Question:
Wondering if anyone got coinsurance/deductable waived?

I will be applying for insurance approval very soon :) I have BCBS Anthem HMO of NH. I know most people don't have problems getting approval w/BCBS as long as there's a referal and medical documentation. However, even with approval I have a $2500 inpatient deductable along w/20% coinsurance. Now that's just the hospital stay. Since I do medical billing I know there's usually seperate doctor's fees, radiology, anesthesia, etc. It says in my EOB packet that I can only be charged $5000. Still that's a lot of money!!! That will take me a lifetime to pay off. I don't make a ton of money but I make too much to get something like Medicaid. I was wondering if anyone else has been in the same situation. My friend had a different type of surgery and she wrote a letter to a different hospital asking if they would accept the insurance payment as payment in full due to her financial situation and they did pardon her. I was thinking about doing the same thing, or maybe asking if they'll take a lesser amount (kind of like a settlement). Has this worked for anyone? Also if you have any suggestions in what I should say in the letter that would be very helpful too. Thanks :)    — mzcath (posted on January 21, 2003)

January 21, 2003
I'm a total self pay. When I started looking at options I found a doctor that will take "whatever" a month. He was more interested in helping his patients have the surgery than his payment. He also worked with an anesthesiast that was the same. The biggest hurdle was the $10,000 down the hospital needed, then paying the balance within 2 years. I found that hospitals don't consider this a "necessary" surgery and aren't supportive. It wouldn't hurt to ask them though as they are the one who you will have the highest remaining balance with. I realize you do medical billing, but in case you're not familiar with this particular aspect, I suggest you check your policy and make sure the doc/hosp/anesth. are all in network and are thus contracted with set max. amounts they can charge you. If not that could lead you into a TON of extra charges you weren't planning for.
   — Shelly S.

January 22, 2003
I donkt know if this will help, but does your company offer flexible spending. This is money specifically used for medical expenses. It is take directly out of your paycheck. And it is pretax so the cost is lower. You can ask your HR manager to see if you can enroll. They can give u the amount even if you haven't contributed the money yet.
   — keishax