If you have an HMO or other managed care type of health insurance, the odds are you won't see a hospital bill. However, if you do receive a bill, even if an insurance company is going to pay all or most of it, review your bill as part of your post-hospital care.

Doctors have notoriously difficult to read handwriting. What goes on in hospitals, including their coding systems, is very complex. Human error is, well, human. As a result, studies indicate that as many as 80% to 90% of hospital bills contain errors and the overcharges average a lot of money - more than 13% per bill.

An insurance company can spot some errors. But you are the best source of knowing what services you did (and did not) receive, by whom, and when.

• Look for obvious errors, such as surgeries you didn't receive or days you weren't in the hospital.
• Review the details of the bill. Keeping a log while you're in the hospital will make this process much easier.
• If the bill is not understandable, ask the hospital for explanations.
• If you need help reviewing the bill, there are professional services available -- some of which only charge a percentage of the money they save.

If you find errors, work with the hospital and your insurer to correct them.

Some insurers pay a reward if you find and report errors.

The U.S. General Accounting Office estimates that Americans overpay for healthcare by more than $10 billon a year.

Please share how this information is useful to you. 0 Comments