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Started By
Message
Medical Billing has gone mad
Posted on 5/17/19 at 9:11 am
Posted on 5/17/19 at 9:11 am
I took my kid in June 2018 to her pediatrician for a "physical" that she needed to attend a camp. Our co-pay is $25 and the doc ALWAYS collects it right when we get there. When I was there, I was told that since it was a physical, it would count as our annual "wellness visit" and there was no co-pay. Fair enough.
Fast forward to last week, or 11 months after the visit. I get a bill from LCMC (her pedi is part of a medical group owned by them)... for $25, from the visit in June 2018. The bill shows that insurance company paid whatever and my co-pay which is due is $25.
I call LCMC's financial line, wait 20 min on hold, and finally get a clueless woman who basically says it's not their fault, they submitted the claim "correctly". They say to call Blue Cross.
I call Blue Cross, wait 15 min on hold, and get a lady that basically tells me that LCMC submitted the claim but didn't use the "wellness visit" code, and that I can certainly contact LCMC and ask them to resubmit.
Having wasted enough time, I say F it, it's $25, I'll just pay it.
I go online last night to pay the bill. You can only pay the bill if you have an account with them. You can only set up an account with them if you have an authorization code from your doctor. F it, doc is closed for the night, I'll just call and pay tomorrow.
So this morning I call to pay. 25 minute wait on hold. Finally get a nice woman on the phone, who at first wouldn't let me actually pay the bill because my wife was listed as the guarantor. She finally agrees to accept my payment if I can verify us. She asks me a bunch of verification questions on my wife's info, which I know all of the answers. Finally, she says, ok, I'll take your payment over the phone, and it's handled.
I know HIPPA scares the everliving hell out of medical companies. But there is no way, no how, the intention of HIPPA would be to make it a PITA to make a payment.
We might have the greatest doctors in the world, but the supporting system is just terrible.
Fast forward to last week, or 11 months after the visit. I get a bill from LCMC (her pedi is part of a medical group owned by them)... for $25, from the visit in June 2018. The bill shows that insurance company paid whatever and my co-pay which is due is $25.
I call LCMC's financial line, wait 20 min on hold, and finally get a clueless woman who basically says it's not their fault, they submitted the claim "correctly". They say to call Blue Cross.
I call Blue Cross, wait 15 min on hold, and get a lady that basically tells me that LCMC submitted the claim but didn't use the "wellness visit" code, and that I can certainly contact LCMC and ask them to resubmit.
Having wasted enough time, I say F it, it's $25, I'll just pay it.
I go online last night to pay the bill. You can only pay the bill if you have an account with them. You can only set up an account with them if you have an authorization code from your doctor. F it, doc is closed for the night, I'll just call and pay tomorrow.
So this morning I call to pay. 25 minute wait on hold. Finally get a nice woman on the phone, who at first wouldn't let me actually pay the bill because my wife was listed as the guarantor. She finally agrees to accept my payment if I can verify us. She asks me a bunch of verification questions on my wife's info, which I know all of the answers. Finally, she says, ok, I'll take your payment over the phone, and it's handled.
I know HIPPA scares the everliving hell out of medical companies. But there is no way, no how, the intention of HIPPA would be to make it a PITA to make a payment.
We might have the greatest doctors in the world, but the supporting system is just terrible.
Posted on 5/17/19 at 9:13 am to LSUFanHouston
Is there anyone that would actually complain if someone else called in and paid their medical bills for them?
Posted on 5/17/19 at 9:13 am to LSUFanHouston
Always laugh when people make it hard for you to give them money
Posted on 5/17/19 at 9:14 am to LSUFanHouston
Obamacare problems.
Posted on 5/17/19 at 9:14 am to LSUFanHouston
quote:
supporting system is just terrible.
bureaucracy is a bitch.
quote:
Is there anyone that would actually complain if someone else called in and paid their medical bills for them?
It’s like when the bank requires ID and shite to put cash in your account. Look, lady, idc who it is, if someone walks up and tries to put money INTO my account, you let them.
This post was edited on 5/17/19 at 9:16 am
Posted on 5/17/19 at 9:15 am to LSUFanHouston
quote:
Medical Billing has gone mad
I feel ya. Had this conversation with my wife the other day because she asked why the hell do we have a few co-pay medical bills for 20-30 dollars that are months and months old... for the exact reasons you mention. It's gotten crazy and is more of an annoyance than anything.
Posted on 5/17/19 at 9:16 am to LSUFanHouston
I got a surprise $460 bill for my son a year and a half after the visit. shite like that should be illegal! Bill me in 90 days or less, or go get fricked!
Posted on 5/17/19 at 9:16 am to LSUFanHouston
Yea that sucks. A little different and I’m bitching about price but I went to a clinic a few months ago for flu test, $50 co-pay. Got flu test, was positive, no medications which is fine, it’s viral. Got a $240 bill the other day. Problem is my wife went in next day just to confirm she had flu also, so we owe $480 after we’ve already paid them $100. Dayum, and my insurance sucks.
Posted on 5/17/19 at 9:17 am to LSUFanHouston
quote:
HIPPA
It’s HIPAA
Posted on 5/17/19 at 9:17 am to NewIberiaHaircut
quote:
I got a surprise $460 bill for my son a year and a half after the visit.
You should tell them you sent a check right after the visit but it was void 180 days later.
Not your fault.
Posted on 5/17/19 at 9:18 am to LSUFanHouston
quote:
HIPPA
Medical billing can be very frustrating at times. Even for providers. Between billing workers in the office, patients and insurance companies, the waters get cloudy very quickly. Wish it were more simple, but it is not.
Posted on 5/17/19 at 9:19 am to windshieldman
quote:
no medications which is fine, it’s viral.
Plenty of anti-viral medications. Should have asked for Tamiflu.
Posted on 5/17/19 at 9:19 am to TFS4E
quote:
Always laugh when people make it hard for you to give them money
Banks are wanting identification now when you make a deposit.
Posted on 5/17/19 at 9:19 am to LSUFanHouston
We need a system where you know what the visit is going to cost you upfront. I had to see an ENT a few months ago. Relatively routine visit. I pay my $30 copay or whatever it is and get a bill for $325 a few weeks later.
I might have just waited until the new calendar year if I'd known it was going to cost that much so that it applied to this year's deductible.
I might have just waited until the new calendar year if I'd known it was going to cost that much so that it applied to this year's deductible.
Posted on 5/17/19 at 9:21 am to LSUFanHouston
We’ve had a HDHP for about 2 years now. It really opened my eyes to how terrible the medical billing world and charge codes can be.
Thankfully, my spouse is in the medical field and understands the codes and their agreements with our insurer.
The entire system is broken.
Thankfully, my spouse is in the medical field and understands the codes and their agreements with our insurer.
The entire system is broken.
Posted on 5/17/19 at 9:21 am to LSUFanHouston
I hate lcmc. I’ve been billed for so much stuff that is due to their errors I’ve probably wasted 12 hours of phone time sorting out. Their billing dept is a dumpster fire
Posted on 5/17/19 at 9:22 am to fallguy_1978
quote:
We need a system where you know what the visit is going to cost you upfront.
Office visit levels can change during the visit due to the complexity of the issue. Also if procedures are performed during the visit, this will change the bill as well. Can't always tell the patient what the cost is upfront as things are discovered during an examination.
Posted on 5/17/19 at 9:22 am to LSUFanHouston
I'm dealing with similar shite right now. I got blood work done in April of last year. It is completely covered under my insurance. A few weeks after the visit, I get a bill from the lab for $300+. I called my doctor, he said bring it in and his receptionist would take care of it. Did that. A few weeks later I get a bill from the lab with a zero balance. Feeling that it's done, I throw it away. Fast forward to last month, the same lab sends me the same bill for $300+ for the same April visit. I'm now in the process of having to get proof of payment from my insurance company so I can get it to them for verification.
People in these offices who can't do their jobs cost me hours of my life. frick them.
People in these offices who can't do their jobs cost me hours of my life. frick them.
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