we have blue cross blue shield, my husbands surgery center was not part of the plan. We owe alot now what?
818184
No, you need to call BC/BS first.  Ask the doctor, WHY the surgery took place at that center.  Most of the time, there's a good reason - like, that's the primary hospital he operates out of.  Then you can tell BC/BS that, and get them to honor the charges.  You can also appeal any denials you might get.  I'd work at getting BC to pay before hiring a lawyer!!\n\nAlso, 9 times out of 10, the doctors "preapprove" the procedures with the insurance company - if this got preapproved, even if it was preapproved in error, you need to hold their feet to the fire to pay this.
1187023
it is called settling out of court  & the hospital will pay you a certain amount of money. Your attorney should be able to explain it to you.
522960
I went through this when my husband had open heart surgery.  Contact your local community services, they  have emergency family care and they will help you financially.  Also check your local charities.  Ours helped with the light bills during this time of need.  We donated back to them when he got able to go back to work.  Good luck to you and your husband, I know this is a scarey and trying time for you both.  You are both in my thoughts.
1102538
I know where your coming from. I am from Delaware and just had the same thing happen to me in the amount of over $12,000.  Have him write a hardship letter to each and every doctor he is getting a bill from.  Have him explain he is uninsured and could they please give some sort of discount.I did. They did lower each bill somwhat, which is better than nothing. I dont understand why they will except less from insurance but will bill the full amount to someone with no insurance at all.  Good Luck.
943843
Call your insurance office..the number should be listed on your medical card..they will have an up today list.
821560
blue cross blue shield
1106934
I am Canadian - I booked an apointment with my dentist last week and will see her next Tuesday.  By the way, Dentists are not covered under Canadian Health Care - never have been, unless it is as a result of an accident, a workplace injury, you are on social assistance, or you have a disability.\n\nMy son was born premature - 2 1/2 months - I did not have to wait for care - he is a healthy and educated 20 year old - and I did not receive a bill for one cent even though i do not have an insurance policy.  My doctor told me that in the US, he was a "million dollar" baby.\n\nMy brother required knee replacement surgery - every step of that process, from pre-op apointments with the best specialists (of his choice I might add - no one tells us who to see) through home care to perform rehab after surgery was completed within 3 months of the first visit and did not cost us one penny - with or without insurance.\n\nI had Leukemia (chronic myleogenous) and chose to go to whatever doctor and hospital I wanted, free of charge, in whatever city in Ontario had the shortest wait time - all free of charge, including the cost of gas or airfare if necessary to get to the appointments.\n\nI haven't had to wait 2 months, let alone a year, at all - although it does happen and it is not good when it does.  I also don't have to fork out one single penny to be seen by the best heart/lung/cancer specialist in the country, they are accessible to everyone regardless of income.\n\nI have a step-sister in LA - she relies on Medicare - she says it is appalling in the US if you don't have private insurance -it's kind of hard to describe what is wrong to the clinic doctor, who didn't speak english, after a 7 hour clinic wait!  Even if you have insurance , you probably have an HMO - a group of non-professionals with little or no medical training who are deciding who you can see, what they will treat, and which hospital you can go to.\n\nYou're trying to tell me that is better??
1021116
Review your options here\nhttp://www.medicare.gov/medigap/default.asp\n\nbut note, some items are not covered by Medicare or Medigap.  You need to review the plan document carefully to be sure supplemental insurance will be useful (and worth the cost) to you.
991223
You should hire another lawyer.  \n\nYou can sue the party that does not have insurance, but if they don't have the money for insurance, they probably don't have the money to pay you any judgment that you'd win.\n\nI'm presuming you did not have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.  Did your wife lose the job as a result of her hospital time?  She may qualify for disability benefits from the state and from Social Security.\n\nGood luck.
66272
Any visit to the doctor's office usually results in a co-pay.  They might have been nice and doing it for free for a ling time.  Do understand that medical liability insurance is very costly, someone had to schedule an appointment for you and update your file after your blood pressure check.
213101
They don't offer it because it's so expensive. Call around and get prices. Start with Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Do you have auto or homeowner's insurance? If so, call them, maybe you can get a discount.
1023534
Hmmmm...  this could be a little tricky with out insurance....BUT...  there could be ways on working around that..   there are free hospitals (if living in the states) suggestion is to try one of them.....  the wait maybe insanely long but you would not need the insurance.....  just bring a very good and long book to read..  also you can try to contact any hospitals administrator and let them know you need medical attention but can not afford it..   ask if they can help..  some times they have programs to help people without insurance..  really ask about this one..   they even might be able to work out some kind of payment plan or they just might pick up the tab altogether..  in any situation for just about anything sometimes the easiest thing to do is to ask for help...   someone somewhere will always help..  if you can not find help in your area...  look elsewhere..  but keep trying..  take care..
1123511
I would first of all go to the hospital and see if they will agree to a payment plan. It is my understanding that as long as you pay, consistenly, something on a bill you can't be taken to court (don't quote me on this)...but my first stop would be the accounting department of the hospital in question.  \n\nAsk them where you can go for help in paying.....Remember, you are not the first patient that can't pay.  Just make sure you don't let any family member co-sign anything to do with this bill.  \n\nLast but not least (and this is the last resort) if you can't get help eitther with the hospital or a govt agency,you couuld declare bankruptcy.....but this is a BIG step and will follow you for, I believe, 7 years.
434846
You can take out a personal loan.\nBut if you've already done all the work with a surgeon, the surgeon's office will help you get covered by your insurance company.\nThere are also law firms that will help make your insurance company pay.
1031986
If your doctor agreed to a negotiated rate with your insurance company, you are not responsible for the discounted amount.  This is a common practice in HMOs and PPOs, and it does not mean that the doctor 'charged too much'.\n\nIf the insurance company says you ARE liable for the amount they didn't pay, it means they are using some sort of calculation for the "reasonable and customary" charges for the area (they don't have a contract with the doctor).  If they did this, you can ask them how they came up with this calculation and when was the last time they updated it.  Some companies just pay a percent of the Medicare fee schedule (110% or 125%), but they might be using old data.
434098
I agree, get a lawyer. Too many posibilities and not enough clarification with your question. Most Doctors practicing medicine today carry  malpractice insurance. If the Doctor is clearly at fault you may have an easier time finding representation via a lawyer as they can expect a payout even if you can't afford one now.
751339
Are you responsible for this family member's bills?  If so, then you are responsible for this one.  If the name of the emergency facility was "Emergency Medical Associates," then the emergency facility gets the money.  If "Emergency Medical Associates" is a medical group which runs the emergency room, then the medical group gets the money; and doctors' salaries, equipment upkeep, etc. are paid out of this income.\n\nIf you don't pay the EMA bill, it probably will be sent to collections; and you will be hearing from a bill-collecting company.\n\nYou may be able to call the emergency facility, explain your financial situation, and work out terms of payment.  The only financial assistance of which I know with respect to medical bills is Medicaid; and I believe you have to be on Medicaid at the time of medical service in order to be able to claim Medicaid as the insurer responsible for the bill.