Lower Your Medical Bills By Finding Medical Hospital Bill Errors
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Health Fitness -> subcategory Other.
Reduce Your Medical Bills by Identifying Hospital Errors
Summary
If you've been hospitalized and are facing large medical bills, there are steps you can take to significantly reduce them. By investing time and effort, you can uncover errors that you're not responsible for, negotiate what you truly owe, and set favorable payment terms.
Steps to Take
1. Request an Audit
Ask both the hospital and your insurance company to audit the hospital and doctor bills.
2. Obtain an Itemized Bill
You are legally entitled to this. Review it carefully for the following errors:
- Duplicate Billing: Ensure you're not charged twice for the same service, supplies, or medications.
- Days Charged: Verify the dates of your admission and discharge, as you shouldn't be charged for the day of discharge.
- Room Charges: Confirm that you're not overcharged for a room upgrade you didn’t have.
- Operating Room Time: Compare billed OR time with records from your anesthesiologist.
- Unbundled Charges: Check if tests or procedures were billed separately when they should have been grouped for discounts.
3. Watch for Upselling
Hospitals may charge for a brand-name drug when a generic was prescribed. You shouldn’t be liable for these increased costs if the generic was available.
4. Identify Fraudulent Coding
Sometimes hospitals miscode services, charging for more expensive treatment than what was provided. Look for multiple instances, as this may indicate fraud.
5. Scrutinize Language and Added Fees
Hospitals might use confusing terms for basic services?"for example, an "oral administration fee" for handing you pills. Items like "disposable mucous recovery systems" are simply tissue boxes and should be questioned.
6. Catch Keystroke Errors
A simple typing error can result in charges for services you didn’t receive.
7. Check for Canceled Services
Ensure you're not billed for tests or services that were ordered but canceled or never administered.
8. Verify Insurance Assignment
See if the hospital or doctor accepts your insurance payment directly. This means they can’t charge you beyond what your insurer pays.
- Why Accept Assignment? It ensures the hospital gets paid directly, avoiding potential litigation costs if they had to pursue payment from you.
Negotiation Tips
After addressing errors, negotiate your bill. Lump sum settlements often result in substantial discounts, sometimes up to 50%. If paying in installments, negotiate manageable terms, especially if your income is low. Remind providers that a court judgment might only award small monthly payments.
By following these steps, you can effectively manage and reduce your medical bills.
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: Lower Your Medical Bills By Finding Medical Hospital Bill Errors.
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