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Medical Billing Advocate?

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DMK:
I wish there was a way to teach people how to choose the right insurance and to educate people REALISTICALLY what they can expect from insurance (and get paid for it).  I can't tell you how many times I've heard "but I have good insurance" when the company doesn't pay.

PMRNC:

--- Quote ---I wish there was a way to teach people how to choose the right insurance and to educate people REALISTICALLY what they can expect from insurance (and get paid for it).  I can't tell you how many times I've heard "but I have good insurance" when the company doesn't pay.
--- End quote ---

Teaching them isn't a problem. Actually when you purchase insurance it's VERY straight forward, insurance sales people are very highly watched. With the plan of the ACA and the state exchanges it's going to be even MORE straight forward. Plan's are laid out very easy, the problem is CONSUMERS like any consumer LOOKS at their bottom line. For example BCBS may sell a family plan to a family of 4 for $11,000 a year, they will be told they could also pick a plan for $14,000 a year. Which do you think they are going to buy w/out looking at the whole picture?  It's just like car insurance, we look at ways to decrease our premium but when we decrease the premium we increase the deductible. Why do we do this.. human nature ... "I won't get into an accident, I will be very careful"  "I won't need any major surgery or hospitalizations, I'm generally pretty healthy".    The ones who WILL look at the whole picture even will still go for the lower premium because they will meet their out of pocket if they are already sick and generally at the doctors more.

Educating consumers is MUCH different than educating physicians.  Insurance companies are already gearing up to market and one of the things they will market and campaign against is people like advocates going in and charging them money to help them when they don't need it. The state exchanges and choosing the policies is going to be the easiest part of the whole process.

SLITTLES:
Actually, I have been an Medical Billing Advocate since 2011 and it is very rewarding to me in that I get to help people.  I find that more than often we are simply educating patients more than anything, a lot of consumers just think they are being overcharged simply because they have to pay out of pocket; the consumers that are more educated simply don't want to use their time going back and forth with providers and hospitals.

Yes, the patient is responsible for paying you and there are tons of forms they have to complete in order for you to act on their behalf.

I can say that I have saved consumers money by finding instances where providers posted EOB's incorrectly, billed them for services that they should not have, un bundled charges or simply negotiating. 

I was kind of thrown into this when my dad had a hospital stay and I was reviewing his bills; after researching my area, the need was far greater than I thought.  I actually do seminars in some of the area facilities educating patients.

Again, the reward of helping people is why I continue to be an Advocate!

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