Photo Credit: Katia Gelman
I am so grateful that I have an awesome job with awesome benefits. I would be even more grateful, however, if any provider I ever saw actually knew how to bill my insurance for ANYTHING. Since that seems beyond anyone’s grasp, I often have phone calls like the one I just finished.
Me: Hello there. I just got a collection notice for an ER visit I had in March? It looks like my insurance never got billed. I’d like to help you resubmit the claim.
Guy: Okay, let’s figure out what happened. Kristen King?
Me: Yup, that’s me.
Guy: Blue Cross Blue Shield?
Me: Yup. Of Massachusetts.
Guy: And is your ID number [totally not my ID number]?
Me: Um, no, not even close.
Guy: [[chuckles]] Well, I guess that’s why it said they couldn’t find you in the system.
Me: That would probably do it.
Guy: Okay, we can take care of that. I’m not sure why it went to collections though.
Me: I’m guessing it’s because I didn’t pay the bill.
Guy: [[brief silence]] Your attitude is amazing. Most people freak out. I love you.
Me: Ha. Thank you. It said you were submitting it to my insurance and I know I’m not responsible for this amount. So…can we get this taken care of?
Guy: No problem. I’ll resubmit it right now now that we have the correct information. Sorry about that. Have an awesome day.
I think I just got off the phone with the only medical billing specialist in history who actually likes his job. If they were all this quick and easy, and entertaining, maybe I wouldn’t mind as much!
Obviously I prefer having health insurance to having no health insurance. But sometimes I feel like managing it is a full-time job. Is it just me?