Insurance wants prepayment to service

[michellepul]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? TX

I am pregnant and will have my c-section in 2 weeks. Today, the hospital I will be delivering at emailed me saying I need to pay my deductable and co-pay in full before my surgery.

I had another child 4 years ago and we were simply billed for the services after the surgery which we paid on time in full. Our insurance company (BCBS TX) stayed the same, it's just with my husband's new employer now.

I am wondering if we do this and the hospital does not file with my insurance company first, then we will end up paying another full deductable and co-pay to whoever does file first and wait on a refund from the hospital. Right now we really don't have the budget to float a couple of deductables and co-pays right now since refunds are never timely.

I also asked this to BCBS TX and I'm waiting on their reply, but I thought I might get some third party advice before doing anything.

Thank you,
Michelle P.

[CourtClerk]

Ya know, everytime I go to the doctor and/or hospital, I am required to pay the copayment prior to services being rendered.....

[michellepul]

Originally Posted by CourtClerk

Ya know, everytime I go to the doctor and/or hospital, I am required to pay the copayment prior to services being rendered.....

Thank you for replying.

For my family's doctor visits, we pay the co-pay ($25/visit) immediately after the doctor visit. My husband even had to go to the ER a few weeks ago and they billed us after the fact for our share after the insurance paid the hospital their portion.

They are wanting the deductable plus the 80/20 share which adds up to $2030 before services are rendered. Since I had a child before and was also billed after the delivery, wanting the money beforehand does not appear normal based on our previous hospital billings.

[Antigone*of*Greece]

Originally Posted by michellepul

Thank you for replying.

For my family's doctor visits, we pay the co-pay ($25/visit) immediately after the doctor visit. My husband even had to go to the ER a few weeks ago and they billed us after the fact for our share after the insurance paid the hospital their portion.

They are wanting the deductable plus the 80/20 share which adds up to $2030 before services are rendered. Since I had a child before and was also billed after the delivery, wanting the money beforehand does not appear normal based on our previous hospital billings.

Times have changed and in this economic climate I do not see it as out of line for the hospital for ask for payment.

Is it that you don't have your deductible and co-pay?

[michellepul]

Originally Posted by Wirelessany1

Times have changed and in this economic climate I do not see it as out of line for the hospital for ask for payment.

Is it that you don't have your deductible and co-pay?

Thank you for your reply.

We do have money for my deductable and co-pay and for our newborn hospital bills as well when they come in. We were worried about possibly having to pay it twice if the hospital fails to file with our insurance company first (one to the hospital, one to who files first) and waiting on a refund.

We experienced a similar occurance with our first child, that's why we're skeptical this time around. The OB/GYN made us pay them while I was pregnant, then, after the delivery, we had to pay another hospital service bill that happened to file first since the OB/GYN took their time to file.

When we asked our insurance company why this happened, they ended up saying that we shouldn't have paid our OB/GYN first like they wanted. They told us they pay out bills as the services file with them. The OB/GYN also took 2 months to get our money refunded to us which makes me even more hesitant to dish out money just because one wants our full deductable first.

I will see what our insurance company says first make sure we are all on the same page before paying out money.

[Antigone*of*Greece]

Originally Posted by michellepul

Thank you for your reply.

We do have money for my deductable and co-pay and for our newborn hospital bills as well when they come in. We were worried about possibly having to pay it twice if the hospital fails to file with our insurance company first (one to the hospital, one to who files first) and waiting on a refund.

We experienced a similar occurance with our first child, that's why we're skeptical this time around. The OB/GYN made us pay them while I was pregnant, then, after the delivery, we had to pay another hospital service bill that happened to file first since the OB/GYN took their time to file.

When we asked our insurance company why this happened, they ended up saying that we shouldn't have paid our OB/GYN first like they wanted. They told us they pay out bills as the services file with them. The OB/GYN also took 2 months to get our money refunded to us which makes me even more hesitant to dish out money just because one wants our full deductable first.

I will see what our insurance company says first make sure we are all on the same page before paying out money.

Congratulations to you and your loved ones on your new baby!!!

Take care, ana

[michellepul]

Originally Posted by Wirelessany1

Congratulations to you and your loved ones on your new baby!!!

Take care, ana

Thank you.