Dangerous deductibles
This is a public-service warning sort of post. I don’t want anyone else to make the same mistake I did.
A few years ago, I switched from my nice co-pay insurance plan to a high deductible plan — one that only pays for my meds and doctor visits once I’ve spent more than my deductible. This move was purely economic; I was turning 35 and the insurance company was going to increase my premiums by an absurd amount. I figured it was cheaper to pay out of pocket for the odd doctor’s visit and prescriptions rather than pay $80 more each month for the insurance. I’d say that’s been a good decision, but there was one drawback I only recently discovered.
Typically, the insurance company negotiates discounts with doctors — so their patients get a reduction on the cost of any visits or procedures. What I didn’t realize was that the doctor’s offices weren’t considering that discount when they told me what I owed them. Foolishly, I figured they knew what they were doing when they told me how much to pay.
A few months ago, I visited my sinus doctor and when I checked out, the assistant looked at my papers and said, “Hmm… I guess I’ll charge you $50 today.” I thought that seemed too low (a sad commentary on how quickly I got used to high charges for office visits!), so I was paying attention when I got my statement from the insurance company. I was shocked to look at the statement and see that, not only didn’t I owe them more, I had overpaid by $11.25.
Not knowing how the credit-issuing process worked, I called the office and explained what had happened. The receptionist said she would have accounting send me a check for my credit, and I was pleased.
Then I got the check — and it was almost 4 times the $11.25 I was expecting. After being initially flummoxed, I did some research and realized what had happened: they had overcharged me for two earlier visits as well. I had credits on their books going back over 3 years. If I hadn’t called, I’d have never gotten my money.
Spurred by the discovery, I did some more research and found one other doctor who had overcharged me. I sent a letter to their office with documentation and got back a check for $36.
So I got back nearly $80 of my money that my doctors had. Imagine if I went to the doctor more often!
Let this serve as a warning to others. Those statements the insurance company sends you really ought to be reviewed — and no one’s going to return your money unless you ask.
You might also enjoy:
Amazon Wishlist:
Categories
Common threads
2020 Benedict Cumberbatch board games books buy borrow bin cancer creative writing prompts cute cute cute depression and anxiety Discworld Doctor Who Douglas Adams family fashion fiction writing flash fiction friends Funko Hobbit/LOTR hurricanes illness joy and laughter Katrina life Lovecraft Marvel Cinematic Universe music Nathan Fillion novel otters reading reading challenge Richard Armitage Sherlock short stories story submissions stress TableTop Terry Pratchett Tom Hiddleston wildlife writing exercises writing workshop