payments

[Jill (Kaci's mom)]

Wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how to handle the many dr. bills that stack up after surgery. As of right now, I have payment arrangements with Kaci's PT, Dr. Nath, GHA, TCH, and Dr. Laurent. I think I still have one more bill coming from TCH. We have insurance, but it is terrible coverage due to the fact that she had a pre-existing injury. Any suggestions?

[Francine_Litz]

Jill - I would be searching for foundations and organizations that might be able to get you help in paying these bills off. I would also try to fight the insurance company - do you have an attorney who can check out their "small" print - I wonder if anyone has fought this and won? And I would also find out what the absolute minimum payment could be for each creditor so that you're not overextending yourself monthly and beg to make it even less - actually tell them what you CAN afford to pay and have them agree because there's no choice.

Good luck with this - I'm sorry you have to go through this.
-francine

[Tammie]

we have switched insurance and they still cover the surgeries..i didn't know they were still doing that pre-existing crap! what's the since in having insurance if they won't cover your medical bills. and it wouldn't have been a pre-existing injury if your dr. knew what they were doing. sorry this is strong, it just makes my blood boil! good luck to you!

[Josh'smom]

I have a bill from 3 years ago from the mod quad my son had. It actually took 2 years for TCH to advise me I had a balance--I told them I could only afford $5 a month, so that is exactly what I have been paying. Just like francine said tell THEM what YOU can afford. Good luck

[Susana]

I think if the insurance you got is through your job, it should cover pre-existing.

[blakesmom]

It has been 2yrs since Blake's last surgery, and just 2 months ago, I got a phone call regarding an outstanding balance from TCH. I never received a bill after insurance was paid, I just assumed that our secondary(which is a state agency) picked up the rest. Talk about a big surprise...

[admin]

What? I don't understand this. How can people possibly not hear for 2 years and then all of a sudden be told they owe all this money? Are they waiting for 2 years because they are still waiting on insurance money? I don't see how that could be the case. It just doesn't seem right. Aren't you basically told up front how much you should owe?

[Francine_Litz]

I think that there are a few things at play...

first of all EVERY hospital I have ever been in has done this to us... Lou is getting bills from an oral surgery he had 7 years ago - this just started!

I am getting bills from the hospital i was in 4 years ago for my pulmonary embolism.

And even though I paid off the last time I was in the hospital - they are still billing me and now I have to present copies of my checks to them.

Hospital billing - well can you imagine how complicated it is?

One of the things you can do, is see if what you are being charged is correct. Get a copy of the details of the bill. Was there anything doubled - tripled (yes tripled!) - any services you did not recieve? Dollars to donuts you'll find at least one mistake on your bill.

Then go to your secondary agency and file it again..and then appeal it. You, in the meantime, inform the hospital in writing (certified mail-return receipt) that you are appealing this with your secondary ins. provider...

Then when you know for sure that you owe this bill and there's nothing else you can do - then make payment arrangements and have them put the payment arrangements in writing to you. And like I said before YOU tell them what you can afford and $5 a month is very feasible.

-francine