And, another year has gone by. SSDD.
New hospitalization insurance this year, but the same old battles. BC-BS wanted a significant increase in premiums, so the union negotiated a better (maybe!) policy at the same rate we've been paying. Hospital my doctors work through was involved in what they are calling a merger with two others, but in reality it was a takeover by the biggest of the three. Billing has been flaky. Received a notice from a collection agency for a fee that was paid by insurance months ago after being billed four, yes four times. Insurance people straightened it out. And yes, I called just to verify. (Me, paranoid?)
Received a bill for my copay for an April visit to the ER. The bill was for just short of $75. Checked the insurance payment, and they said my copay was $65. ER bill also said the balance reflected $25 already paid, and if there was a problem, just call their number. After a week of busy signals, I called the hospital and got the billing department answering system. Leave a message and they'd get back within 24 hours. Yep, and the moon is made of green cheese. I finally wrote them a letter, enclosing a copy of the statement from my insurance company. Told them that per the insurance people, my copay was only $65 and as they already had $25, "enclosed please find my check for $40." Haven't heard a word from them, but they did deposit the check. I should have gone to law school.
That's it for now. I'm sure I'll be back when something else stupid bugs me.
