Health care runaround???
A friend of the family has had a procedure ordered by their cardiologist. The imaging lab won't do the procedure without approval from the insurance carrier. The carrier has had the request for over a week and stated it is under review.
The doctors office has been in contact with both the insurance carrier and the lab provider requesting the procedure be done as soon as possible. Still no reaction from insurance other than it is awaiting approval.
The patient then decided to pay for the procedure out of pocket and deal with the insurance afterwards.
And now the real kicker in the equation of confusion......the lab stated they could not accept self pay without a denial from the insurance.
The insurance is BCBS!!
I have suggested the friend put both BCBS and the lab on notice that if anything serious should develop as a result of the delays that they will be pursued legally. If it were me personally, I would be pursuing legal or any other action ASAP.
Is this a part of the future of health care in America? An isolated incident? An error somewhere?
Time will tell.
|