12-19-2012, 02:54 PM | #1 | ||
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Join Date: Sep 2009
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Health Insurance Question
Earlier this year (February-ish, I think), I took a golf ball to the dome. After a couple days when the headache wouldn't go away, I went to the ER and had an MRI done, revealed a minor concussion, no biggie. I had lost my wallet the day before, so I didn't have my health insurance cards. The lady behind the counter said they could look up my insurance information via my social, so they did, no big deal.
Got a call today from a debt collection agency claiming I owe the hospital $4,000. Apparently they never found out my insurance information, and their correspondence hasn't reached me (I have moved in the interim, so that is a plausible explanation). I have the same insurance as I did back when this all happened. Before I call up my insurance company to sort this out, is there anything I should know? Is my insurance company (Anthem Blue Cross) going to do anything, and are they even required to do anything? Or am I going to be stuck with an awesome Christmas Present? |
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12-19-2012, 03:10 PM | #2 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: the yo'
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Ouch
My unofficial motto is "never trust an hourly employee" |
12-19-2012, 03:13 PM | #3 |
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Manchester, CT
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You should be fine. Tell your insurance company the hospital forgot to submit the bill to them and you are just finding this out now. It might take a few phone calls and a bit of your time, but no worries.
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12-19-2012, 03:18 PM | #4 |
General Manager
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: The Mountains
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I wonder how long she bothered to try to find your insurance info. I'm going to say 0 minutes.
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12-19-2012, 03:38 PM | #5 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: The scorched Desert
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Actually insurance companies as a rule have timely filing guidelines that vary from 6-12 months as a general standard. Because of this it may not be as simple as just having a claim sent in as it could be denied.
The first thing I would do is call your carrier and ask what their timely filing guidelines are. (I have never worked for BC/BS so I don't know their standard) If you are past timely filing you are going to need to send a letter with the claim (and I would get a copy of the claim from the Hospital and mail it yourself) Tell the hospital you need a UB04 and an itemized statement and send that in with your letter explaining the situation. If the claim is still denied you can then file a formal appeal or request the Hospital do so since they did not bill the claim. I would also talk to someone in management in the billing office and let them know what happened and if it does not look like the insurance will pay either initially or after appeal, request they write the charge off. Again, if BCBS has a 12 month filing deadline this is all moot, but make sure they (the Hospital) verify your coverage and send the claim if you are still within timely filing, or as mentioned above get the information yourself and file if you do not trust them. Last edited by BYU 14 : 12-19-2012 at 03:40 PM. |
12-19-2012, 03:45 PM | #6 |
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BYU 14: Is this you?
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12-19-2012, 04:19 PM | #7 |
Coordinator
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Location: The scorched Desert
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12-19-2012, 04:57 PM | #8 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: the yo'
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Quote:
Vince-I don't have my card Girl-I can look your info up Vince(in pain)-ok Girl- ....Looking.... Other person in office-Did you watch Real Housewives? Girl-OMG, like totally, i can't believe that bitch. |
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12-21-2012, 11:55 AM | #9 |
Pro Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Somewhere More Familiar
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Thanks for the advice. Going to tackle this when I get off work today, hopefully it goes smoothly.
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12-21-2012, 10:43 PM | #10 |
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Join Date: Dec 2003
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Don't be afraid to channel Jules Winnfield if you have to.
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12-22-2012, 04:41 PM | #11 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Here and There
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God the health care system is royally fucked up. Every step is designed for you to make a mistake that costs you a lot of money and you're dependent on a bunch of filing clerks to make sure all the i's are dotted and T's crossed. I can't offer any help, but at least know you aren't the only one that has had to deal with this kind of bs before.
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12-22-2012, 10:46 PM | #12 |
Coordinator
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Jacksonville, FL
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Anyone else looking at this thread thinking how screwed up the health care system is and its most likely the system's fault and not one individual with Sleep Apnea?
(Love for BYU)
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12-23-2012, 12:30 PM | #13 | |
Coordinator
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: The scorched Desert
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Quote:
LOL, honestly I sometimes just want to walk away and start fresh in a new career, especially working for an administrator of State Medicaid now. You think commercial carriers are bad......Medicaid is an entirely new and special level of frustration! But alas I have 22+ years in this field, so it will probably be the field I retire in. And, the actual company I work for now is awesome. But I agree, dealing with insurance for many folks is daunting, if not near impossible. |
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