Quote:


Don't pay the bill for now. Make them work for it and do not use a credit card.  Let these people know that you have some serious questions about it.  Pay up if you have to but do it at your own speed. So long as you send something every month, they can't do much about it.  I've written to several doctors out of town over the years after getting surprise bills from them when I have no idea who or what they are. I tell them that I don't pay for some neurologist to stick his head in the door to remind me that I have epilepsy when I'm hospitalized for a TIA attack. He and others gave up on me.

Anyway, I wrote letters to more than one facility over the years.....including by the way, the creep doctor in Dallas that sent me a bill for $150 for calling my doctor here so he could write me a presciption for the pills that were lost in my luggage on the way to the 2005 CH convention...I think. I sent him a letter explaining what I though about it and a check for $20 telling that I thought it would cover a phone call and that for most of my life, doctors have been glad to help out out a visitor from out of town. It seemed to work as I haven't heard from him in four years. I have no shame whatsoever dealing with them. It's we who are on the shitty end of this system.

As for pre-existing conditions and the like, it gets worse every day. Insurers like to down-code all the time which means that they spend a lot of money looking for ways to eliminate the number of  procedures that cost them money rather than help out those that have paid into the system all these years.

I'm very sorry about all your troubles and hope that you get some better news from the system and of course about your health.

Stick around.

Charlie (I do go on, don't I?  )

Thank you Charlie...that gives me the energy and determination boost I needed!!

Carolyn.....what an excellent website...just learned a WHOLE LOT
I needed to know...thank you!!

Best,

Jon

   Have you ever been in the armed forces? You have some pretty good resources there if you were. Feel free to contact me if you want.

jon019 wrote on Aug 7^th, 2009 at 10:46pm:


You may have to work with your doctors on this. While many assume that people with insurance are entitled to medically appropriate treatment, that is not true. You are only entitled to medically appropriate care that your insurance company will approve, unless you are willing to pay out of pocket.  You didn't say why they denied 50% of the bill outright - is there a high limitation (cap on copay and deductibles)?? 

Is there another treatment that is also considered effective, that your insurance company will cover?  Talk to your doctor.   I have had a doctor write prescriptions that are not really covered, when another effective medicine is.  I have also had my doctor order tests that are not covered ... I had to ask him to be more considerate and check first.

Would a call from your doctor to the insurance company explaining the situation make a difference? Maybe.  Talk to your doctor. 

Ideally, one would not have to talk to one's doctor about these logistical matters ... but we do.  The doc may have other ideas, and if he/she doesn't understand the financial/insurance picture, it may cost more.

Hello All,

Treading carefully here....ch.com is not a "jon blog" and I have no intention of turning it into such...we all got problems...

The following is an update, and some parts may be helpful to someone else...

Re the Ins Co and the PET/CT scan...it's ALMOST funny...they sent me DUPLICATE letters asking for "further" information...most of what they are asking for has NOTHING to do with the procedure or condition. It is obvious to me they are stalling and hunting for something, anything, that will allow them to deny payment. Won't work... if nothing else, ch has given me a determination and a resolve to fight the heartless bastards....

Re the hospital WRONG billing (and I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that hospital billing departments are in league with the same devil as insurance companies)...Bear with me, it is instructive.

The first person I called was an idiot...plain and simple,
and no help at all..."this is YOUR problem sir" Said I had to call the Doctor...and "nope, no idea what his number is" (their own friggin hospital!)

Figuring bad luck of the draw I tried again...the second person was clueless, polite but lame...said I had to call the clinic where the procedure was performed...

Called them.. oh my, she was rude (heavy sighs), obnoxious (and ,and, AND???), dismissive (I cannot help you SUHR!!!)....wouldn't have peed on me if I was on fire...actually kept her on the line just for the enjoyment of tormenting a soulless robot (hey, ya gotta find your fun somewhere!).

Well, I have to admit to being a little slow...but I finally got the msg. Tracked down the actual dept where the procedure was performed (surprisngly difficult, they don't wanna talk to you!). The lady there referred me back to the jerk above, but DID say, call back if you have any problems. I waited a day and called back...she was understanding (after I spilled my guts)... and FINALLY I had the name and number of the ACTUAL person who coded this bill.

Called and left a msg.....a week later and he didn't call back...SO I DID! Surprise, surprise, SURPRISE!... a REAL person. He was funny, he was understanding, he was helpful, damitol...he was a CUSTOMER SERVICE professional. Told me more than his bosses would EVER approve, said yes, they made a mistake, said it is a common occurence, said it has happened to HIM, in his own facility!, said he would FIX IT...and he DID (at least I'm trusting such)...

My advice..."Never, never, never, never give up" W. Churchill.

You all are the wind beneath my wings...that I will NEVER forget...

BTW, I DID prepare a "dispute" letter...it's all ready for the next time...just didn't think it would have ANY effect on these knotheads, based on their response...and I didn't want my credit rating sullied in the meantime...

Later,

Love,

Jon

Good for you Jon!! Fighting an incorrect billing code is a b*tch, and especially stressful in your case.
(I will take some pointers for myself, as I am in the middle of fighting a billing code... but the hospital has since closed down  so it's even harder if that's possible.)

Keep doing what you're doing, stay positive, and with prayers and diligence, hopefully this will all streamline down your road to wellness.  Thanks for the update!

Pepp