How to Protect Yourself from Surprise Medical Bills Even If You Have Health Insurance
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has expanded health insurance to millions of Americans, but it’s essential to understand your coverage’s limitations. Even if you have health insurance, you could still be exposed to surprise medical bills.
Surprise medical bills are unexpected charges for medical care that you receive from an out-of-network provider. These bills can be very expensive, and they can be difficult to dispute.
There are several steps you can take to protect yourself from surprise medical bills, such as:
Choose a plan that covers out-of-network care.
Some health insurance plans cover out-of-network care, while others do not. If you’re concerned about being exposed to surprise medical bills, you should choose a plan that covers out-of-network care.
Get pre-authorization for non-emergency care.
If you’re planning to receive non-emergency care from an out-of-network provider, get pre-authorization from your health insurance company. This will help to ensure that your insurance company will cover the cost of your care.
Negotiate your bill.
If you receive a surprise medical bill, don’t be afraid to negotiate the bill. You may be able to get the bill reduced or even waived.
File an appeal.
If you’ve been unable to negotiate your bill you should file an appeal with your health insurance company. The appeal should explain why you believe that the bill is incorrect.
Contact your state insurance commissioner.
If you’ve been unable to resolve your issue with your health insurance company, you can contact your state insurance commissioner. The insurance commissioner may be able to help you resolve your issue.
Surprise medical bills can be a big problem, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself. By following these tips, you can help to ensure that you’re not left with a large medical bill that you can’t afford.
Question? or Need a Free Quote?
Contact Us
Reach out to us for free expert insurance advice and solutions. We will help you solve ACA (Obamacare) related questions and problems. Will contact you within 24 hours of receiving your message.