“…in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” To this list of life’s certainties attributed to Benjamin Franklin, we might also add bills. While the season of gift catalogs and holiday greetings is nearly upon us, our mailboxes are perennially filled with notices of balances due from utility companies, credit card providers, and medical offices, among many others.
When it comes to medical bills, there is often confusion about what we are responsible to pay, what should be covered by insurance, Medicare or supplemental Medicare plans, and whether other arrangements can be made.
Care Answered works with our clients before they have a medical encounter to ensure that planned services and providers will be covered by their insurance. If you receive an unexpected bill after services are rendered by a healthcare provider, our best advice is to not automatically pay it before asking a few questions.
If you believe you received a bill for a medical encounter that should have been covered by insurance, contact your insurance provider and ask them specifically why they did not pay it. If the services provided are unclear, call the provider and ask for a detailed, itemized bill. If something listed on your bill is unclear to you, ask what it is.
Long-term skilled nursing facilities (A.K.A. nursing homes) should not bill patients who are covered by Medicaid. If your loved one has been approved for n
ursing home Medicaid and you receive a bill for their care, you may not be responsible to pay it.
Bills are generated by people working in billing departments; they are human and sometimes make mistakes so it always pays to check your bills carefully. If you feel you need an advocate because the billing seems wrong or if you want to make sure you don’t get charged before you go, contact Care Answered or call us at (516) 584-2007.
Untangling healthcare bills can be daunting, especially when you should be focusing on getting better. We can help.