for a new credit to unlock inventory of affordable starter homes, while helping middle-class families move up the housing ladder and empty nesters right size. Many homeowners have lower rates on their mortgages than current rates. This “lock-in” effect makes homeowners more reluctant to sell and give up that low rate, even in circumstances where their current homes no longer fit their household needs. The President is calling on Congress to provide a one-year tax credit of up to $10,000 to middle-class families who sell their starter home, defined as homes below the area median home price in the county, to another owner-occupant. This proposal is estimated to help nearly 3 million families.
  • Down Payment Assistance for First-Generation Homeowners. The President continues to call on Congress to provide up to $25,000 in down payment assistance to first-generation homebuyers whose families haven’t benefited from the generational wealth building associated with homeownership. This proposal is estimated to help 400,000 families purchase their first home.

The President isn’t waiting for Congress to lower costs for homebuyers and homeowners. Last year, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reduced the mortgage insurance premium for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgages, saving an estimated 850,000 homebuyers and homeowners an estimated $800 per year. And today, the President is announcing new actions to lower the closing costs associated with buying a home or refinancing a mortgage.

  • Lowering Closing Costs for Refinancing. The Federal Housing Finance Agency has approved policies and pilots to reduce closing costs for homeowners, including a pilot to waive the requirement for lender’s title insurance on certain refinances. This would save thousands of homeowners up to $1500, and an average of $750, and the lower upfront fees will unlock substantial savings for homeowners as mortgage rates continue to fall and more homeowners are able to refinance. According to independent analysis , across the market title insurance typically pays out only 3% to 5% of premiums in claims to consumers, compared to more than 70% in other types of insurance. Homeowners can still purchase their own title insurance policies if they choose to do so.
  • Lowering Closing Costs for Home Mortgages. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will pursue rulemaking and guidance to address anticompetitive closing costs imposed by lenders on homebuyers and homeowners.  These charges—which benefit the lender but not the borrower—can add thousands to the upfront costs of a mortgage.  Those upfront costs cut into the amount of homebuyers’ down payments and reduce homeowners’ available equity.

In the coming months, the Department of Treasury’s Federal Insurance Office will convene a roundtable of relevant industry stakeholders, including consumer advocates and academics, in order to discuss the title insurance industry and analyze potential reforms. Building on today’s announcements, President Biden is calling on federal agencies to take all available actions to lower costs for consumers at the closing table and help more Americans access homeownership.

Lowering Costs by Building and Preserving 2 Million Homes America needs to build more housing in order to lower rental costs and increase access to homeownership. That’s why the President is calling on Congress to pass legislation to build and renovate more than 2 million homes , which would close the housing supply gap and lower housing costs for renters and homeowners. This legislation would build on executive actions in the Biden-Harris Administration’s Housing Supply Action Plan that contributed to record housing construction last year.

  • Tax Credits to Build More Housing. President Biden is calling for an expansion of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit to build or preserve 1.2 million more affordable rental units. Renters living in these properties save hundreds of dollars each month on their rent compared with renters with similar incomes who rent in the unsubsidized market. The President is also calling for a new Neighborhood Homes Tax Credit, the first tax provision to build or renovate affordable homes for homeownership, which would lead to the construction or preservation of over 400,000 starter homes in communities throughout the country.
  • Innovation Fund for Housing Expansion. The President is unveiling a new $20 billion competitive grant fund as part of his Budget to support communities across the country to build more housing and lower rents and homebuying costs. This fund would support the construction of affordable multifamily rental units; incentivize local actions to remove unnecessary barriers to housing development; pilot innovative models to increase the production of affordable and workforce rental housing; and spur the construction of new starter homes for middle-class families. According to independent analysis, this will create hundreds of thousands of units which will help lower rents and housing costs.
  • Increasing Banks’ Contributions Towards Building Affordable Housing. The President is proposing that each Federal Home Loan Bank double its annual contribution to the Affordable Housing Program – from 10 percent of prior year net income to 20 percent – which will raise an additional $3.79 billion for affordable housing over the next decade and assist nearly 380,0000 households. These funds will support the financing, acquisition, construction, and rehabilitation of affordable rental and for-sale homes, as well as help low- and moderate-income homeowners to purchase or rehabilitate homes.

Lowering Costs for Renters President Biden is also taking actions to lower costs and promote housing stability for renters. The White House Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights lays out the key principles of a fair rental market and has already catalyzed new federal actions to make those principles a reality. Today, President Biden is announcing new steps to crack down on unfair practices that are driving up rental costs:

  • Fighting Rent Gouging by Corporate Landlords . The Biden-Harris Administration is taking action to combat egregious rent increases and other unfair practices that are driving up rents. Corporate landlords and private equity firms across the country have been accused of illegal information sharing, price fixing, and inflating rents. As part of the Strike Force on Unfair and Illegal Pricing announced by President Biden on Tuesday, the President is calling on federal agencies to root out and stop illegal corporate behavior that hikes prices on American families through anti-competitive, unfair, deceptive, or fraudulent business practices. In a recent filing , the Department of Justice (DOJ) made clear its position that inflated rents caused by algorithmic use of sensitive nonpublic pricing and supply information violate antitrust laws. Earlier this month, the Federal Trade Commission and DOJ filed a joint brief further arguing that it is illegal for landlords and property managers to collude on pricing to inflate rents – including when using algorithms to do so.
  • Cracking Down on Rental Junk Fees . Millions of families incur burdensome costs in the rental application process and throughout the duration of their lease, from “convenience fees” simply to pay rent online to fees charged to sort mail or collect trash. These fees are often more than the actual cost of providing the service, or are added onto rents to cover services that renters assume are included—or that they don’t even want. Last fall, the FTC proposed a rule that if finalized as proposed would ban misleading and hidden fees across the economy, including in housing rental agreements. Last month, HUD released a  summary of banned non-rent fees within their rental assistance programs. These actions build on voluntary commitments the President announced last summer from major rental housing platforms to provide customers with the total, upfront cost on rental properties on their platform.
  • Expanding Housing Choice Vouchers . Over the last three years, the Administration has secured rental assistance for more than 100,000 additional households. The President is calling on Congress to further expand rental assistance to more than half of a million households, including by providing a voucher guarantee for low-income veterans and youth aging out of foster care – the first such voucher guarantees in history. Receiving a voucher would save these households hundreds of dollars in rent each month.

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