insurance

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 04/21/2001 2:26:33 PM Central Daylight Time,

Vaccinations writes:

<< I could be wrong, but it's my understanding that docs are REQUIRED BY LAW

to file insurance. It used to be that they didn't have to file

it, but now they are required to, then bill the patient for the balance. >>

That is interesting. If you find anything in writing on this, I would love to

see it. I have never heard that. I just went to a holistic dentist and even

with insurance-he made me pay up front and then reimbursed me after he got

the check from the insurance company. I thought that this was really lousy

and called my insurance company. Turns out that he can do that if he chooses.

For major dentistry work though, he has agreed to get what my insurance

company will reimburse in writing and will accept just the portion from me

which I owe after subtracting the covered amount. He doesn't offer to do

this-I had to ask.

Lynn

[Guest guest]

My husband said BY LAW, if you are a participating physician with

medicare,medicaid, and HMO's, you are reqiured to file those claims. Otherwise,

they can ask for payment up front. Some places will file it for you then bill

for balance. Some insurances will reimburse you and I guess, some docs will

reimburse you, if you are entitiled to reimbursement.

I am not a medical doctor,

nor do I portray one on t.v.!

(But my husband,Mike,is!!!)

Laurie>Bucyrus,Ohio

docs are REQUIRED BY LAW

to file insurance. It used to be that they didn't have to file

it, but now they are required to, then bill the patient for the balance. >>

[Guest guest]

otherwise WHO can ask for payment up front? (Sorry I got lost in the

pronouns a bit here...)

thanks

~ Kelli

> My husband said BY LAW, if you are a participating physician with

medicare,medicaid, and HMO's, you are reqiured to file those claims.

Otherwise, they can ask for payment up front. Some places will file it for

you then bill for balance. Some insurances will reimburse you and I guess,

some docs will reimburse you, if you are entitiled to reimbursement.

> I am not a medical doctor,

> nor do I portray one on t.v.!

> (But my husband,Mike,is!!!)

>

> Laurie>Bucyrus,Ohio

>

>

> docs are REQUIRED BY LAW

> to file insurance. It used to be that they didn't have to file

> it, but now they are required to, then bill the patient for the balance.

>>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

The " they " being anyone providing healthcare. I asked about PPO

participants but he doesn't know as he isn't one and just knows what he is

obligated to do...

I am not a medical doctor,

nor do I portray one on t.v.!

(But my husband,Mike,is!!!)

Laurie>Bucyrus,Ohio

otherwise WHO can ask for payment up front? (Sorry I got lost in the

pronouns a bit here...)

[Guest guest]

Yup, that's where I got mixed up. It's the govt insurances and HMO's. With

HMO's they sign a contract, and they have to collect the copay. Laurie, don't

they get into major trouble if they don't collect deductible/copays?

Sherri

Laurie L wrote:

> My husband said BY LAW, if you are a participating physician with

medicare,medicaid, and HMO's, you are reqiured to file those claims. Otherwise,

they can ask for payment up front. Some places will file it for you then bill

for balance. Some insurances will reimburse you and I guess, some docs will

reimburse you, if you are entitiled to reimbursement.

> I am not a medical doctor,

> nor do I portray one on t.v.!

> (But my husband,Mike,is!!!)

>

> Laurie>Bucyrus,Ohio

>

> docs are REQUIRED BY LAW

> to file insurance. It used to be that they didn't have to file

> it, but now they are required to, then bill the patient for the balance. >>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'll have to double check with him tomorrow, but I BELIEVE a doc would face

a substantial fine and possibly lose his/her license for fraud. He doesn't

do the billing so he may not know. And they're not taught that kind of

stuff, either! Or maybe it's just if they collect money from patients with

those health plans...?

I am not a medical doctor,

nor do I portray one on t.v.!

(But my husband,Mike,is!!!)

Laurie>Bucyrus,Ohio

mother to (13),Donovan(8),

Buck(4),Luke(3), and (1)

2 csecs,3 VBACs(1 partial waterbirth,

1 complete waterbirth)

Please visit us at our website

http://www.goldenprideweb.com/drmikeandlaurie

for information on nutritional supplements,

including the original oral chelator, skin care,

weight loss(The Florida Diet),Herbs for Health,

and home products

don't they get into major trouble if they don't collect deductible/copays?

[Guest guest]

Mike said they can TRY to collect the deductible up front and if a patient

doesn't have it, they may choose to bill the patient. So the only way they

get into trouble is with accounting as they will be losing money! My

husband works for a larger company and follows their (well, the girls up

front) wishes. Then there are independent doctors who can do what they

want...maybe demand payment up front for some and trust others. My husband

lost $80,000 in just one year from unpaid bills (would've been nice to have

had that $ lol)! This happens frequently. And although he works 60 hours a

week and has a nurse practionor to help with patients, his company says he

is still losing money.Sorry, this didn't start out to be a

feel-sorry-for-the-doctor-post. It's not all roses for the docs and not all

of them are rolling in big money. But maybe it's cause I love my honey that

I am defending them. Although there are plenty out there(most) I'd like to

see close their doors for good! But the personnel(chiro,dentist, whatever)

has the right to refuse your visit. This may sound harsh but these are

businesses and they have rights as other businesses do. And for

emergencies, there is always the ER...I do not think non-profit hospitals

can refuse anyone. And if you don't have the money for a visit, you may be

better off not seeing the medical person anyhow(allopath)! My opinion

only....

I am not a medical doctor,

nor do I portray one on t.v.!

(But my husband,Mike,is!!!)

Laurie>Bucyrus,Ohio

mother to (13),Donovan(8),

Buck(4),Luke(3), and (1)

2 csecs,3 VBACs(1 partial waterbirth,

1 complete waterbirth)

Please visit us at our website

http://www.goldenprideweb.com/drmikeandlaurie

for information on nutritional supplements,

including the original oral chelator, skin care,

weight loss(The Florida Diet),Herbs for Health,

and home products

.. With HMO's they sign a contract, and they have to collect the copay.

Laurie, don't they get into major trouble if they don't collect

deductible/copays?

Sherri

[Guest guest]

Speaking of Insurance....Life not Health.

Early this year my husband and I decided to take out Long Term Care policies

since my mom has Alzheimers. This is insurance to take care of you if you

need to be in a nursing home or need homecare for an extended period. Since

we are in our early 50's the premiums are not very expensive. Well, there is

a health form you have to fill out and it asks if you have had any surgery

within the pas 5 years. Carl was approved with no problem. I was turned

down flat because of the MGB and told to try again in 2 years (when the

premium will be higher). That was with Farmers, I am going to try some other

insurance companies.

Joni

[Guest guest]

Tammie

Our insurance was not going to pay for it but since it was FDA approved and

the doctor wrote a note to the company stating he needed it and what for the

company I work for picked it up and we have a $15.00 co-pay. When my husband

was on the Rebetron we paid $15.00 for a 6 week supply and now that he is on

the Intron-A we pay $15.00 for a 4 week supply thank goodness. Hope this

helps you out. Good luck to you.

Winne

[Guest guest]

Hiiiiii Winne,

How are you and (?), forgive me the brain fog

strikes again..........Connie

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hello Connie and everyone else in the group. was a good guess but my

husbands name is but you know I understand about the brain fog and

his has not gotten any better. I hurt my back a while back and am just

getting so I can get back on my computer again for any length of time. I

have missed everyone and tried to keep up with what is going on. Welcome to

all the new members and congratulations to those who have gotten off the

treatment.

My husband is on the new once a week shot and I hate trying to get that stuff

mixed up and the cheap needles and syringes in it do not help either - you

know the pen was so much easier but at least he is off the Ribavarin pills

now and that has helped him some with the side effects. He has to stay on it

because of the PCT skin disease he has from the Hep C. They did special

blood work a month ago to see if he had to much iron in his system and if he

did he was going to have to have phlebotomies done once a week and have blood

removed until that got under control but so far we have not gotten a phone

call from the doctor so just praying the blood work did not show to much iron

in his blood. You know doctors offices though there is lack of communication

there and when we go back next month that could all change. He wants him to

stay with the once a week shot for 4 more months and then I do not know what.

In September it will be 2 years that he has been on some sort of Interferon

treatment. We do like everyone else and just take one day at a time but he

is still allergic to the sun because of the PCT. He still has the bad

headaches and flu like systems and of course his rheumatoid arthritis just

keeps getting worse but we are staying positive as always.

I am so glad to be able to join the group once again and get involved like I

said I have missed the group and what it does for the two of us. We wouldn't

have made it this far without everyone out there. We all need each other.

Thanks for being there and we hope everyone is as well as they can be and

continue to get better. You have been and are still in our prayers. Staying

positive!!!!

Winne

[Guest guest]

Tammi,

My pharmacy insurance was Caremark and they are fantastic. I paid $15 for 3

months of combo, got calls from their nurses, and they have an entire

website dedicated to hepatitis c.

A lot depends on your insurance company.

We just signed up for a new insurance with hubby's new job. We thot we'd

RISK an HMO, ( hate HMO's), but it didn't cover enough for us and we didn't

want to go thru the hassles of referrels even tho it is less expensive out

of pocket to pay for. We went with Unitied something I forgot sorry. Dunno

how they are but it's a PPO so I get to pick my own docs, something I like a

lot better (I tend to give some docs a hard time .

What insurance are you on?

alley

[Guest guest]

Tammi,

My pharmacy insurance was Caremark and they are fantastic. I paid $15 for 3

months of combo, got calls from their nurses, and they have an entire

website dedicated to hepatitis c.

A lot depends on your insurance company.

We just signed up for a new insurance with hubby's new job. We thot we'd

RISK an HMO, ( hate HMO's), but it didn't cover enough for us and we didn't

want to go thru the hassles of referrels even tho it is less expensive out

of pocket to pay for. We went with Unitied something I forgot sorry. Dunno

how they are but it's a PPO so I get to pick my own docs, something I like a

lot better (I tend to give some docs a hard time .

What insurance are you on?

alley

[Guest guest]

Pam, I don't have that particular insurance, but I have mailhandlers,

also a federal plan, so if whoever you are asking for works for the

gov and have a choice of which insurance you can go with, they paid

mine, and gave me no problems.

manda

> Hi MGB Family:

> Hey, did anyone out there have GEHA insurance that had the MGB? It

is

> a plan for federal employees. If so, please e-mail me privately

with

> information on any problems and how much they paid. thanks,

> Pam from land

> MGB 9/25/00

> 296/185

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/3/2002 11:13:28 PM Eastern Standard Time,

constance_clearwater_florida@... writes:

> Isn't that considered discrimmination and be illegal?

> It should be. Now the Insurance, can always say was a

> pre-existing condition to get away with it.

> C

>

Unless my husband's insurance license is a fraud, no insurance company (at

least in Va.-the laws vary state to state) can refuse to insure you. They

can refuse to insure pre-existing conditions. So you should have been able

to get mortgage insurance that would have covered everything BUT death due to

HCV. Like HIV patients, none of us actually die of HCV, itself. We die of

the complications created by the virus. Your beneficiaries might have a

legal battle, but you can be insured and they will pay off. so sayeth the

legal eagles.

Hope this helps,

Anne

[Guest guest]

----------

>From: rep@...

>

> HEY DO YOU READ KIPLINGER? I'LL CHECK AND SEE IF THERE'S A WEB SITE. BUT

> RICHARD READ IN THERE TODAY THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE NOT GOING TO

> COVER HEP-C PATIENTS..

>

I haven't heard that one, but I was turned down for mortgage insurance due

to having HCV.

gail

[Guest guest]

Isn't that considered discrimmination and be illegal?

It should be. Now the Insurance, can always say was a

pre-existing condition to get away with it.

C

--- Gail Samples <gailsamples@...> wrote:

>

>

> ----------

> >From: rep@...

>

> >

> > HEY DO YOU READ KIPLINGER? I'LL CHECK AND SEE IF

> THERE'S A WEB SITE. BUT

> > RICHARD READ IN THERE TODAY THAT THE INSURANCE

> COMPANIES ARE NOT GOING TO

> > COVER HEP-C PATIENTS..

> >

>

> I haven't heard that one, but I was turned down for

> mortgage insurance due

> to having HCV.

>

>

> gail

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

in refference to the insurance co. wont cover our hep-c , I am so sick and tired

of paying this and paying that for the later years , and now that we have thron

out our hard earned money at them for 20 years they are turning us down, well

tell you what, no m matter how long the govt. and insurance co. keep pushing

this diseasee under the rug , they will have no control when it breaks out in

the main stream, since we are broke from all this we have NO money left for our

care ,they cutting there nose to spite there face, sinve we have 8 mil, people

positve,and climbing, its just a matter of time before they HAVE to do

something, this reminds me of the AIDS epedemic, it makes me sick for the

govt.and ins. CO.'s are getting away with this , but sooner or later , we wont

be able to pay so THEY will have to .the day is comming for them, wethaer they

want it or not.

e

Insurance

Hi everyone,

Got this e-mail today. Hope this isn't true, but thought I had better throw

it up and see if any of you have read or heard anything about this.

Bob

HEY DO YOU READ KIPLINGER? I'LL CHECK AND SEE IF THERE'S A WEB SITE. BUT

RICHARD READ IN THERE TODAY THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE NOT GOING TO

COVER HEP-C PATIENTS..

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/4/2002 9:01:02 AM Eastern Standard Time,

photoart@... writes:

> HAVE to do something, this reminds me of the AIDS epedemic, it makes me

> sick for the govt.and ins. CO.'s are getting away with this , but sooner or

> later , we wont be able to pay so THEY will have to .the day is comming for

> them, wethaer they want it or not.

> e

> ----- Original Message -----

>

Dear Marine,

I was part of the medical profession when the first AIDS patient was

diagnosed. You want the truth? No, they don't have to do anything, just

like they didn't then. They can sit around with their collective thumbs up

their butts and let us die. That's the way life goes. Our only hope is the

VA because the government will, to some degree, back up it's soldiers, but

don't hold out a lot of hope for that either.

Anne

[Guest guest]

well I guess with me not having any VA benefits, puts me in the plunger

catagory, guess better start packing house is going next,thank you for your

reply.

((((((((((( hugs ))))))))

martine how do I find out when that big March in june in WASH. D/C ,does

anyone know?

Re: Insurance

In a message dated 2/4/2002 9:01:02 AM Eastern Standard Time,

photoart@... writes:

> HAVE to do something, this reminds me of the AIDS epedemic, it makes me

> sick for the govt.and ins. CO.'s are getting away with this , but sooner or

> later , we wont be able to pay so THEY will have to .the day is comming for

> them, wethaer they want it or not.

> e

> ----- Original Message -----

>

Dear Marine,

I was part of the medical profession when the first AIDS patient was

diagnosed. You want the truth? No, they don't have to do anything, just

like they didn't then. They can sit around with their collective thumbs up

their butts and let us die. That's the way life goes. Our only hope is the

VA because the government will, to some degree, back up it's soldiers, but

don't hold out a lot of hope for that either.

Anne

[Guest guest]

----------

>From: AVansi7465@...

>

> Unless my husband's insurance license is a fraud, no insurance company (at

> least in Va.-the laws vary state to state) can refuse to insure you. They

> can refuse to insure pre-existing conditions. So you should have been able

> to get mortgage insurance that would have covered everything BUT death due to

> HCV.

>

Thanks Anne, interesting concept! I will look into this option.

gail

[Guest guest]

----------

>From: AVansi7465@...

>

> Unless my husband's insurance license is a fraud, no insurance company (at

> least in Va.-the laws vary state to state) can refuse to insure you. They

> can refuse to insure pre-existing conditions. So you should have been able

> to get mortgage insurance that would have covered everything BUT death due to

> HCV.

>

Thanks Anne, interesting concept! I will look into this option.

gail

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/5/2002 6:39:42 PM Eastern Standard Time,

gailsamples@... writes:

> Thanks Anne, interesting concept! I will look into this option.

>

>

Dear Gail,

Let me know what you find out.

Anne

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/5/2002 6:39:42 PM Eastern Standard Time,

gailsamples@... writes:

> Thanks Anne, interesting concept! I will look into this option.

>

>

Dear Gail,

Let me know what you find out.

Anne

[Guest guest]

Actually, DAvis writes off a good portion of the bill. Dr. gets about $9000

and gets about $8000 for a grand total of $17,000.00, the GLOBAL FEE.

Dr. R only provides CPT codes for his portion.

Hope this helps. VAlerie in SC