Health Insurance Nightmare

Uh-oh...It's Enrollment Season

Do you have unpaid medical bills?  Do you know if the medical provider used the correct billing code when billing your insurance?  Do you know if the insurance company entered the code wrong and denied a claim that should have been covered?  Do you pay for medical insurance yet end up with a bill for almost the entire balance of the bill?  Are you as frustrated as I am with how this all works?

This is enrollment season.  Our time for making insurance elections through employers and buying health insurance on the marketplace.  Recently, I have had disagreements with my health insurance provider on processing what to me seems like a simple and straightforward claim.  I endured a three-way call between my insurance provider, the healthcare provider billing person and myself in which the other two people argued over who was right and accomplished nothing except left me still owing a bill I don’t think I owe.

I am fortunate that my family is healthy for the most part, and we don’t have the burdens that some do navigating this horrendous mess.  I truly feel like someone with major health issues or a family member with them is probably being overcharged on a regular basis.  The bills and explanations of benefits are cryptic and the billing codes are a whole different language.  It would be very hard to keep up with and argue about each claim filed with insurance, especially with multiple and chronic illnesses.

How to Avoid Mistakes during Health Insurance Enrollment

I ran across an interesting article today on CNBC “These 5 health benefit enrollment mistakes could cost you in 2019” written by Darla Mercado. First, read the material to see what is offered.  Second, look at the cost of it. Third, don’t ignore the surcharges.  Fourth, pay attention to deadlines.  Fifth, check into tax savers like Health Savings Accounts.  The article was helpful if you are selecting your insurance right now.

Bottom line, most insurance plans are high deductible and the cost of healthcare can be overwhelming.  The offices of Bond & Botes can assist you with financial advice.  We can guide through filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy.  Please call one of our offices today for a free consultation.