Tackling emergency room bills.
Lawmakers are in the midst of trying to find a solution to prevent public hospitals from charging emergency room patients whose insurance won’t cover their medical bills. Although you may think that this is a rare issue, it happens more than you’d think. It is a practice called “balance billing” and it’s costing Californians thousands of dollars.
Even if a patient has private health care insurance, an ambulance might transport them to an out-of-network hospital that doesn’t accept it. Unfortunately, a month after getting treatment, they’re hit with a surprise from the hospital. “I got this atrocious bill for $13,000,” said Nicki Pogue, who was treated at SFGH after experiencing a severe reaction to bronchitis medication. To her shock, UnitedHealthcare would only cover $3,000 of the bill. Pogue said she left the hospital within five hours, but spent the next five months trying to fight the charges. Pogue is working with lawmakers and other patients to rally for the bill to be passed.
However, choosing hospitals isn’t always easy. If you’re incapacitated or undergoing a life-threatening condition, you don’t have the time or ability to decide what hospital to go to. If the bill passes, it will go into effect next year.
Do you have questions regarding your health insurance? Then don’t hesitate to contact the experts at Donald Weiss Insurance Services. Our dedicated team is ready to assist you with all your insurance needs.