Patients experience several challenges during the process of medical treatment. One of these challenges is the increasing costs of medical services. Many patients have failed to secure reimbursement of the medical costs from their health insurance provider.
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) approximates that 200 million medical insurance claims are denied on an annual basis in the United States. The article discusses three important measures that a patient can take when his/her health insurance claim is denied.
1. Reapply several times
Patients should reapply when their medical insurance claims are rejected. The approval level for medical insurance services increases if the patient applies for health insurance claim more than once.
Some claims are rejected because of technical problems; for example, coding errors or application deadlines. These healthcare reimbursement claims are easily approved after reapplication.
Some medical insurance claims are denied due to coverage issues. These claims are easily approved during reapplication because additional documentation like the letter of medical necessity is provided.
2. Use electronic filing system and keep proper records
The patient is required to maintain a digital document trail when communicating with the health insurance provider.
Communication between the patient and the medical care provider should also be done electronically through e-mail. The client should inquire from both insurance company and healthcare provider about the procedure of filing the health insurance claim.
Copies of electronic or physical documentation should be properly recorded and filed.
3. Know the cost of the denied treatment
Healthcare consumers are required to understand the reasons why the health insurance company has declined the treatment.
The cost of the procedure is the most common reason for denial of the medical insurance claims. The price of medical care can easily be obtained from healthcare websites such as HealthBlueBook.com and SaveonMedical.com. Knowing the price enables the patient to negotiate the amount that he or she will pay for treatment.
