3 Steps to Avoid Medical Bill Problems

Having health insurance is the first step to protecting yourself from medical bills, but you still need to keep an eye on the process to make sure your finances stay in good shape. Here are three simple steps to take to reach that goal:

1. Use the portal for your health insurance to check on medical claims.

Most insurance companies have an online portal for patients that gives them access to all information about their health insurance claims. When a provider files a claim for services, it will show up on your portal as a “explanation of benefits” (EOB). This lets you see what was sent in, how it was processed for payment, how much was paid to the service provider, and how much you might have to pay for the service. This could be the first time you notice problems with your health insurance coverage that could lead to problems with your medical bills.

2. Check all of your medical bills against your EOBS

Before you pay a medical bill, make sure to compare it to the EOB, which tells you how your insurance company handled the claim. If there is a difference, don’t just ignore it and think the doctor or your insurance company will fix it. You need to take action if you want to dispute a medical bill. If you don’t, your account could be sent to collections, which would hurt your credit score for an unpaid bill.

3. DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS

Medical claims and the bills that come out of them can be hard to understand. To find out what to do, you might need to talk to your insurance company and medical provider more than once to explain the process. Expect to hear different things from the different people involved, but don’t believe them until they make sense to you. You have the right to get answers to your questions as soon as possible.

Don’t give in to the urge to either pay a medical bill right away because you think it’s correct or ignore it because you think it’s wrong. Both of your instincts could have big financial effects on you. If the process gets too complicated and time-consuming, you can ask for help from a advocate medical billing. This person can help with medical bills through appeals, disputes, or negotiations.