The most common causes of billing problems are discussed below with general tips and suggestions for handling each problem.

· Incorrect insurance card 

· Failure to provide supplement or spouse insurance 

· Failure to understand benefits

· Updating Patient Demographic information 

Incorrect Insurance card 

The number one cause of billing problems is an outdated insurance card or not having your insurance card with you when you receive medical services. Health plans change their procedures and issue new cards regularly, employers often change health plans and employees often change jobs. It is very easy to use a wrong, outdated insurance card.

· Solving the problem: When you receive the first bill, contact the Patient Financial Services Department to provide the correct insurance information for rebilling. 

· Solving the problem: Call your insurance plan’s membership or customer service line to explain the situation. If this is not helpful, ask your physician’s office to call your insurance plan. You could also talk to your company’s human resources benefits manager since they purchased the plan. 

Failure to provide supplemental or spouse insurance

Make sure you give the provider of your medical services all relevant insurance information. If you are covered by more than one insurance provider, be certain to provide this information. This is particularly true for patients who have Medicare and a supplemental policy. Sometimes, in addition to primary insurance, a patient is covered by a spouse’s insurance or by supplemental insurance. If this information is not disclosed at the time of the visit, the physician or Hospital cannot bill against those plans, which might increase your portion of the bill.

· Solving the problem: Contact the Patient Financial Service department and or the Financial Counselor with the additional insurance information when you receive your first self-pay bill so the provider can complete the insurance billing.

Failure to understand benefits

Due to the complexity of managed care, patients often do not understand what procedure and services are covered and what their co-pays are. 

· Solving the problem: If you are having difficulty understanding the benefits when you are choosing an insurance plan, you should contact your employer’s benefits manager for clarification. If your question is regarding a previous or future medical service, contact your insurance company directly for assistance. 

Updated Patient Demographic Information

Make sure you give our front desk staff as well as your provider all current demographic information.  It is imperative to give this information in order to avoid not receiving your patient statements in the mail.

Updated Patient Demographic information includes:

Current address

Current phone number

Correct social security number

Correct date of birth 

● Solving the problem:  As you present at our clinic locations at the time of your scheduled appointment; please inform our front desk staff about any changes in reference to your updated patient demographic information.