Fight surprise COVID-19 bills and protect your wallet
Some COVID-19 patients are stuck with thousands of dollars in surprise medical bills. Here is how out-of-network charges happen — and what you can do to question, negotiate, and lower them.
1 Surprise Bills Hit COVID-19 Survivors
As if the pandemic itself wasn’t bad enough, some of those who have had COVID-19 are now finding themselves in the hole for thousands of dollars in surprise medical bills.
Given this country’s patchwork of complex medical insurance coverage, BILLSHARK wasn’t shocked to hear how our system of insurance is victimizing people at their most vulnerable time.
In a survey this past August, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network found that 43 percent of all emergency department visits and 42 percent of all hospital admissions resulted in some unexpected out-of-network charges. The former averaged $628, while the latter averaged $2,040.
Some of the surprise COVID-19 medical bills were eye-popping: $500,000 for dialysis and $50,000 for an allergy test, for example.
2 No Job, No Insurance
Some 30 million Americans have lost their jobs along with any insurance they may have had. And add many COVID-19 survivors are battling long-term debilitating effects from the coronavirus (the so-called “long haulers”). Now you have a recipe for mass bankruptcy brewing.
“Because most U.S. workers rely on their employer or a family member’s employer for health insurance, the shock of the coronavirus has cost millions of Americans their jobs and their health care in the midst of a public health catastrophe.” Josh Bivens, director of research at the Economic Policy Institute
If you’re younger, you may think you’ll be okay, because the virus is known to hit older people harder. You’d be mistaken.
3 All Ages Are Impacted
Earlier this month, the Associated Press (AP) spoke with 30-year-old elementary school teacher Melissa Szymanski of Hartford, Connecticut. She believes she came down with COVID-19 in March, because she had all the symptoms. But because the hospital she went to was limiting tests, she was never definitively diagnosed. Her insurer left her on the hook for a $3,200 bill for five hours in the emergency room.
“I was surprised that I got a bill because it just so clearly seemed to be COVID,” she said. Later tests proved her right, but she’s still having to fight the insurance company.
Both the federal government and many large insurers have said they will waive some typical expenses such as deductibles or co-pays, but there are still many people being caught by loopholes. Even if you follow all your insurer’s rules and make sure you’re being treated at an in-network hospital, you might still end up being treated by doctors who are out of your network.
“If you get any out-of-network care for COVID ... you could be looking at big bills.” Karen Pollitz, a senior fellow with the Kaiser Family Foundation
4 The Games Insurers Play
It’s not just coronavirus-related, either. The pandemic has brought this problem to the forefront, but the games insurance companies play to avoid paying for medical care has been going on for a long time.
According to a 2019 report from the Journal of General Internal Medicine, about 137.1 million Americans faced financial hardship last year due to unpaid medical bills. And medical bills are the top reason for bankruptcy in this country, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
So what can you do if you find yourself facing unexpected or outrageous COVID-19 medical bills?
5 How to Fight a Surprise Bill
Ask questions
Start by questioning everything on your bill. Ask about charges you don’t understand. Look for duplicate line items, and services you didn’t receive.
The AP spoke with Sabrina Corlette, co-director of Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms. She said hospital billing departments are still in the learning stages of how to process COVID-19 claims.
“There are reasons why both the provider and the insurer may say, ‘Oops, we made a mistake.’” Sabrina Corlette, co-director of Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms
Negotiate
Investopedia recommends speaking with your healthcare provider’s medical billing manager. This is the person with the authority to lower your bill. Don’t wait until the bill is in the collections stage, which can seriously damage your credit—contact them as soon as you’ve verified all the charges.
Medical Billing Advocates of America recommends asking for an aggressive discount for immediate payment. Say something like, “If I pay you 30 percent right now will you write off the rest?” This saves the provider the effort and expense of pursuing you for payment for months or years.
Other tactics including asking for the Medicare or Medicaid rate, or for a zero-interest payment plan.
Ask for help
If none of these tactics work, and you end up with a medical bill you can’t pay, many hospitals have charity funds set up for their low-income patients, according to Investopedia.
Ask to speak with a caseworker, who can refer you to charities, churches, community organizations, and government agencies that can offer financial assistance.
If you’re looking for extra money to pay COVID-19 medical bills or any other needs, let BILLSHARK’s professional negotiators find you savings on your satellite, Internet, wireless, and pay TV bills.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why are COVID-19 survivors getting surprise medical bills?
Even when you follow your insurer's rules and use an in-network hospital, you can still be treated by doctors who are out of your network, which triggers unexpected charges. A JAMA Network survey found 43 percent of emergency department visits and 42 percent of hospital admissions resulted in out-of-network charges, averaging $628 and $2,040 respectively. Some COVID-19 bills reached $500,000 for dialysis and $50,000 for an allergy test.
Don't insurers waive COVID-19 costs like deductibles and co-pays?
Both the federal government and many large insurers said they would waive some typical expenses such as deductibles or co-pays, but many people are still caught by loopholes. As Karen Pollitz of the Kaiser Family Foundation put it, if you get any out-of-network care for COVID you could be looking at big bills. Following the rules and using an in-network hospital does not guarantee you avoid out-of-network doctors.
What is the first thing I should do with a surprise medical bill?
Start by questioning everything on your bill. Ask about charges you don't understand, and look for duplicate line items and services you didn't receive. Hospital billing departments are still learning how to process COVID-19 claims, and as Georgetown's Sabrina Corlette noted, there are reasons why both the provider and the insurer may admit they made a mistake. Catching errors early can lower what you owe.
How do I negotiate a medical bill down?
Investopedia recommends speaking with your provider's medical billing manager, the person with authority to lower your bill. Do it before the bill reaches collections, which can damage your credit. Medical Billing Advocates of America suggests asking for an aggressive discount for immediate payment, such as offering to pay 30 percent now if they write off the rest. You can also ask for the Medicare or Medicaid rate or a zero-interest payment plan.
What if I still can't afford the medical bill?
If negotiating tactics don't work and you can't pay, many hospitals have charity funds set up for low-income patients, according to Investopedia. Ask to speak with a caseworker, who can refer you to charities, churches, community organizations, and government agencies that offer financial assistance. You can also free up money by letting Billshark's negotiators lower your satellite, Internet, wireless, and pay TV bills.
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Some COVID-19 patients are stuck with thousands of dollars in surprise medical bills.
As if the pandemic itself wasn’t bad enough, some of those who have had COVID-19 are now finding themselves in the hole for thousands of dollars in surprise medical bills.
Given this country’s patchwork of complex medical insurance coverage, BILLSHARK wasn’t shocked to hear how our system of insurance is victimizing people at their most vulnerable time.
In a survey this past August.
Some of the surprise COVID-19 medical bills were eye-popping: $500,000 for dialysis and $50,000 for an allergy test, for example.
Some 30 million Americans have lost their jobs along with any insurance they may have had.
If you’re younger, you may think you’ll be okay, because the virus is known to hit older people harder.
Earlier this month, the Associated Press (AP) spoke with 30-year-old elementary school teacher Melissa Szymanski of Hartford, Connecticut.
“I was surprised that I got a bill because it just so clearly seemed to be COVID,” she said.
Both the federal government and many large insurers have said they will waive some typical expenses such as deductibles or co-pays, but there are still many people being caught by loopholes.
“If you get any out-of-network care for COVID .
It’s not just coronavirus-related, either.
According to a 2019 report from the Journal of General Internal Medicine, about 137.1 million Americans faced financial hardship last year due to unpaid medical bills.
So what can you do if you find yourself facing unexpected or outrageous COVID-19 medical bills?.
Start by questioning everything on your bill.
The AP spoke with Sabrina Corlette, co-director of Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms.
“There are reasons why both the provider and the insurer may say, ‘Oops, we made a mistake.’”.
Investopedia recommends speaking with your healthcare provider’s medical billing manager.
Medical Billing Advocates of America recommends asking for an aggressive discount for immediate payment.
Other tactics including asking for the Medicare or Medicaid rate, or for a zero-interest payment plan.
