As we age, we need more health care. Of course, this leads to the medical bills piling up. Surprisingly, experts say that up to 80 percent of medical bills contain errors of some kind. Therefore, it is crucial to make sure you are aware of what you are paying for. This can be difficult, especially for seniors who receive what seems to be never ending bills. But by following a few simple guidelines, you can greatly reduce your chance of any unexpected “surprises” in your medical expenses.
As this Real Simple article explains, always verify your information. This may seem obvious. But always make sure insurance information is correct and up to date. Far too often, medical bills are not run through the patient’s insurance. Therefore, this leaves them with vastly higher costs. Even something like leaving just one number off your insurance ID can result in this.
Next, getting an itemized list is very important. This will show you what services, tests, and medications were used to add up to the total cost. If your bill does not show an itemized list, you always have the right to request one.
In order for insurance companies to process claims, every medical procedure is sent with a corresponding billing code. However, it is advised to research the codes that were used for you. For example, if you were denied coverage for a service, maybe there was an error in the code that was used. If you suspect this, try typing the code into a website like Find-a-Code. This will tell you what the billing code is meant for. In addition, you can always ask your insurer how a procedure needs to be coded to be covered.
Lastly, take care of your bills in a timely manner. Do not let them sit around. This will avoid it being sent to a collection agency. If you are concerned that your bill is too much to afford, many providers are willing to set up a payment plan. Overall, financial burdens can be lessened by just taking the time to know what you’re paying for.