Wellness

[151949]

My DH & I go to the same doctor - the same lab (at the doctor's office) and have exactly the same insurance. A few weeks ago we both got blood work drawn. He had electrolytes and an A1c and I had abasic meta. panel and an A1c done. Today we each get a bill for the co pay - his is $5.57 and mine is $16.99. On my bill I am charged $25 for Venipuncture on his bill that is not there. So I call the ins. co and she tells me first my copay for a venipuncture is $8 then she says $18. I said " I don't mean to seem rude but you don't seem to have a clue" and she says back "I really don't know" . UGG. So I said that was not an acceptable answer and she said - "anyway you look at it - it is cheap for the blood work you had done so I would just pay it." I called Labcorp - they also had no answer but said I have an $8 credit from the last time I had blood drawn so they applied that. UGG - does anyone have a clue???? Basically I paid $25 for a blood draw and DH paid nothing - same lab , same insurance.

[Perkup]

Go to the next level.  There must be someone there who can come up with a suitable answer.  I guess I'm too stubborn, but I refuse to take, "I don't know" or "You should just accept it" as an answer.  It's not an answer - it's an excuse.  

[Laura14]

Say what?  How does your insurance company not know what you are supposed to be charged for contract services?  It's in your (and their) policy.  Totally unacceptable.  Call back and get someone else who actually wants to do their job or has been trained in it.  

I will tell you my mother called her insurance company not so long ago and got a girl so on the ball that she found out the doctor's office had overbilled for her procedure by several hundred dollars according to her insurance contract with that facility.  The insurance girl called the doctor's office on my mother's behalf and had the fee reduced to the actual contracted rate.    

[Nightowlz]

Good question. If you both had blood drawn there should be a veinpuncture charge for both of you. I call it a rip off charge. 

When I went to the doctor last month they ran my office visit through my husband's name instead of mine. I called them & told them to correct it & I would pay my bill they sent to me. On the statement they listed me as the patient. I called them & told them they could not just put my name on the statement as the patient. I told them they had to process the claim in my name not my husband's name. It's been a month & still waiting. I'm not paying the $80 bill until they correct it.

[mom2four0418]

I am able to get fast and professional responses through my insurance site email. Maintaining a paper trail usually preivents the type of response which you received.

[Mz iMac]

I say, good for you for scrutinizing your medical bills like a fine tooth comb.  Many folks never or rarely do!

The only time I do not do so is when I see.....

You Pay - $0

Your portion of payment - $0

You may be billed - $0

Your insurance paid - 20%

Medicare paid - 80%

You have already received excellent suggestions which I hope you follow.  Nothing more I can add.

[sophiamarie]

Doesn't that start with the doctor's office and the coding?  That would have been my first call.  

[151949]

Mt DH doesn't want me to persue it any further because he has been getting away with not paying any co pay at this lab for years and he doesn't want me to rock the boat, and bring attention to it. 

[sidsmom]

I see what's happening:

If it's an over-charge, it's a problem.

If it's an under-charge.."Everyone go home, nothing to look at here."

Not reporting either way could be considered an ethical issue. 

[Mz iMac]

@151949

"he has been getting away with not paying any co pay"

Strange that you mentioned this.  I recently noticed since I've been on Medicare (1 year), my dr has been absorbing my co-pays.  It shows this on the Medicare EOB statements.

I just assummed, she has been doing this because I am a long time patient.  I just may send her a thank you card.