You may be surprised to know how much we do for our patients. The first thing we do after receiving your insurance information is to call your insurance company and verify your benefits. Even though it is your responsibility to know what your requirements are, we do this as a courtesy for you. Granted, 75% of the time, we are given the incorrect information but that is due to the ineptness of the insurance companies.
Most importantly, we try to advise you ahead of time if you need a referral, prescription or if you have a copay. We try to make you aware of what is needed for you prior to your visit.
When we receive the EOB's (explanation of benefits) with the payment or denial information, we then make sure you are charged the correct amount, (many insurance companies make mistakes about copay amounts or co-insurance amounts!). If there is a denial, we then have to find out what the problem is and fix it. Many times we have to re-submit your claims several times since the insurance companies “don't have it on file”. Sometimes, after being on the phone for up to 45 minutes, we get someone who will adjust the claim to pay properly and then weeks later the claim is still not corrected.
We also verify your secondary insurance, something we are not required to do, just as a courtesy to you. That alone will tell you how long we are on the phone! Have you ever tried to call your insurance company? Just imagine that long wait for 10 different patients!
The next newsletter is what you can do for us.
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