Why you may want a billing advocate on your side after a hospital stay

Being sick or in the hospital is hard enough, without having to figure out the bills that soon follow.

Are you being overcharged? Did the doctor or hospital submit the charge to your insurance company? Is the insurance company paying as much as it should?

Sometimes, you’re so tired or ill that you don’t even have the energy to go through the paperwork to figure all this out. Yet, you certainly don’t want to pay more than you need to. Medical bills can pile up quickly, and many people consider filing for bankruptcy because of them.

Related: Why is healthcare the only thing we’re ok paying price unseen?

If you are overwhelmed by medical bills, if you are considering bankruptcy because of them, or if you think your bills are outrageously high and are having trouble understanding them, it’s time to consider hiring a medical billing advocate.

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What medical billing advocate can do for you

Having a professional medical billing advocate in your corner can ease the mental and emotional strain of trying to make sure that you’re being charged correctly and fairly.

An advocate can also negotiate with a health care provider on your behalf. The amount on your bill isn’t always the final say on the matter.

A medical billing advocate can:

• Analyze your medical bills and spot errors, overcharges, and duplicate charges
• Figure out whether your health insurance has paid as much as it should have
• Work on your behalf to get inappropriate charges fixed
• Appeal health insurance claim denials on your behalf
• Negotiate with doctors and hospitals on your behalf to reduce what you owe

Here are a few scenarios when an advocate would be of help:

• The hospital billing office or your doctor’s billing service is blaming things on your health insurance company, and your health insurance company is blaming things on the billing office, leaving you in the middle, holding the bill.
• Your health insurance is refusing to pay part or all of your medical bills when you know they should be covering it, and is giving you the “run-around.”
• You just don’t understand your medical bills.
• You have no insurance, and don’t have the skill or energy to negotiate the costs with your provider.

What your advocate will need from you

In order for a medical billing advocate to help you, he or she will need certain basic information from you:

• Your medical bills
• Any Explanation of Benefits forms you’ve received from your insurance company
• Your permission to speak with both your health care providers and your insurance company. It’s possible that you’ll need to be present when they make that first call, to verbally confirm that permission.
• Access to your medical records, either through you or through your doctor.
• Accurate information about what you’ve paid so far.
• Information about what steps you’ve taken thus far to resolve your billing issues.
• And, your advocate will need to be paid. They don’t work for free, but they can potentially save you thousands of dollars.

Where to find a medical billing advocate

There is a website that will help you find the best person to help you, determine costs ahead of time, and make an informed decision.

The AdvoConnection Directory. Here, you can access an extensive listing of advocates in the U.S. and Canada and can select one based on your location.

You’ll also find advice about how to interview and hire the best advocate for you, one you have confidence in and are comfortable with.

The site also features a wealth of articles about medical care, dealing with doctors, record-keeping and more.

Sources:

1. When to Use a Medical Billing Advocate — Verywell Health
2. 5 Times You Definitely Need a Medical Bill Advocate — NerdWallet
3. The AdvoConnection Directory of Private, Independent, Professional Patient Advocates — AdvoConnection
4. Medical Billing Advocates Can Save Caregivers Time, Money and Effort — AgingCare