1. Review the bill carefully and check for mistakes
Hospital billing departments handle a lot of data. It’s surprisingly common for bills to have errors. Around eight out of 10 hospital bills contain mistakes. You may be billed for a service or procedure you didn’t actually receive. Your bill may have the wrong date, or the provider might have inaccurate insurance information for you.
2. Learn about balance billing and whether it affects you
Some states have legislation to protect consumers from surprise medical bills and some don’t. There’s no federal legislation regarding balance billing. However, about a quarter of states have laws on the books, and more states are working towards protections. More states protect customers with HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) coverage, especially in an ER billing situation, then customers with PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) coverage.
Research your individual state insurance regulators to learn what protections, if any, the state offers from balance billing.
3. Communicate and negotiate with your care providers
Contact your provider or broker if you have one. They can help you deal and mange surprise bills from medical care. We have a billing department at Cosmo that is dedicated to helping clients manage their medical bills. Our billing department is experienced in dealing with all types of billing issues and can negotiate with carriers.
4. File an appeal with the insurance company
You are able to file a formal appeal or complaint with your insurance company. Make sure to get in touch with your doctor to inform them that you will be disputing the bill.
5. Ask for a payment plan or financial aid
Let’s say you appeal the charges and they’re determined to be valid—your insurance company won’t pay any more than the amount stated on the bill. The next step is to request a payment plan with little to no interest. Most billing departments will have payment plans available. This is a better option than putting a huge charge on your credit card which you’ll struggle to pay off.
Cosmo Insurance Agency is an independent insurance agency serving surrounding communities in New Jersey. Cosmo keeps its promise to assure an efficient and creative approach to the services we offer. Each of our clients experience a personalized and long-term relationship with us. Our New Jersey based team of health brokers guides our clients in helping them choose the most cost-effective options. By incorporating the latest in technology-based tools and laws on healthcare, employee benefits, life insurance and finance, we keep our clients up-to-date with the plans that encompass all of their needs, whether it is individual or group insurance.
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