How To Get Insurance to Pay Your Bill
Some of the most difficult situations we encounter in patient billing is when insurance fails to pay as expected. In those cases, parents can be left with hefty balances. Here are a few explanations and tips to avoid a surprise bill.
1. Coordination of Benefits. When a child is covered by two insurances, “coordination of benefits” (COB) is the process insurance companies use to decide which plan will pay first. Payment will be withheld until a parent contacts the insurance company to confirm the existence of 2 insurances, or the lack thereof. Frequently, insurance companies mail to the policy holder a request for verification. If these notices go ignored, payment will continue to be withheld, resulting in a bill to the parent. If you contact our billing office about a bill you have received, we may recommend that you contact your insurance company to settle the COB issue. It’s very important to follow up in a timely manner. We encourage everyone to be aware that some insurances, such as BCBS and United Healthcare, require annual notices.
2. Medicaid Enrollment Issues. Failure to keep information up to date with Medicaid is the most common reason that coverage ends. When renewal packets are sent out, it’s very important to send Medicaid the requested information. During the COVID pandemic, beneficiaries were allowed to keep their coverage without renewing. However, beginning March 31, 2023, coverage will end if updated information is not submitted. If renewal packets are not received, beneficiaries may go to access.arkansas.gov to complete the update. We recommend everyone covered by Medicaid verify their status prior to March 31, 2023.
3. Newborns. Insurance companies have time deadlines for adding newborns to a parent’s policy. As a courtesy, LRPC gives parents an opportunity in the first 6-8 weeks to enroll their new baby before billing for services. It’s very important to complete the enrollment as soon as possible after the birth in order to receive coverage beginning with the date of birth. For newborns expected to be covered by Medicaid, enrollment may be available in the hospital. Enrollment can also be completed at access.arkansas.gov.
For questions about insurance coverage or billing, please contact our billing office directly at 501-664-4044, ext. 210 or ext. 242. We are happy to assist.