[Magdalen] Games with bills

[James Oppenheimer]

I have had instances where I had questions about a claim and called, and
after a little chattering back and forth, they resolve the matter, letting
me go with no charge.  I think they deliberately try to lowball us,
figuring a lot of people will just gripe and whine to their friends, but
they'll pay, and so the company gets to keep that.  I try to keep
everything nice and polite, so that if there's any wiggle room, they might
be inclined to give this nice guy (they don't know me, after all,
remember!) a break.

You may be able to talk them down.

Or not.  Who knows?  In any case, Good Luck!

I do not think that talking to them will cause your price to go up. They
are already charging as much as they think they can.

James W. Oppenheimer
*“If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better
for people coming behind you, and you don’t do it, you're wasting your time
on this Earth.”  -- *Roberto Clemente

On Fri, Oct 24, 2014 at 7:51 PM, Scott Knitter <scottknitter at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Scott the Younger has been doing much better lately with depression,
> thanks to the evaluation, revision of his med regimen, and ongoing
> meds management he's been receiving from Rush University Medical
> Center (as opposed to the exhausted, burnt-out psychiatrist he had
> been seeing).
>
> The Rush folks are out of network for our insurance, but they still
> cover 60% (rather than 80% for in-network).
>
> No sooner had I settled accounts with Rush, paying what they've billed
> us so far on the basis I just mentioned, than I receive a new
> Explanation of Benefits from the insurer showing that a bunch of that
> stuff is not covered, needs medical necessity review, or benefits are
> not available. We've got an intermediary service called Accolade whom
> we're invited to call with any questions about an EOB.
>
> Am I right in my inclination to just let this ride for now and not
> stir the pot, wake the sleeping dog, or do anything else metaphorical?
> I'm thinking that asking a question might trigger something I'll wish
> I had shut up about. I'll pay a bill if it turns out I have to, but
> seems to me they've already been paid by our insurance and by me, so
> let's all move on. I can ask a question later on if they decide they
> want to bill me for the rest ($310).
>
> Another part of me thinks this will all catch up with me anyway and I
> should be ready to pay the rest. Then it's a matter of figuring out
> whether and how future stuff can be covered rather than paying it all
> out of pocket.
>
> Fun for a Friday! Not.
>
> --
> Scott R. Knitter
> Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois USA
>