| Did you know that a simple diagnostic test like an | | | | types of patients. Uninsured patients pay the |
| MRI is usually billed from $1,250 - $2,100. The | | | | highest rate. Discounts go to the HMOs, PPOs and |
| actual value paid by insurance companies is about | | | | other private insurance vendors. |
| $640. It is rare that you can negotiate the bills in | | | | The personal stories that you have heard or |
| advance of the service but after your MRI is | | | | experienced are true. What you are unaware of is |
| completed and billed to you, you are able to | | | | that you can get those medical bills discounted |
| negotiate your bill with the billing department of | | | | with knowledge and negotiating. |
| the medical facility. | | | | For example, you have knee pain. You go to the |
| About one year ago, my uninsured son had a 5 | | | | doctor on your plan and he takes an x-ray, tells |
| hour emergency room visit for food poisoning. He | | | | you it looks normal, take some anti-inflammatory |
| got sick when his bills came. Yes, bills! He got a bill | | | | medication and do not over-use it. You ask about |
| from the hospital for using the ER (facility bills), a | | | | an MRI. He requests a referral through insurance |
| bill from the company the contracts with the | | | | and it is denied. You decide to get one on you |
| hospital for the doctor (professional bills) and | | | | own because of the pain you have when walking. |
| another bill for his lab work from the hospital. | | | | A normal medical bill such as an MRI being billed to |
| He was able, with my guidance, to negotiate and | | | | you around $2,000 depending on where you live |
| reduce the hospital bill for a 60% reduction. The | | | | and the profit margins the facility wants to |
| physician bill he paid 50% while the final bill for the | | | | maintain. I live in Southern California the "retail" |
| labs remains unpaid because they refuse to | | | | price of an MRI is never less then $1,860 for one |
| provide recognized professional billing codes. WHY? | | | | film. |
| Because with the codes a person can discover | | | | The Federal Government through Medicare has |
| the real value of the service. | | | | created an official fee schedule for doctors, |
| This is what most people experience. Over billing | | | | hospital and procedures called CMS that prices the |
| and billing in nonprofessional standards. | | | | billing rate at Medicare rate by zip code. Here, it's |
| Let me know if you have other tales off sorrow | | | | $668.00, $1,200 less then the bill. So how do I get |
| in dealing with medical bills. This article is intended | | | | the bill discounted? |
| to let you know that the uninsured and under | | | | Assuming you have the bill with CPT billing code |
| insured person has an alternative to paying the full | | | | and you go to access the CMS site, you could |
| value of hospital and medical bills. Discounts are | | | | figure it out, but it is not easy. I have been |
| available for your hospital and medical bills! | | | | adjusting medical claims, reading physician report |
| According to a Harris Interactive poll, more than | | | | and reviewing for 18 years and CMS is not an |
| sixty percent of people who negotiate their | | | | easy tool but it can be conquered. |
| medical bills get a discount. Hospitals and doctors | | | | There are professional bill reviewers, who for a |
| are willing to negotiate because their retail rates | | | | fee will price your bill to professional guidelines and |
| bear little relation to the cost of providing care -- | | | | tell you how much the bill should be discounted |
| typical markups range from 200 to 600 percent. | | | | and what you should pay. |
| I'm sure you are aware that health care and it's | | | | Continuing with my example, although the "official" |
| related costs are a national issue. Regardless of | | | | fee is $668, which is what Medicare would pay. A |
| which side of the political fence you are on, you | | | | reasonable payment that an insurance company |
| or someone you know has felt the sting of | | | | would pay ranges $742 to $835, much less then |
| medical bills. | | | | the $2,000 billed. Could you really get your bill |
| For the 46 million American's who live without | | | | discounted and reduced to $800? Maybe, but |
| medical insurance, they know how it can | | | | even if you can only get a 50% discount you will |
| devastate a families finances. The rest of us who | | | | have saved $1,000. |
| own policies with large deductibles and co-pays, | | | | It almost sounds too good to be true but this |
| you too know how stressful medical bills can be. | | | | article started with the belief that medical bills |
| Once you see the bill you get sick to you | | | | were too expensive for uninsured and |
| stomach because you cannot envision how you | | | | underinsured people. The bills are to expensive but |
| will pay it. | | | | discounts and reductions are always possible. |
| Hospitals, like most health care providers, have a | | | | What's your next move? |
| series of prices structures that apply to different | | | | |