What to Do When Your Health Insurance Won't
Cover Your Medical Care
It is becoming increasingly expensive to get a
health insurance coverage nowadays. However, health insurance is a long
term investment that would save you money in the long run.
If you have looked at the various health insurance
plans, you would have noticed that there is no health insurance plan
that will cover every kind of medical treatment you will need during
your lifetime.
Regardless of how good your health insurance is,
you may someday need to be treated for a health condition that is not
covered by your health insurance policy. Elective treatments like
cosmetic surgery and liposuction are typically not covered by health
insurance plans but there are other health conditions and medical
procedures that may not be covered.
Medical Insurance provides
peace of mind and one less problem to think about!
If you ever need to undergo a treatment or
procedure that your insurance policy does not cover but the treatment
or procedure is not specifically mentioned in the "excluded treatments"
section, inquire with your insurance company. Request a written
explanation that states their reasons for not covering the treatment or
procedure that you need to have. Show this letter to your doctor. Most
of the time, a treatment or procedure simply needs to be re-stated and
then presented to the insurance company, have it approved and get your
treatment or procedure covered.
However, you could land in a situation where the
treatment or procedure cannot be re-phrased, or the treatment has
already been given to you and now the company denies you the coverage.
The fact is, you do not have much options left. You might need to spend
your own money for the treatment or procedure.
If your health insurance company denies your claim
for coverage, you can make an appeal. Insurance companies have
procedures for appealing a claim so you would need to follow the
procedure of your insurance company. Insurance companies would
generally reject an appeal based on technicality rather than use their
resources to investigate the claim. Thus, if you decide to go with this
route, make sure you follow all the steps. Check with your policy
handbook as the process to appeal would be in there. It is also good if
you seek advice from your doctor before filing an appeal.
If, after going through all the process and
following the steps for appealing a claim, you still lose, don't give
up. The other options you can follow and which can save you from
bearing the entire expense are:
1. Negotiate with your doctor for lower payment or
if he can approve a payment plan.
Always check with your
insurer prior to making any claims if you can to avoid confusion.
2. Is your doctor a member of a medical discount
program? Check with your doctor because many doctors do join such
networks and groups.
3. If you have not started treatment or undergone
a procedure yet, do a little research and find another doctor who can
give you the same but at a lower cost.
4. Check if you are eligible for free treatment at
a public hospital or clinic based on your income level, veteran status
or some other socio-economic reason.
Be persistent and you will surely find a treatment
or procedure, the price of which is affordable for you.
Timothy Gorman is a
successful Webmaster and publisher of Easy Health Insurance
Guide . A website that specializes in providing health insurance
advice to include easy ways to find cheaper COBRA
insurance that you can research in your pajamas from the comfort of
your own home.
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