Hospital Billing Errors

Let me back this up a little bit. In November 2006, I was in a car accident. That's a story unto itself so I'll save that for another time. Right after, I thought I was okay. The next morning when I sat up in bed, my head dropped forward like it was just barely attached. Instead of heading off to work, I went to the hospital.

That was where I finally got a look at how banged up I actually was. I mean, my bruises had bruises. More bruises were still appearing. The doctor wasn't all that impressed when he first saw me. He was a bit patronizing. I guess he sees that sort of thing all the time. Then he got my neck X-ray back.

Spines in the neck are supposed to curve gently backwards. Normal whiplash will cause it to straighten. Mine was now curving forward. There wasn't much they could do for me, but the doctor insisted that I see his chiropractor that day. Needless to say I wasn't all that thrilled about more waiting around. I got to the ER around 8a and didn't get out until nearly 4p. But the urgency in his voice had me taking his advice. I went to the chiropractor. Best thing I could've ever done, but that's another story, too.

Fast forward a year. I'm just now starting to get hospital bills. Being new to the whole hospital/insurance thing, I'm thinking they're taking care of it. And I'd already paid one in February. Why am I still getting bills?

I'd get a bill then a statement from the insurance company indicating that the PPO paid this part of the bill and so on. That discount made the bill a little more palatable, though still out of my reach. I thought maybe I could negotiate something to take care of the rest of it.

To put it delicately, I've had an interesting year with my apartment burning down and my mom dying from cancer all in the same weekend. You could say I'm quite a bit financially and emotionally strapped right now. Still, I needed to handle this hospital bill.

I called the billing department and talked to a woman named Alda. She was unpleasant from the start. I'm pretty sure she thought I was lying about the apartment fire. The fact that she demanded proof is what gave it away. I don't guess I made matters any better when I told her it had been on the news and she couldn't have missed it with the two people dying and all. Her response was that it's not her job to watch the news. Fair enough.

Anyway, the only option she would offer me is a 12 month period to pay the entire balance in full. When I questioned her about the part my insurance company handled she told me that they'd denied the claim. That didn't sound right to me. Especially since my insurance company sent me a notice telling me how much of the bill they'd handled.

When I questioned her further, she rudely told me to take it up with the insurance company. And I did. Thank God I did.

I learned from them that they'd taken care of the entire balance with the exception of $145.46. The woman who took my call there offered to send the form that proves what she'd told me. Perfect. And she volunteered to send another copy to the hospital as well. Even better.

Which brings me to...is the hospital really that hard up for money that they have to fleece their patients? Perhaps they are. In the 7 years I lived there, can barely remember a time when the place wasn't under construction. So maybe they have to try to double bill all of their patients to cover the cost. Oh well. I'm just thankful I didn't get caught up in the madness.

Until next time! Do good unto all men.