Yesterday, Sheri Samotin joined us on Your Caregiving Journey to share the five errors to avoid in managing your caree’s (and your own) medical bills. You can listen to our show via the player at the bottom of this post.
So, here are the five biggest mistakes to avoid:
1. Not understanding your caree’s benefits and coverage. Take the time to learn and understand benefits and coverage; you’ll avoid the pain of misunderstandings and assumptions.
2. Not reading what you’re signing. If you are signing a document authorizing care for your caree (at the ER, for instance), please sure to include a describer after your signature: “as POA” or “as agent” or “as next of kin.”
3. Not asking for what you need. If benefits end for a treatment or therapy end but you believe the treatment or therapy still offers benefits, then ask the doctor to write a Letter of Medical Necessity to submit to the insurance carrier. The carrier might deny your request for service continuation—but it might not. Ask.
4. Not asking for an itemized statement and promptly reviewing at time of service provided. Reviewing an itemized statement ensures you stay on top of charges and can have errors on statements fixed as soon as possible.
5. Not opening mail which means the clock may be running on your right to appeal if a claim is denied or on how an account is aging if money is due. Set aside time on a weekly basis to review medical paperwork—you’ll save yourself time and frustration down the road.
What tips would you like to add?
