Plaintiff In Landmark Anti-Obamacare Lawsuit Bankrupted By Medical Bills-You And I Pick Up Her Tab

plaintiff in obamacare lawsuit filed bankruptcy over medical bills

Woman Suing to Stop Obamacare Files for Medical Bankruptcy

Was it really the medical bills that caused her bankruptcy?

The articles I’ve read have discussed debts that Mrs Brown and her husband accrued with a failing auto repair business.  In fact, the medical bills totaled $4500.  So, would $4500 bankrupt a couple actually be the cause of a bankruptcy?  I don’t think so.  Would I have a hard time paying back $4500?  Absolutely, I think a lot of Americans would take a long time to pay back $4500.

Now, if I understand bankruptcy correctly, when you file for Chapter 7 or 13 bankruptcy you must include all debts.  So, even if Mrs Brown intended to pay the medical bills, and I don’t know if she ever did,  law would require her to list her outstanding medical bills as debts.  I’ve never filed for bankruptcy, so it would be interesting to hear from those who know about bankruptcy.

Regardless, those who support Obamacare now uses Mrs Brown’s bankruptcy as a reason to continue on with Obamacare.  They explain how she is the perfect example of why we need Obamacare.  My question to these individuals…

How much would she have owed if she had the “minimal essential health insurance coverage” as required under the Obamacare law?

Good question isn’t it.  Yes, I agree that it is ironic that Mrs Brown is trying to skip out on paying her medical bills.  The difference, I understand the fact she would still have accrued medical bills with the required “minimal essential health insurance coverage”.

With or without Obamacare, there is one principle that we need to understand…we need to pay our bills, even if they are medical related.

Here’s something that most Politicians don’t want you to know…

You will still have medical bills even with Obamacare being in effect.

It surprises me how times I’ve said that to people and they don’t believe it.  Seriously, how can you honestly believe that you would get free health insurance and never pay another medical bill the rest of your life.  It just can’t and won’t happen!

Yes, I know it sounds like this new health care legislation is taking care of everyone’s medical bills.  Some politicians actually want you to believe it.  Why?  Well the more people that believe, the more votes these politicians will receive.  But, don’t let them fool you.  It is a farce.  Obamacare is health insurance, not free healthcare.  Therefore, you will accrue medical bills if you utilize health care services in the future.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), also called Obamacare, is more about having insurance.  It is NOT about never having to pay a medical bill again.   Wikipedia’s definition of (PPACA) is:

PPACA requires individuals not covered by employer- or government-sponsored insurance plans to maintain minimal essential health insurance coverage or pay a penalty unless exempted for religious beliefs or financial hardship, a provision commonly referred to as the “individual mandate”. The Act also reforms certain aspects of the private health insurance industry and public health insurance programs, increases insurance coverage of pre-existing conditions, expands access to insurance to 30 million Americans,[4][5] and increases projected national medical spending[6][7] while lowering projected Medicare spending.

“Minimal Essential Health Insurance Coverage”

This is the key to understanding that medical bills will exist, even with Obamacare.  One can easily assume you will have out of pocket expenses if you have “minimal essential” insurance coverage on your auto insurance, home insurance, and health insurance.  Let’s face it, your health insurance isn’t that great if you are getting the minimal coverage allowed by law.

So, you decide your out of pocket expense isn’t worth paying for the insurance.  Don’t worry, PPACA has that covered too.  You’ll pay a penalty every year you do not maintain essential minimum coverage.

What’s the point?

So, why am I letting you know?  First, it is very important to know that you will acquire medical bills if you utilize medical services in the future.  Therefore, it is also important that you be prepared for these bills.  You know the saying, “Save for a rainy day”.

It is also important to seek the advice and services of a Claims Assistance Professional.  These individuals assist you in eliminating the work and worry involved in understanding your medical bills.   The can navigate the health insurance process for you and ensure there are no billing errors.

Lastly, and probably more importantly, don’t let politicians fool you with false hope and empty promises of free healthcare.  It’s not going to happen.

PS.  I have to recognize Morgan & Morgan, for the people, since this post is a loosely based parody of their commercials.

Tina is self-employed and ended up with a pretty serious illness that kept her from working.  Of course, no money was rolling in while Tina was sick.  She paid the hospital and her physicians what she had too, but still racked up some pretty high medical bills.

Fast forward to today.  She’s back to work and ready to put her illness behind her.  There’s only one remaining issue.  Paying off her medical debt.  She has the money and is ready to pay off the hospital and her doctors.  That’s how I got involved.  She asked if there was any trick to getting discounts from her medical providers.

Just ask for a discount!

No secrets.  No tricks.  Just simply ask for a discount.  Ok, maybe you could script yourself before you ask.  I’d recommend stating that you understand it is customary to give a 25% discount when paying all at once in cash.  It might not be their policy, but you’ve broke the ice and put a figure on the table.

Let me prepare you for the worst thing that can happen when you ask for a discount.  Are you ready?  They might say, “No.”

Most Providers will Negotiate with You!

I managed cancer centers all across the United States and was constantly negotiating with patients, their families, and their insurance companies.  You’d be surprised how many times I simply excepted the above offer from a patient or their family without a fight.  Why?  It costs money every time one of my employees touch an outstanding account.  Think about it.  There’s employee’s time, paper and envelopes to send bills, postage, and other operating expenses attached to that account.

The other reason was for the patient and their families.  Sometimes it is best to give them one less thing to worry about!

Be Prepared to Pay Your Bill

This is very important.   Relationships are built on trust and your medical providers don’t want to negotiate if you’re not willing to pay.  Plus, it is just a waste of time.  Your time and their time.

Ask for a discount and pay off those medical expenses.

A recent AP article, What You Pay for Medicare Won’t Cover Your Costs, points out how the bad math that Medicare uses.  In fact, it is estimated that an average couple making $89,000 and retiring in 2011 would have paid about $114,000 into Medicare.  But, they could expect to receive about $355,000.  That’s three times the amount they paid into Medicare.

I realize this is a good situation for our seniors.  In fact, we all believe we should get more out of our investments.  In this case, we’re winning.

Here’s what scares me:

• Medicare covers approximately 46 million seniors right now.
• The first wave of baby boomers will retire in 2011.  It is estimated that 3 million people will reach the age of 65 this year alone.  
• It is estimated that Medicare will cover over 80 million seniors in 20 years.
• The amount of people paying into Medicare will decrease as the baby boomers retire.

We need to provide our seniors have medical care coverage using a system that will be available for future Medicare recipients.   Now is the time to figure out how to ensure Medicare’s success.

Here’s how to get your SalonPas® Arthritis Pain Releif Patch:

1. Go to Walgreens and Purchase a 5-Pack of SalonPas® Arthritis Pain Releif Patch
2. At checkout you’ll receive $5.99 in Register Rewards.  Register Rewards can be used for future purchases at Walgreens.

The $5.99 in Register Rewards basically makes the SalonPas® Arthritis Pain Releif Patch FREE.

Plus, you can go to SalonPas’ website and request a FREE sample of their product.  The Free Samples are limited (240 left at the date of this post).  Click here to get your Free Sample of SalonPas® Pain Releif Patch.

Here’s how it get your deal:

1. Buy 4 bottles of Advil (20-24 count bottles) at $3.00 Each ($12.oo total)
2. Print $2 off 1 Bottle of Advil Coupons found here.
3. At checkout you’ll receive $3 in Register Rewards.  Register Rewards can be used for future purchases at Walgreens. 

That’s it.  The $3 in Register Rewards basically makes the cost for all four bottles $1 total. 

Hurry, this offer ends January 8, 2011

Just remember, a penny saved is a penny earned.

Please contact me if you know of any good deals that may be available to inviduals.

Three Websites Working Together as One!

I’m not sure if many of you know the scope of this project.  It is a series of three websites that have one common goal – Letting people focus on their health and not their medical bills.  The three sites are:

1. YourMedicalBills.com – A resource of tips, advice, and various money saving deals.
2. YourMedicalBill.com – An online venue where users can ask and answer questions about their medical bills.
3. ClaimsAssistanceProfessionals.com – An online directory of Claims Assistance Professionals (CAP’s) that patients can use to find a CAP to assist them with their medical bills.

The first question that people ask me is, “Why 3 different sites?”  It is a good question.  Originally the project involved one website.  I realized quickly that there were three different functions that could operate independently of each other while at the same time complimenting each other.

Free for Users!

Did I mention these sites are free for users?  I will sell ads on the sites to cover my expenses.  Otherwise, the site is FREE for all to use.

Please be patient as I update all three sites to create an online community for individuals and their families to get help with their medical bills.  Check back often to see the updates as the happen.  Contact me if you have any ideas or want to become part of this project.

Happy New Year!

Jeff

Introducing YourMedicalBill.com

I’m excited to introduce YourMedicalBill.com, a website for patients to ask questions about your medicalbill. 

One of my desires has been to help patients with their medical bills.  This has lead to the creation of my newest project – http://yourmedicalbill.com/.  This site is a forum that can be used by patients to ask questions about their medical bills.  Not only can they ask questions, they can also get answers.  Not just from me, but from other Claims Assistance Professionals from around the country.  In fact, other patients may share their similar experiences with you.

Here’s a recent question and answered posted on YourMedicalBill.com

Question:  Can my dermatologist perform more than one skin cancer surgery on the same day?

Answer:    A dermatologist can perform more than one skin cancer surgery for you on any given day. The issue is Medicare and other insurance companies have cut reimbursement for the second, third, etc skin cancer surgeries performed on the same day.

Basically, your dermatologist is being a little greedy by making you come back for other surgeries. This allows him to get reimbursed the maximum amount on each surgery.

Have a question about your medical bill?  Go to YourMedicalBill.com and ask!

How a Medical Billing Advocate Can Help You Navigate Through Your Health Insurance Claims
By Joelle Stephens

A high quality medical billing advocate is often a great asset for clients who are beginning to understand how confusing the insurance claims process can be. One of the many protocols these medical billing advocates follow is reading through insurance paperwork in order to fully understand their clients insurance policy. What are the exact benefits covered in the plan? What are their prerequisites for receiving those benefits? What are the listed exclusions, and is there a detailed appeals process?

One of the dangers that many insured people face is that they do not understand that if their doctors do not request the proper authorization for necessary medical treatment, they may not receive the reimbursement they need. The best way to avoid such a frustrating situation is to have open communication with both the physician and the claims department with the insurance company, which is often much easier with the help of a medical billing advocate. This person will be able to ensure that doctors obtain any prior authorization necessary for their client if a special health situation requires certain treatment.

By keeping detailed records and proper organization can also help insured patients to avoid unnecessary altercations with their insurance company. Taking good notes and keeping all medical and insurance paperwork is particularly important when speaking with insurance companies about approval for medical coverage or reimbursement. Not being able to find the appropriate documentation for medical services can result in a delay-or even a denial-of medical reimbursement; and a successful appeal is often based on the client’s or patient advocate’s ability to produce documentation of medical necessity.

The best time to begin considering the services of medical billing advocates is at the very beginning of the insurance claim process. If you find yourself in a situation where you must handle the negotiations between a healthcare providers and the insurance company, it may be time to look into obtaining the services of a medical billing advocate . These professionals specialize in health issues and provide invaluable services to their clients when it comes to successfully appealing to insurance companies. Medical bills can result in severe financial burdens for today’s already struggling families, and any assistance patients receive in working with their insurance company’s claims department may become invaluable.

For information on how the professional medical billing advocates at SCI can help you with your insurance claims, contact us today at 888-242-6942.

-Joelle Stephens, CHIS, CBCS, CAP

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