Hospital refusing to bill health insurance?
In South Carolina, we have an epidemic of hospitals and doctors refusing to file an injured person’s medical bills with the health insurance company after a car accident. Why does our Columbia SC auto accident lawyer call it an epidemic? In part, because it is widespread; in part because it is keeping people sick.
Hospitals Must Accept Your Health Insurance After a Car Wreck
If you have any form of health insurance - including Medicaid, Medicare, and Tricare - you know that some doctors are part of your network and some doctors are not. No matter which type of health insurance you have, it is almost certain that the hospital you visit after a car accident must accept your health insurance. Why? Because all hospitals are part of your health insurance company’s network. Let me break this down:
The hospital and health insurance companies—for example, Palmetto Baptist and BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS)—enter a contract. The contract states that people insured by BCBS can treat at Palmetto Baptist for a lower rate than uninsured people. Palmetto Baptist must then agree to the health insurance company’s terms, or risk not being able to treat anyone insured by BCBS.
Understanding How Hospitals and Insurance Companies Work Together
If you are insured by BCBS, you are a beneficiary of this contract. You may seek treatment from Prisma Health Baptist, which in term will submit your bill to the health insurance company. You, a family member, or your boss is paying BCBS for this benefit. Therefore, if you are injured in a South Carolina car accident and taken to Palmetto Baptist (or any hospital, for that matter), the hospital must file your bill with the health insurance company, which in turn must pay for all procedures covered by your plan. At the end of your case, you may have to pay back BCBS a portion of what they paid the hospital, but the amount you have to repay will be much less than uncovered medical bills from the hospital.
Don't Get Swindled - Obtain The Benefits You've Been Paying For
So why would the hospital mislead you into believing that because you were in a car accident, they cannot file with your health insurance company? It’s simple. They want you to pay them back 100% of their fee rather than accept the reduced rate that BCBS has negotiated on your behalf. Thus, they are trying to rob you not only of the compensation you receive for your injuries, but also the benefit of the health insurance coverage that you have been paying for.
Many doctors’ offices in your health insurance company’s network will try to play this same game. If you have any form of health coverage, yet you’re being told that either you cannot be treated or your medical bills cannot be filed because you were in a car accident, please call me. The rest of my family is in the medical field and is equally disturbed and disappointed in the fraud that is being perpetrated upon injured South Carolinians.
A Columbia Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You Get The Money You Deserve
As a Columbia, South Carolina car wreck attorney, I will represent your interests, not only when it comes to the at-fault driver’s insurance company, but also any medical provider that is trying to get over on you. Our offices are conveniently located in Columbia and Myrtle Beach, and we have been proudly servicing clients throughout the surrounding areas. Contact us online today or call us at 803-790-2800 (Columbia, SC) / 843-427-2800 (Myrtle Beach, SC).
