Just When I Was Having a Good Day...I Decided to Open My Mail...
Can you see the steam rising from my house? It's coming from my head. I just got a bill from the doctor's office. Yes the same ones that diagnosed my son with ptosis of the left eye and neglected to tell me (which can be found on my Thursday, August 11th Post). They sent me a ginormous bill for things all the way back to my first son's visits. Apparently there were things that the insurance company couldn't/wouldn't pay for- so apparently I have to pay for them (duh?) Not so much. All the bills I received in the past had notes on them stating that they were waiting for the insurance company to respond, etc. etc. So naturally, I thought it had been taken care of. I knew that we were going to owe a big bill for Beau, because he wasn't covered anymore once he turned a month old. (And THAT is another rant!) But I really had no clue we still owed stuff for Drew. For crying out loud! I told Kevin I'm so mad I could just punch my fist threw a wall, but he said, "Now don't go do that, because we can't afford to take you to the doctor."
I've pretty much lost all faith in doctor's offices and insurance companies. No more frivolous check-ups. If my baby is healthy, I aint goin'. The only way I'm walking through those doors (and I'm definitely going to change offices... for reasons in addition to the ones stated above) is if I have an emergency.
So, say a prayer for me today as I sift through, and cross-reference bills and statements from the doctor's and insurance offices.
Aaaaargggh!!!!!!!
I've pretty much lost all faith in doctor's offices and insurance companies. No more frivolous check-ups. If my baby is healthy, I aint goin'. The only way I'm walking through those doors (and I'm definitely going to change offices... for reasons in addition to the ones stated above) is if I have an emergency.
So, say a prayer for me today as I sift through, and cross-reference bills and statements from the doctor's and insurance offices.
Aaaaargggh!!!!!!!
posted by sarahgrace at 2:03 PM
9 Comments:
Ugh, I feel for you... insurance companies and Drs, that whole situation is just ridiculous. I'm all for socialized medicine just to cut out all that crap.
one thing... Please call the insurance company and explain each proceedure and see if it's covered. A LOT of the time the Dr's will miss type a number and it will come to the insurance company as some different proceedure that's not covered.
For instance: For my last pregnancy I had to have an ultrasound... when the insurance company said they didn't cover what the dr submitted - they only covered it if I was bleeding I said... UH YEAH I WAS BLEEDING. So come to find out the Dr put in a 3 instead of a 4 (or whatever) into the number and once they fixed it the insurance company accepted it.
AND my second bit of advice is everything is negotiable. If you call the Dr and say, "sorry, I just can't pay" they will in a lot of cases adjust the bill for you.
I'm sorry that you're upset. I would be too. Take care.
Yeah, Heather is right - I have called various doctors over the years to let them know I couldnt pay a bill that I was expecting my insurance to pay and they reduced it by about 30%. It wasnt much but it helped a little. Also, my brother does the same thing with the hospital as well and they are always willing to negotiate. They would rather settle for less $$ than to have to send it to collections and risk not getting any $$.
Is it a percentage insurance? Like they pay 80% and you pay 20%? Often they will run it through at the 60% pay and one has to go back and ask them to reconsider. This is part of the negotiable Heather mentioned. I know, who has time to spend poreing over the bills and comparing them? If you had the $ you would just pay it to get it all out of your hair One has to major in negotiation, rehtoric, insurance law and medical billing ethics...
Also, are these OLD bills from your first son?
About all I can do is comiserate. Heather, on the other hand sounds calm and reasonable :)
I swear they go through at the end of the year and say okay its not been paid so they send you a bill. I pay my copay and don't hear from them so I assume its been taken care of then in January I get a bill for such an amount and then I'm like what the hell cause it was like six months ago. Why do they wait that friggin long to let you know you owe money. I mean January is when you start getting the bills from christmas so its obviously not a good time for doctor bills right. ugh
First of all- thank you to all of you for your kind words and all of your helpful info! I will certainly take what you've said into consideration.
After looking into my bills and insurance statements, I discovered that with the Drew bills the insurance company was looking for more specific information from the dr.'s office and I know I told the dr.'s office that. At this point, I don't know if anything can be done about those charges, seeing that they are from 2003! (See, I'm not the only one procrastinating here!)
For Beau's bills, like I said, I knew we'd owe some money because he was without insurance for quite some time. (Wish I'd figured that one out sooner!) Can you believe though, that to get immunized at the Dr.'s office $450-freaking bucks!!! WTH! And, no, I'm really not kidding. So anyways...that is what is up. Hopefully I can get the bill reduced or whatever. Thanks again y'all.
I know what you mean. I agree with Heather. I did that and after hours of being on the phone between the insurance company and doctors office, I was able to get alot of things worked out. But I still despise them.
Hi Sarah, I had to come over and visit. I have seen your name on pretending sanity and strawberry blush.
Heather is way right. I used to work for Human Services in the Medical Assistance Unit. (welfare medical)Anyway - that stuff happens all the time!! Also the dr. office has programs and funds to pay for the parts of the bills that you can afford. you may have to be under a certain income limit, but they may also "right some off" of the bill. Worth a shot. I would soooooooo be complaining about not being told about my sons eye. That is malpractice - not that I believe in suing, but I do beleive not paying for their mistakes. Sorry to sound like a "know it all" but this kind of things really ruffles my feathers. Especially when you know your bill is paying for his kids Mercedes!~!!! aaaaaaaaaaa!!!!
Have better day! Heidi
Ps. If you go to public health clinics you can get your immunizations for free lots of times. Public health office what we call it in our state.
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