Biggest tips I can give are these:
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As @Mirefox said, the attitude you present will be mirrored back to you. This goes for front office staff, billing coordinators, office managers, and your insurance customer service reps as well as for the clinicians involved in your care. No different than any industry, of course, but health care is a particularly confusing industry to EVERYONE involved in it – patients, clinicians, administrators, etc etc. Mistakes will be made, almost always unintentionally. A little grace goes a long way.
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As you may already be aware, “in network” generally means that the provider has agreed to receive a contracted amount from the payer for specific services. The contracted amount is typically lower than the amount the provider would charge to a self-pay or “out of network” patient. The provider is required to accept the “in network” payment for that service. Your medical coverage benefits documentation from your health insurer will explain what your financial responsibility is for “in network” as well as “out of network” services. Which leads me to…
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Always read your medical coverage benefits material very closely. Don’t assume that the provider’s business office staff will know what your policy covers or not. There are too many variations in benefits design for them to be experts on your own coverage limitations.
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Also read your bills and EOBs (Explanation of Benefits) very closely. Mistakes happen. Be prepared for a lot of finger pointing from both the provider and your health insurer. Again, your provider can’t be an expert on your coverage, and the health insurer is governed by reams of federal, state, and industry regulations on how to operate that providers and patients don’t know about either.
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Pay particular attention when inpatient services are being billed and reimbursed. (Like appendicitis.) You’ll receive statements from multiple providers associated with the care (some of whom you will never have met, like pathology and radiology providers) in addition to bills from the facility. Unless you’re a clinician, you will see a lot of charges you won’t recognize. Don’t be afraid to ask questions!
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Lastly, remember that billing mistakes often happen; medical billing and reporting is complicated in most countries, regardless of the reimbursement mechanisms. This complexity is ratcheted up past 11 in the US. Most of the mistakes you encounter will be honest ones that can be easily corrected with a little communication back to the provider and payer. Being friendly and low-stress will be a big help!