Over the past few decades, hospital bills in the United States have become increasingly complex and confusing. With ever-increasing healthcare costs, changes to insurance coverage, and a lack of transparency when it comes to pricing, patients are struggling to understand the charges on their medical bills.
The Basics of Hospital Billing
After receiving care at a hospital, you will probably get multiple bills from different providers. They will bill you for everything from room and board fees to medications, medical supplies, and the use of equipment and facilities. Your providers – doctors, surgeons, anesthesiologists, radiologists, etc. – will also bill you separately for their professional services.
Each hospital and provider have their own specific billing process and systems. Nonetheless, there are common codes and terminology you will see on your medical bills:
- CPT Codes: These are five-digit codes used to identify medical services provided. Each procedure and service has its own CPT code.
- ICD-10 Diagnosis Codes: These diagnosis codes are used to identify your specific medical condition or the reason for your visit.
- Itemized Charges: Your bill should provide an itemized list of all the specific services, supplies, tests, procedures, and fees that you have been charged for.
- Adjustments & Discounts: The initial charges or gross amounts will often be reduced through negotiated discounts with your insurance company. The adjustments show any discounts applied.
- Patient Responsibility: This is the amount you actually owe after insurance payments and discounts. It could include copays, deductibles, coinsurance, and non-covered services.
Getting an Estimate of Costs Beforehand
Since hospital bills can be highly variable and hard to predict, getting an estimate beforehand is the best course of action when and where possible. You can ask for a cost estimate from the hospital and your providers for planned procedures and surgeries. Let them know if you are uninsured or using an out-of-network provider, so you can get the most accurate estimate.
Understanding Your Insurance Plan and Benefits
The amount you end up owing for hospital services will depend on your specific insurance plan. To accurately estimate your costs as a patient, you need to understand your coverage, out-of-pocket maximums, deductibles, copays, coinsurance, network status of providers, and any pre-approvals needed for certain services.
Requesting an Itemized Bill and Looking for Errors
According to the good folk at Find-A-Code.com, it’s very important that you carefully review your itemized hospital bills for any potential errors or discrepancies. Medical billing mistakes do, unfortunately, occur. So look out for charges for services you didn’t receive, duplicate charges for the same service, and general math errors. As well as this, always check that your personal information – name, birthdate, account number – is correct.
If you find concerning discrepancies in your hospital bill, don’t hesitate to contest the charges. First, get in touch with the billing department to point out the errors and request a revised statement. Provide documentation like dates and details that contradict the billing. If they do not resolve the discrepancies adequately, submit a written dispute letter to the Patient Relations department. You can also contact your insurance company for help in disputing hospital charges.
Getting Support for Medical Bill Issues
Navigating complex hospital bills can feel overwhelming for patients. Lean on patient advocates in your community for guidance and support. Non-profit consumer assistance programs provide medical billing help, assist with disputes, and offer resources for those struggling with medical costs. You can also turn to financial counselors and social workers at the hospital or a legal aid clinic for assistance dealing with medical billing problems.
Conclusion
Decoding medical bills from a hospital stay or procedure can be challenging but armed with the right information, patients can better understand their financial obligations. While hospital billing may seem opaque, there are always resources available to help clarify hospital charges so patients come out of a healthcare experience on solid financial ground.