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Our health is the number one most important thing in our lives. Some people learn this the hard way, after a serious illness--whether their own or of a loved one--causes them to reflect on just what a great treasure it is to be healthy.
Unfortunately, those same people often learn other lessons, too, especially if they're among America's 45 million uninsured. Dealing with the medical bills that follow an illness can be more stressful than the illness itself....for example:
- It's hard to learn how much a single trip to the emergency room can cost. We know one couple in Georgia who was charged $40,000 for theirs.
- It's hard to learn how much that $12 "mucus recovery system" was really worth. We saw this on a bill once, and later learned it was a box of tissues that retails for about $2--and it's not a billable item anyway!
- Or how much that cute little teddy bear they give you in the hospital costs you (try $57.50--on the bill, they called it a "cough support device").
- Also billed at $57--a 2x2 piece of gauze used to wipe down surgical equipment (on the bill, the hospital called it a "fog elimination device"). Like the tissues, gauze isn't a billable item.
- Or how about the one where a hospital gave a patient a toothbrush as a courtesy--and then charged her a whopping $1,004 for it?
If you're wondering why you've never heard these stories before, here's why: Most people never see an itemized statement from a hospital or medical provider--not even the insurance companies! So most people don't know what they're being charged for.
The good news is, you can do something to control your healthcare costs--and MBAA can help.
If you're among the lucky ones who do have health insurance, you're probably saying, "What difference does this make to me? I don't pay much for my healthcare...just my premiums and copays, and deductibles, and a percentage of out of network costs."
Think about it. At $1,004 for a toothbrush, even those costs can add up. Sure, your insurance company pays the bill. But then they pass the cost along to you, in the form of higher premiums and less coverage next year.
Neither the insurance companies nor the healthcare industry is looking out for your interests. But MBAA's expert consumer advocates are here for the sole purpose of helping you cut your medical costs. We can help you sort through the mounds of paperwork you have from your medical providers and insurance companies. We'll analyze the accuracy of your medical charges and insurance payments. Our highly trained advocates will order the necessary statements, manually review each and every charge, and verify that your insurance payments are not shorted. We recover money that belongs to you and make sure you never pay another dollar you don't owe.
Don’t Let Medical Costs Become a Financial Hazard!
Contact an advocate today, or call the MBAA corporate headquarters for a referral: 540.387.5870.
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