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So to be vage, I had a simple medical procedure done at a medical center. I called my insurance before hand and they advised the doctor's codes for the procedure would run about $800. To my shock, I recieved multiple bills for this. One from the medical center, one from the doctor, one from the lab tech, one from the anistesiologost, etc. The total was over $5000. Each has their own payment plans and stupid crap.
So my question is this, is there any way to get treatment where you don't get 5-6 bills for a single dang procedure?
Or qualify for Medicare and have some of the Advantage plans. Mom got one bill for 5 days in the hospital that covered everything.
Or be able to join a huge insurance group that does everything electronically so they all coordinate.
BIG POINT-
Dont ever pay the first bills received from any health care provider without your insurance "reconciliation". The insurance plan will tell you how much the negotiated rate is and how much is your responsibility. Some plans get the info from the providers and some small ones have you turn in the bills. Do not know anything about your plan.
ANOTHER BIG POINT-
My husband got a $3,000 bill from a colonoscopy that his insurance company said he owed. Turns out they allowed everything but the operating room. Took a phone call and quite a discussion for them to see the mistake and it was very obvious. So it is a big responsiblity to check over all the bills. I really wish for single payer.
You are learning. I'm sorry. I know it can be hard, especially when radiology and anesthesia are more expensive than hospital's bill. It is just how things work everywhere in US. Can be even WORSE if your anesthesia or radiologist is not one of your preferred providers. It can make the bill from that Dr $25k+ since your health insurance won't receive the customary discount.
I only got one bill when I went to the ER last year. My son's knee surgery generated all kinds of bills. You have some sort of deductible and co-payment. Don't freak out yet, and talk to someone at the insurance company. It may not be as bad as you think.
That's one big advantage of something like Kaiser. For the more routine stuff, everything is in-house. Now, if you ever need to see an obscure specialist or someone at the forefront of their field, then Kaiser sucks. That's pretty much UCDM and Stanford Hospital in most cases around here, neither of which will be in-network with Kaiser. They'll keep you in-network even when they can't provide the best quality of care. So that's the trade-off.
So to be vage, I had a simple medical procedure done at a medical center. I called my insurance before hand and they advised the doctor's codes for the procedure would run about $800. To my shock, I recieved multiple bills for this. One from the medical center, one from the doctor, one from the lab tech, one from the anistesiologost, etc. The total was over $5000. Each has their own payment plans and stupid crap.
So my question is this, is there any way to get treatment where you don't get 5-6 bills for a single dang procedure?
You got a bill for each person that assisted with your procedure. In most cases, each of those specialists are not employed by the medical facility you use, but are employed by another entity and that entity does the billing. Your MD may be an employee of that facility and then the rest just have privileges. Outside of an HMO, this is standard procedure.
So, you got the doctor's codes for the procedure, meaning the MD that performed the actual procedurle, but did you ask about he ancillary care you would also get, anesthesia, facility fees (to use the OR or whatever), etc. What was your dr's bill for that part of your procedure--is it inline with what the insurance company paid?
So to be vage, I had a simple medical procedure done at a medical center. I called my insurance before hand and they advised the doctor's codes for the procedure would run about $800. To my shock, I recieved multiple bills for this. One from the medical center, one from the doctor, one from the lab tech, one from the anistesiologost, etc. The total was over $5000. Each has their own payment plans and stupid crap.
So my question is this, is there any way to get treatment where you don't get 5-6 bills for a single dang procedure?
No.
Surgery or procedures will always have multiple bills. A simple x ray will result in no less than 3 bills. One for the actual x ray and one for the Rad who read it and of course a bill for the ER, Dr's office or clinic that saw you.
Even in house testing and procedures result in multiple bills.
Surgery or procedures will always have multiple bills. A simple x ray will result in no less than 3 bills. One for the actual x ray and one for the Rad who read it and of course a bill for the ER, Dr's office or clinic that saw you.
Even in house testing and procedures result in multiple bills.
I'd make that a qualified no. When there is a hospital group that all the doctors and labs are part of, the insurance may have a set amount negotiated that is all-inclusive. The billing is all supposed to come in through the one provider code. The important part of such a policy is to make sure that it doesn't allow the medical providers to "side bill" to inflate their income by billing the insured directly.
An example would be a routine colonoscopy, which often has a package rate that is all-inclusive.
As with any insurance and billing, be prepared to fight tooth and nail. Improper coding and initial denial of coverage is common. ALL communication should be in writing or followed up with a written summary in writing sent to all parties.
Also, remember that you can always negotiate down any leftover money owed after insurance coverage. Be proactive and call the doctor's staff and ask if they'll settle the bill for X amount, which you will pay in Y number of payments.
My friend has a severely handicapped son. He gets a sore throat and he'll be in the hospital for a week with pneumonia. She negotiates medical bills down all the time.
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