Medical balance billing....beware!!
If you are on Medicare with or without a secondary provider, the patient is NOT liable for the balance of the service charged by the health provider.
There is a federal law that prohibits a provider to "BALANCE BILL" a Medicare patient (meaning that the provider bills the patient after the insurance has made payment (which will not be the full amount billed by the provider).
The provider will bill you for the balance and you merely call them and tell them that, by law, you are not obligated to pay this and that their balance billing is ILLEGAL!!! PLEASE DO NOT BILL ME AGAIN FOR THIS CHARGE AND REMOVE THE CHARGE FROM MY ACCOUNT.
Unfortunately, this information, protecting senior citizens, has not been well published and the medical profession will rely on your lack of knowledge about this type billing. You must be your own advocate and don't allow this to happen. The providers are forced to accept what Medicare and a secondary insurance will pay for the service. The Medicare patient is not liable for the uncollected charges. i.e., "balance billing."
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Lexington MA, Chelmsford MA, Nashua NH, The Villages, Florida
Most people walk in and out of your life, but FRIENDS leave footprints in your heart.
"Being kind is more important than being right." By Andy Rooney
Last edited by barb1191; 11-25-2008 at 08:18 PM.
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