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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Ten Tips to Find Medical Bills Help
By Charlie Jones Jr.

Many people are afraid to ask for help with their medical bills, or think they aren’t able to get such assistance. However, anyone who has debt that they can’t afford to pay has options, and those who aren’t humble enough need to swallow their pride and realize that debt settlement or consolidation looks much better than bankruptcy. Don’t be ashamed. An average of 30% of Americans have medical debt, and of those, around 2/3 actually have health insurance. You’re not alone. If you want medical bills help, here are some tips to help you out.

1. Medical debt doesn’t make you less of a person. Accept it and take a proactive role in resolving the situation.
2. Research is your friend. With so many options for medical bills help, you’ll need to be informed.
3. If a company wants money to give you information on debt solutions and medical bills help, they’re not a company you want to be associated with, if they’re even legitimate at all.
4. The amount of debt you have is irrelevant. Medical bills help exists for everyone.
5. Don’t use credit cards to pay off medical bills. Using credit to pay off debt is never a good option, because it only creates more debt.
6. Most people who file bankruptcy do so because of medical debt. Don’t become a statistic, because there are other options.
7. Debt consolidation and settlement companies are just as varied as the people who need them. Find one that fits your needs, both financially and personally.
8. Having insurance doesn’t eradicate the chance for medical debt to build up over time. Make sure you know your policy inside and out so you know what’s covered and what isn’t.
9. Professional debt companies can get deals from collectors and medical billing companies that you can’t, simply because of their status.
10. Doing nothing is the worst decision that you could make.

Bearing these things in mind, you should be a little better able to find the medical bills help that you need. Many people don’t understand these things, so they shy away from getting help because of their insecurities. Most companies offer a free consultation in order to give you your options and likely outcomes. There are a few different types of companies that can help with medical debt and the one you choose really depends on your financial situation. You have many options when dealing with this kind of debt. Your options include medical bill negotiation, consolidation, debt management, and creditor negotiation. Talk to multiple companies and decide which option is best for you.

Find more information on receiving Medical Bills Help. Receive a free consultation to get your options and likely outcome.

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There are few things that can destroy your financial future quicker than a pile of unpaid medical bills. They can be just as difficult to catch up with as credit card bills and other financial pitfalls. The difference is that unpaid medical bills often carry a much higher price tag than other bills, and that they can come very suddenly and with little or no warning at all.

If you feel like you are losing the battle against all of those medical debts, you should know that you do have some courses of action that can allow you to reduce the amount of money you owe, pay back your debts in a more reasonable manner, or get you out of the financial trouble that you could otherwise find yourself in. Here are a few quick tips that can help you get rid of those bills before you know it.

First of all, check your bills thoroughly for accuracy. You would be shocked at how many times there have been errors in the bills that hospitals and doctors give out. Make sure you’re not being charged for services that weren’t rendered or medications that you didn’t receive or need in the first place. You will probably have to get some assistance from your hospital on some of the items, but it is well worth the effort.

Also, work with your insurance company to ensure that they paid for everything that they should have. Just like hospitals and doctors, insurance companies can make mistakes, too! Those mistakes are often very expensive ones, so don’t skip this step.

Finally, see if your medical service providers are willing to work with you to reduce your unpaid medical bills. They will more than likely be willing to lower the amount that you owe, set up a reasonable payment plan, or both.

If you work hard and do these simple steps, you will likely find yourself in a much better position to pay off those medical debts forever. Just remember to look at all the available options and make smart decisions, and you will eventually win the war against those bills.

We can help you Reduce Medical Bills . If you need help with Medical Bills contact us for assistance. There are many different reasons that people seek help for medical debt. No matter what you decide, it is important to remember you have options. http://www.helpformedicalbills.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Turin
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