Call Your Insurance Company and the Hospital
Start off by calling the insurance company and the hospital regarding the dispute. If you are disputing an incorrect claim, then you need to request a complete copy of all the services that were billed for.
Gather Documentation
Next, you need to collect the documentation to prove that the medical bill was in error. The sooner you do that, the better. You may need your doctor to write a statement regarding which services you had and which you did not. You should also note the name of your nurses and any other information that you may need. The papers you received when you checked out of the hospital and clinic may help, too.
Escalate Your Complaint
Wait for the results of the inquiry to come back. If they still claim that you received the service, and won’t remove the error from your bill, you may need to refer it to their supervisor. Once you have worked through to the top level, you will need to request a meeting in person to discuss the discrepancy. The worst-case scenario is that you may also need to contact a lawyer if these first efforts do not work. Keep your insurance company informed during this entire process. If the claim is expensive, it may assign you a caseworker to work with on this.
Check Insurance Codes on the Doctor and Hospital Bills
If you are working to have a service covered after it has been initially denied, you will need to talk to both the doctor and the insurance agency. It is often frustrating because you are dealing with two companies that have a lot of paperwork and bureaucracy. Document every phone call with the results and the date.
Avoid Disputes by Getting Preapproved and Using In-Network Providers
To avoid confusion on getting your bills paid, you should make sure that you get all necessary procedures preapproved. Often the doctor will do this, but you can call the insurance company to make sure that it has gone through. A quick phone call can save you a lot of money in the future. The day before the procedure, you should call and double-check that everything is approved by the insurance company. It is always good to check so that you will not be hit with an unexpected bill if the claim is denied. Sometimes a hospital is on the in-network list, but some of the doctors there are not. Anesthesiologists are notorious for this. You should contact your insurance company and the hospital beforehand to find out the options to help you pay the lowest amounts for these services. You will need to check to see whether everyone involved in your procedure is preapproved.
Shop Around
You can work on paying less for your medical expenses by shopping around for your procedures through your insurance company and by calling around and doing your research. Although that may seem like a lot of work, it is less expensive than going without health insurance. If you do not have medical insurance, you should shop around before you have anything done. You can also work out a payment plan with the hospital. If you can’t afford health care, you should speak to the hospital before you have anything done. Many hospitals will lower the cost if you do not have insurance and may be willing to work out a payment plan.
