Monday, November 10, 2014

Co-pays

Here's the thing. Pay your co-pay. And if you are not asked to pay a co-pay, ask to pay it.

Co-pays are an agreement between the insurance company and the patient. The insurance company agrees to cover the service as long as the patient pays his or her part.....which is the co-pay.

Refuse to pay the co-pay and, as a patient, you are in violation of the agreement you have made with your insurance company. This has nothing to do with the front desk staff or your doctor. The office staff just offers a convenient way to pay your co-pay instead of mailing it directly to your insurance company.

So next time, refuse to pay your co-pay, or say "I don't have my wallet with me today." I dare (actually encourage) front desk staff to reply, "That's fine, Mr. Tightwad, I will be happy to call your insurance company and inform them of your neglect in meeting your part of the financial obligation of your contract."

Whoa. Would just love that. Especially for Medicaid patients who are 'current every day smokers' but can't seem to scratch up three bucks for a co-pay.

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Negative, Ghost Rider......

Your visit was supposed to be a  physical and covered at 100%?!? 

You don't say! I'll get right on re-coding that for you and submit a corrected claim to your insurance!

Or, not.

Let's review. Your appointment was scheduled as a new patient visit. Your chief complain was sore throat and infected toe. We did an appropriate physical exam to evaluate your symptoms, ran a rapid strep, and prescribed an anti-fungal pending labs on the liver.

Nothing routine here, sparky. Pay up.