How To Handle Errors in Medical Bills?

Errors in medical bills quite literally add insult to injury. Whether it’s a treatment that wasn’t performed or a service covered by insurance, it’s essential to act quickly to correct the mistake. Whether it’s a few dollars or a few thousand dollars, the following are some things you can do to take care of the problem.

The first thing you should do is confirm the details of your health insurance plan. Review your policy and contact your health insurance provider with any questions. Confirming the details of deductibles, coverage, and networks is crucial. For example, if you picked your doctor or hospital from a plan directory, there is a possibility that the directory was out of date. Further, ask for an explanation of benefits (EOB). Finally, confirm that the bill from the doctor and the EOB match.

Your next step should be to contact the doctor’s office/hospital billing department and confirm they have the correct policy number and information. Again, it may not seem common, but transposed numbers are a common clerical error that is easy to correct.

If those don’t resolve the error, file an appeal with the insurance provider and file an appeal with the doctor’s/HMOs patient advocate. This can get the process rolling faster. Moreover, when you have a patient advocate assist you, they can often give discounts that can reduce the bill’s total cost.

But…what if it doesn’t work? If you still haven’t resolved a medical billing error, you can contact the State Insurance Commissioner and file a formal complaint. They can review billing codes, insurance coverage and address the error.

If these steps fail to resolve the billing error, involve your injury attorney. They can help you navigate your legal options and help protect you against unfair billing practices and more.

Before you start the process of disputing a medical billing error, get a notebook and document every conversation in detail. Record dates and times of phone calls, record the names and ID numbers of people you talk with and record the details of what they tell you.

The lawyers at Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C. can help you navigate the complexities of disputing a medical billing error. We encourage you to contact us to learn more about your rights and legal options in Colorado.