Never pay the first medical bill and how to negotiate the billing system

Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win

Never pay the first bill : and other ways to fight the health care system and win

by Allen, Marshall (Journalist), author.

ISBN:9780593190005

Abstract:

"From award-winning ProPublica reporter Marshall Allen, a primer for anyone who wants to fight the predatory health care system--and win. Every year, millions of Americans are overcharged and underserved while the health care industry makes record profits. We know something is wrong, but the layers of bureaucracy designed to discourage complaints make pushing back seem impossible. At least, this is what the health care power players want you to think. Never Pay the First Bill is the guerilla guide to health care the American people and employers need. Drawing on 15 years of investigating the health care industry, reporter Marshall Allen shows how companies and individuals have managed to force medical providers to play fair, and shows how you can, too. He reveals the industry's pressure points and how companies and individuals have fought overbilling, price gouging, insurance denials, and more to get the care they deserve. Laying out a practical plan for protecting yourself against the system's predatory practices, Allen offers the inspiration you need and tried-and-true strategies such as: Analyze and contest your medical bills, so you don't pay more than you should; obtain the billing codes for a procedure in advance; write in an appropriate treatment clause before signing financial documents; get your way by suing in small claims court. Few politicians and CEOs have been willing to stand up to the medical industry. It is up to the American people to equip ourselves to fight back for the sake of our families--and everyone else"-- Provided by publisher.

 

My nephew was hit by a pickup truck in South Carolina while on a bike tour. Luckily this driver stopped and had insurance and admitted fault. The hit and run driver in Raleigh, N.C. never stopped. Luckily my nephew wasn't seriously hurt by the hit and run driver but sustained extensive damage to his bike which delayed his trip and cost him out of pocket. The South Carolina accident put him in the hospital. He has medical insurance but as part of the saga I'm learning a lot about how our medical billing system works. My nephew has engaged an attorney on a contingency basis to deal with his hospital bills and expenses of repairing his bike and transportation cost back home. 

Listen to an interview (47:28) with the award winning author: https://www.kalw.org/show/your-call/2021-09-23/never-pay-the-first-bill

Marshall Allen, author of Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win, and investigative health reporter who most recently covered the health care industry at ProPublica. Marshall teaches investigative reporting at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY 

Additional Resources for Consumers to determine the fair cost to pay for medical services: 

HealthCareBlueBook: https://www.healthcarebluebook.com

FairHealthConsumers: https://www.fairhealthconsumer.org/

 

What to do BEFORE you get hit by an uninsured motorist

My assistant blogger had the unfortunate experience of being hit by an uninsured motorist. Learn from her experience.

It's not unusual to get in a fender bender in the winter, and most motorists know what to do if this happens. Exchange insurance information, document it, etc. But, what happens if you're hit by an uninsured motorist?

First be proactive. BEFORE you get hit by an uninsured motorist check and make sure your insurance covers this. Likely it does, even if you only have liability insurance. Check the coverage limits and make sure to add this protection if you don't already have it.

Our insurance, for example, had a $250 deductible with a $3500 maximum for uninsured motorist property damage. So, if we were driving a car worth more than $3500, it might be worth it to increase the maximum property damage amount.

*Note that our insurance had no deductible for bodily damage caused by an uninsured motorist. The maximum insurance would pay for bodily damage was $100k per person up to $300k per accident. To put it another way, bodily and property damage can have two different maximum pay out amounts and different deductibles as well. Check your coverage and make sure you're comfortable with the amounts covered and the deductible.

With an uninsured motorist, it's very important to document, document, document! Make sure to get the other driver's contact information, driver's license, and vehicle information, etc. use your cell phone to take photos of vehicles, license plate, their driver license. If the damages are more than your deductible, consider filing a claim with your insurance company, but only if the damage exceeds your deductible by a substantial amount. That’s up to you to decide, keeping in mind that insurance claims often result in higher premiums for years. Will the compensation from your insurance justify potentially higher rates for years to come?

Also, note that one should call the police even for a minor fender bender. Driving without insurance is illegal and most uninsured drivers risk having their car impounded after an accident. Assuming you're the one hit by an uninsured motorist, the more documentation you have the better for you and your insurance company.

It is possible and legal to settle without using insurance. However, a driver without car insurance is unlikely to have the money to pay for damages so make sure you're covered before you get in an accident!

Choosing an Auto Body Shop

Check out this website for reliable advice on choosing a reliable auto repair shop. Surprisingly, some of the same concepts apply to evaluating your medical doctor! The site includes a "quick guide to establishing whether a doctor or auto body shop is truly independent, or if they’re really in the back pocket of the insurer." Print out the wallet size guide: “How to Sniff Good and Bad Service Providers.” http://www.thesimpledollar.com/carinsurance/auto-body/

What to Do If You have an Accident?

"A new smartphone app walks drivers through the crucial steps to take if they’re in a car accident. Although car accidents happen every day, a recent survey from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners showed many Americans don’t know exactly what to do after an accident.
The NAIC’s new WreckCheck mobile application helps remove the guesswork. It’s free and available for iPhone and Android users: http://insurance.mo.gov/consumers/auto/after-an-accidentchecklist.php
While drivers need to share information, the recent survey revealed consumers aren’t sure about exactly how much personal information to exchange. Consumers generally need only share their names and car insurance information. It’s unnecessary and could be risky to share additional information like driver’s license numbers and home addresses."
“The WreckCheck app is a quick reference that explains what information to share, protecting your safety and helping your insurance claim go more smoothly.”said John M. Huff, director of the Missouri Department of Insurance. Download this app today!