I can't help to notice that it seems every one here did not know a fed law that requires doctor/hospital to bill all patients equally.
In a simple word, that is to say, when a doctor examed you, and another guy, the doctor has to charge both of you with same amount of fee for his exam.
For example, when a doctor sees you the first time, he will charge you for a procedure coded "99204". And this is a $400-$500 charge, because it involvs lengthy exam and history review. And then the bill is sent to the insurance company.
Every insurance company has some kind of deal with doctors. Let's say BC will pay the doctor $225 according to their preagreement. And MediCare will pay the doctor $150 according to their preagreement. And for some HMO insurances, the payment will be $450.
The law said that the doctor must bill all patients/insurance companies with same amount of money for procedure 92004. What do you think the doctor would do? Send every one a bill for $150 or send every one a bill for $500? Since he can not send A a bill for $150 and send B a bill for $500, so he would send every one a bill for $500. And he knows that A only going to pay him $150 and B would pay him $450. In this case, the one without any insurance coverage would stuck with the highest bill. But, you don't have to pay that much.
Options you have:
1) talk to the hospital and tell them you would like to pay $250 for that $1000 bill.
2) If option number 1 doesn't work, ask the hospital to introduce you with some charities. And ask them to help.
3) Ask the hospital to help you to get temp Medicaid.
Because the doctor knows you can't pay the bill, and they know your bill is much higher than he would get from any given insurance, they will work with you.
Good luck.
In a simple word, that is to say, when a doctor examed you, and another guy, the doctor has to charge both of you with same amount of fee for his exam.
For example, when a doctor sees you the first time, he will charge you for a procedure coded "99204". And this is a $400-$500 charge, because it involvs lengthy exam and history review. And then the bill is sent to the insurance company.
Every insurance company has some kind of deal with doctors. Let's say BC will pay the doctor $225 according to their preagreement. And MediCare will pay the doctor $150 according to their preagreement. And for some HMO insurances, the payment will be $450.
The law said that the doctor must bill all patients/insurance companies with same amount of money for procedure 92004. What do you think the doctor would do? Send every one a bill for $150 or send every one a bill for $500? Since he can not send A a bill for $150 and send B a bill for $500, so he would send every one a bill for $500. And he knows that A only going to pay him $150 and B would pay him $450. In this case, the one without any insurance coverage would stuck with the highest bill. But, you don't have to pay that much.
Options you have:
1) talk to the hospital and tell them you would like to pay $250 for that $1000 bill.
2) If option number 1 doesn't work, ask the hospital to introduce you with some charities. And ask them to help.
3) Ask the hospital to help you to get temp Medicaid.
Because the doctor knows you can't pay the bill, and they know your bill is much higher than he would get from any given insurance, they will work with you.
Good luck.
