Acne Information

What Should I Do About Billing Problems When Using HSA Money?


If you run into a billing problem or misunderstanding with a hospital or doctor's office for which you're planning to use money from your Health Savings Account (HSA), you could be in trouble.

This article will help you understand how hospital and doctor visits are different when paying with a Health Savings Account. Not better or worse, just different.

If you have an HSA, you must have health insurance. It's a requirement. However, if you are using money from your HSA, it means that you haven't hit the deductible of your policy yet.

In this particular situation, life is a bit different when it comes to resolving billing disputes with hospitals.

Insurance companies have a comprehensive system for dealing with billing disputes when they have covered a hospital stay or doctor visit. But when they haven't covered it because you are still within your deductible, that comprehensive dispute resolution system doesn't necessarily apply.

Here are some points to keep in mind when you are dealing with a hospital in a billing dispute, and you have paid with HSA money. I learned these important points when I was talking to an expert in this field named Dr. Vincent Riccardi, who is the owner of American Medical Consumer (www.medconsumer.com), a company dedicated to helping people resolve billing disputes with hospitals and doctors.

Here's what Dr. Riccardi has to say:

  • First, discuss the issue with your physician. Sometimes the problem stems from an incorrectly applied billing code and the doctor can easily change it to please the hospital and resolve the problem on the spot.
  • Negotiate in person. Especially if you just don't have the money to pay a bill, it makes the best sense to negotiate face-to-face with the person at the hospital who has the authority to reverse or reduce the charges. Hospitals would often rather be paid part of a bill than risk losing the entire bill. Be honest and forthright and you may have a good chance in negotiating a reduced fee from the hospital. This includes the situations where it was a misunderstanding on your part. It's at least worth a try.
  • Don't bother going to the State Medical Board. In most cases, they are not able to help you. This is the case with most government agencies. Even the Departments of Insurance cannot help, because this isn't an insurance problem, it is technically a fee-for-service situation.
  • Recourse to a lawyer is usually not fruitful unless there is a big amount involved. For amounts less than $5,000 (which is what most HSA-style deductibles are), a lawyer probably won't be able to help you.
  • Remember that the only things that count in negotiations like this are the things that have been written down. If a doctor mentioned something to you but didn't write it down, it probably won't help you. Get things in writing all the way through the process.
  • I think of HSAs as a way to "be your own insurance company" for the small stuff (under your deductible). That is its power. But it also means that when it comes to disputes, you also have to "be your own insurance company" and take charge of the negotiations with the hospital, just like an insurance company would. Your willingness and ability to negotiate will influence your ability to get unfair charges reversed or, at least, lessened. But it's a "do it yourself" situation, so be aware of that when you sign up for an HSA.

    Daryl Kulak is the author of the book "Health Insurance Off the Grid - A Wonderful Way to Use Alternative Medicine and Save Money on Insurance Using the New Health Savings Account (HSA)."

    The book provides a nine-step plan to get your self-employed or small business health insurance costs under control using a unique approach you won't find anywhere else. The book is available for sale as an e-Book or paperback at the Website http://www.healthoffthegrid.com








    MORE RESOURCES:

    Acnecentre.com Launched With A New Key For Acne Fetters
    The Open Press (press release) - 2 hours ago
    New York (OPENPRESS) September 6, 2008 -- Acne scars are flaws on skin which are the remnants after a person is afflicted by acne. ...


    Escalate firepower to win the acne war
    SouthCoastToday.com, MA - Sep 4, 2008
    Fighting acne involves conducting warfare on many fronts. One front is the overproduction of male hormone that occurs in puberty and at other stages of life ...


    Acne: Prestige Beauty's New Bull's-Eye Posted Sep 5, 2008
    Women's Wear Daily - Sep 4, 2008
    by Molly Prior Prestige beauty firms are raising an issue with raised red bumps — notoriously referred to as acne — and increasingly are adding ...


    Best Syndication

    Acne - The Aftermath of Acne Breakouts
    Best Syndication, CA - Sep 4, 2008
    If you suffered from acne, you would know that severe acne like cystic lesions could create scarring, redness and pigmentation. If the acne was not treated ...


    Condom Lubricant Used as Acne Cure in Cambodia
    FOXNews - Aug 29, 2008
    A condom lubricant produced by a health organization to protect sex workers and gay men is being hailed as an acne cure by some in Cambodia, ...


    Steroid abuse acne scars are a real eyesore
    Irish Medical Times, Ireland - Sep 3, 2008
    The BBC reported that while mild doses can cause slight acne, this man used such severe doses the rash over his back and chest ulcerated. ...


    Condom lubricant is the best acne cure!
    Times of India, India - Aug 29, 2008
    Cambodian women have found a unique way to cure acne – a condom lubricant designed for sex workers and gay men. Number One Plus, a water-based lubricant ...


    Study Outlines Teens' Preferences And Trade-offs For Freedom From Acne
    Science Daily (press release) - Aug 20, 2008
    20, 2008) — Teens report that they would pay about $275 to have never had acne, and are willing to pay considerably more to be acne-free than to have 50 ...


    Best Syndication

    Acne Does Not Choose - Be it a Man or a Woman
    Best Syndication, CA - Sep 1, 2008
    You see television programs about acne, you read articles about acne, and the internet is loaded with information about acne. Despite all these knowledge, ...


    Michala Banas Joins Celebrity Cast Supporting Acne Treatment ...
    Free press releases (press release), UK - Sep 1, 2008
    McLeod’s Daughters actress Michala Banas becomes new face of acne management treatment, Proactiv Solution. Popular Australian celebrity Michala Banas has ...

    Acne - Google News

    Home | Site Map  Copy Right 2006 Mahavir.com
    NISL | Herbal Acne Solutions | Promotion Factory | Web Design | Online University Degree | College & University | GtpInfo | VPayU