Medical Bill Assistance?

Question

Goes to show how bad our healthcare system is even if we HAVE insurance. I had chest pain a while back, went to the hospital, doctor ordered a few tests. I was insured with United Healthcare, out of a 1200 dollar bill, they paid 30 bucks. I was so upset I canceled without deputing like i had to do with almost every other doctor visit in which they refused to pay. It didn't seem right that I pay over 100 bucks a month for insurance, and they wont pay. Now i'm getting bills for it, I think NC law says the hospital can't report it to your credit, but it don't stop them from turning it over to a collection agency that can. I know some states forbid this, but not NC. I went to medicaid, they can't cover me because I have a job, despite my income, that is, unless i'm a non-american...thats just wrong I think. I plan on buying a home soon, is there any organization out there than can help me? If not, is there something i can do? My coverage obviously wasn't worth a d**n.

Answer 1

Unfortunately some insurance plans do not properly explain or breakdown your coverages.  They give you a huge stack of papers and say here this is your plan.  I would suggest calling the insurance company and see why more wasn't paid.  It may be as simple as your doctor saying that it was medically needed.  Maybe even refiling.  Also what is your deductible?  My husband I chose a copay which is more expensive, but we have great coverage.  Then call the hospital and explain the situation and see if they will let you settle it for less.  They are allowed to write off some debt and collect something rather than nothing.  Ask questions to everyone, all they can say is NO!  Good luck and read your plan.

Answer 2

First off, did your insurance pay according to the benefits quoted? If you don't know or aren't sure, call them and ask. Also make sure that the hospital took whatever contractual discounts they are required to if they were participating with your insurance. Make sure you are being billed for only the amount you owe! If the hospital was not participating, being you were having chest pain could fall under an emergent situation where you had little choice in going to a contracted hospital. Make sure the insurnce knows this. It may make a difference in how the claim was paid.

Many facilities have assistance programs to help patients that qualify. See if yours has one.

Short of that, you may be stuck making payments. But be aware,that may or may not keep the hospital from assigning it to a collection agency.

Answer 3

It really is your responsibility to make sure you have good insurance coverage.  You shouldn't wait until you get the bill to find out what's covered and what isn't.  If your employer only offered inferior health insurance then you should have bought supplemental insurance or found another employer.  The fact that you paid "over $100 bucks a month" for health insurance might have been a clue that the insurance wasn't very good.