Letter to the editor

The Moore American

October 09, 2008 08:05 am

— Barack Obama supports a strong and responsible recovery. Barack Obama hasn’t taken any money from lobbyists or special interests throughout his campaign. He’s responsible to the American people who own this movement—his recovery plan puts Main Street first, not Wall Street. Barack Obama’s plan also requires that other nations, who have a huge stake in our economy, must join us in helping to secure financial markets.
Barack Obama’s plan won’t be a blank check. The pressure from some in Washington to bail out failed companies with a blank check isn’t fair to American taxpayers. Barack’s plan includes demands for independent accountability and oversight. His plan also will reform our regulatory structure — the faulty groundwork laid by John McCain’s policies that made this economic crisis possible in the first place.
My spinal surgery costs nearly bankrupted me and I am extremely angry that no one is looking out for the hard-working, soon to be lower class person.
My BC/BS plan comes with a $1,000 deductible, conditions on what it won’t and will pay (minimal), and co-pays and not one time co-pays, but if one has to undergo physical therapy three times per week at $25 a clip it would have bankrupted me. I had to turned down my physical therapy, since I could not afford to pay it, along with the on-going medical charges and medications I had to pay for that my less than adequate health insurance plan wouldn’t pay for it.
Now… here’s the wonderful part.
Curious as to the charges and panicked from the get-go as to how much this surgery was going to cost me, I asked the surgeon’s and medical facility for an itemized version of my bills. Mind you, I’m not including blood work, MRI’s, Physical Therapy, medications, etc.
They complied; however, I caught several bogus charges, over-charges, and incorrect information on a total of 6 pages; for an overnight stay! Scrutinizing the bill I saved myself and BCBS close to $3K!!!
Did BCBS ever ask why I was double charged for one surgery? Did BCBS ever question the bogus billing charges ($25 socks, $12.50 plastic head cap, $60 for medication never swallowed)! The list goes on and on and NO, they did not. I had to fight to rid my bill of these assinine charges, which took several months and a ton of paperwork & time.
After clearing that matter up and in developing a relationship with both the hospital and surgeon’s billing clerks, I ended up having to pay $25 (all I could afford) per month to pay down my debts. Now mind you I pay out of my pocket for BCBS two times per week, costing me close to $1200 per year! What a ruse!
And here is the icing on the cake...
A month ago I retrieve my mail from the mailbox and there’s another billing notice from the spine hospital. I’m baffled, since I just paid off that bill!
I open the envelope to find an account number I have never seen before, with no specific charges, just a balance due of $1,300 (approx.)! I fell into my seat and nearly had a nervous breakdown.
In calling the billing clerk, which knows me very well by name, I tell her...
“Iral..., this is Bev Votta. I am sitting here with a bill in my hand, with an account number I have never seen before, with no specifics, yet wanting $1,3??. I also have a loaded gun on the top shelf in my closet. I am ready to pull that gun off the shelf and put it to my temple and fire if you tell me I actually owe this money.”
She became alarmed, as I had when reading this bill, told me not to do anything rash, she’ll speak with her supervisor and call me right back within an hour.
I stood by the phone, she called, and low and behold I’m paid in full. I calmly asked her to please send me an overall statement, including every account number and noting all accounts are paid in full! I got it a week later.
What about those people that are too busy, trust the medical profession and institutions, and trust their medical insurance company? No one I know of would have gone the distance like I did to straighten out the whole mess.
I am still angry that they (anyone having to do with the medical issues) would stoop so low as to try to pull the wool over my eyes to try to get me to pay a bill that never existed for over 16 months!
We need a watchdog, working on behalf of the consumer and the insurance companies.
This situation happens all the time, speaking to hundreds of new hires I teach every year and for a large corporate firm.
If there is a position, needing filled on behalf of the consumer and insurance company, I’ll take it! I don’t want anyone else to have to go through what I have gone through, which I am sure there still is.
Pay attention here...for the cost of health insurance could be reduced by simply scrutinizing medical bills and facilities making bogus and outlandish charges.
Bev Votta,
Moore