My PSA for the day: Check your bills / statements carefully

[Belle0101]

I can't tell you how many errors I've found on medical and dental bills.

Most recently -

The August statement / bill from our doctor's office showed a balance due of $477.71. I thought that it looked a little high. I compared July's statement and the EoB (Explanation of Benefits) from our insurance company to it. Part of the mistake, they were double billing us for a visit and also had not credited a previous payment.

It still seemed off so I photocopied what I had and sent those in with a letter asking if they could send paperwork that reflected how they arrived at the balance. This was in the middle of September.

Just today I got an "adjusted" statement that reflects a $177.76 balance. But, no explanation as to how they came to that total.

The reason I sent a letter instead of calling? A paper trail. I like having the documentation.

So there's my PSA ... and don't be afraid to question a bill if it looks wrong.

 

[phred52]

good for you! I'm going to double check ours!

I'd still be wanting an explanation of how they figured out they overbilled $300....along with the office manager mentioning that they corrected their glitch so it wouldn't happen again.

 

[lauradis]

good for you! I'm going to double check ours!

I'd still be wanting an explanation of how they figured out they overbilled $300....along with the office manager mentioning that they corrected their glitch so it wouldn't happen again.

I love that line it wasn't us it was the computer.

Hello humans enter data into computer. Computer just does what humans
Say to do... Duh lol

 

[momto3pirates]

We recently got a bill after taking the baby for shots. At first when I questioned, they told me it was after insurance balance. Only problem, she did not have insurance and I was told at the visit I was paid in full. No problem. They adjusted the price to reflect the cash price. A week later I got a second bill. They could not explain why but they adjusted the balance back to zero. It makes you wonder how many people just pay without thinking about it.

 

[NYCDiane]

good for you! I'm going to double check ours!

I'd still be wanting an explanation of how they figured out they overbilled $300....along with the office manager mentioning that they corrected their glitch so it wouldn't happen again.

Dontha just love that word..... "GLITCH"..... Every mistake that a HUMAN makes, they blame it on a computer glitch!

 

[mhsjax]

I love that line it wasn't us it was the computer.

Hello humans enter data into computer. Computer just does what humans
Say to do... Duh lol

We had a horrible time when I worked for a hospital 20 years ago. I did all the billing for outpatient and ER services. Every charge went through in duplicate. It was a computer glitch, or a programer or IT glitch. Certainly not a billing one. It was a total nightmare. Then they backed those off and doubled them, so they gat backed off 4 times and patients had huge credits.

 

[Disney2013Girl]

When I had my son in 2010, they tried to charge us twice at the hospital. I'm very blessed to have great coverage and so the balance is very easy to keep track of. I called the insurance company to figure it out and it turns out they had billed him for a c/section too.

My husband had told me "just pay it, it's not worth the hassle of calling around". Yeah, right!

 

[wendow]

I just got the EOB from my insurance company today for a specialist i saw a few weeks ago. I paid my copay at the time and I should owe nothing else. Instead, the EOB says I still have more I need to pay. I start dissecting the EOB and the doctor's office billed for a 'surgery' and 'laboratory'. Now I know that can mean even something very simple. But there was nothing. It was *just* a doctor's visit. Nothing removed or sent off for testing. So, on Monday, I'll call. I get so tired of dealing with stuff like this.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

My PSA for the day . . .

I had a whole different idea of a Medical PSA Number for the day . . .

 

[kymom99]

We have a high deductible insurance policy. In June I took my son to a dermatologist for acne. He was prescribed 2 medications totaling $180, and the office visit cost $60+. In July I took him to the pediatrician for a sports physical. I took the 2 Rx with me so they would know what he was using. I figured that was something his primary doctor should know. When I got the bill, it showed that I owed a balance. Well, we get one free well check a year, so I called to ask why I owed a balance. The lady told me we were billed for an acne diagnosis! I told her, no, I already paid a dermatologist to diagnose the acne. The doctor merely looked at his back and said it didn't look bad. They removed the charge.