Welcome back! This blog provides financial resources and information for people living with cancer. In this post, I want to focus on your next steps and help with medical bills once they start rolling in.
This question that I receive most frequently is what to do with all the medical bills that are arriving in the mail. Typically, the bills are accompanied by less than friendly phone calls from billing agencies and collection agencies. When dealing with cancer already has you overwhelmed, phone calls from bill collectors will only add to your stress.
Getting Organized
First, take a deep breath. Then get out your organizer [See my previous post Getting Organized During Cancer Treatment – Living with cancer take my hand if you need help with organization], and consider these steps:
Compare Date of Services
First, look at the date of service and medical provider on the bill. Match it to the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) and receipt.
An Explanation of Benefits (EOB) is a document your insurance company sends you after they have reviewed a bill for services that you have received from your medical team. EOBs provide the date the service was provided, the total amount billed, the amount that the insurance company paid, and the amount that you still owe- usually called “total patient responsibility.” A sample EOB can be found at: 11819-sample-explanation-benefits-508.pdf (cms.gov)
Same Date of Service
You may receive multiple EOB’s and bills for the same service. Check the date of service, provider, and amount. If you receive duplicates, staple them together to avoid confusion down the road.
Compare EOB to Amount Due
In reviewing your EOB, does the bill you received in the mail match the “total patient responsibility” amount on the EOB?
If it does, and the amount seems unusually high, call the member services phone number on the back of your insurance card to determine why the insurance company did not pay this amount. This may be because you have not reached your deductible, a referral was required but not supplied, or the provider is not in-network with your insurance company. Or it may be an error, and you can ask for the bill to be reprocessed for payment. This happens a lot, so don’t be afraid to ask.
If the amount on the medical bill does not match the patient responsibility amount on the EOB, contact the phone number on the bill to determine why you are being charged a different amount. Medical billing is extremely complex, so be patient as they investigate your account. It may be a simple fix that can save you a considerable amount of money.
If the bill matches the patient responsibility amount on the EOB and seems to be correct, then note the due date for payment, and plan to make a timely payment. Keep a copy of your payment for your records.
Unable to Pay?
So, what do you do if the billing is correct, the insurance company payment is correct, BUT you are unable to afford the medical bill?
While you may be tempted to procrastinate, this is a problem that will get bigger with time. If your cancer treatment provider has a billing representative in their office, contact them for help. If not, call the number on the medical bill and let them know you do not have the money to pay this bill. Ask if a discount is available. If not, usually a payment plan can be arranged. Many treatment programs offer both discounts and payment plans. Also, ask if a financial counselor or social worker is part of your cancer treatment team. They can help get you on a more stable path at the beginning of your treatment, instead of waiting until the bills are piled up.
Take it to the Team
Discuss your medical bills and financial difficulties with your cancer treatment team as soon as you are having trouble paying your bills. The last thing your team wants is for you to stop treatment because you are unable to afford it.
I hope this information is helpful. If you would like to continue this conversation, please click on the Subscribe button. I would love to hear your comments as well as resources that have worked for you. Please share this information with your family and friends.
Keeping you in my prayers,
Jackie
For introductory information and to understand the mission of this blog, please see Introduction – Living with cancer take my hand
