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Posts Tagged ‘health insurance quote’

Having medical insurance is no guarantee you won’t be overbilled. Many are finding inaccuracies in the bills they receive from hospitals and caregivers. The problem is less uncommon than one would think. It could be sloppiness or it could mean the right hand isn’t talking to the left hand. Hospital billing procedures often do leave a lot to be desired, since there are so many involved in the patient’s care. But errors do occur, and it is a good idea to do a line by line review of your hospital bill.

One young nurse recently had an eye opening experience as she was reviewing the bills from her husband’s recent hospital stay. It appears he had been scheduled to be released on a particular day, and that wasn’t communicated somehow, causing him to have to stay an extra day. There were excessive charges for administering medication 7 times per day when it was only prescribed 4 times per day. And then there was the charge for $875 for one item that she knew from her hospital work should have only been around $80. Clerical error. By the time she was finished, she had discovered nearly $7000 of incorrect charges.

So when you receive a hospital bill, it is a good idea to sit down and review it very carefully. If you have questions, sit down with your doctor instead of the hospital billing department. The billing department is clerical by nature, and they don’t always have an accurate history of the care that was actually provided. Make sure you ask questions.

In just a few weeks, on January 5, 2009 Floridians will have something to celebrate. The Cover Florida Health Care Program goes into effect on that day and citizens will be able to purchase health insurance. Governor Christ signed the bill in May of 2008, and it does, however, have some restrictions.

The plans will be exempt from some state mandated regulations, and may also limit other services such as hospital stays. Governor Christ has stated that his main goal in getting this bill passed was to provide access to those who wouldn’t otherwise get it at lowered premiums.

The plan will have a portfolio of 25 different plans provided by six insurers, it has been reported. A monthly premium of $155 is forecast to be an average. Governor Christ states that he’s particularly proud that the plan addresses the needs of children, of seniors, and of the unemployed. The plan will give them choices in their own care.

This is a positive step in the right direction for many, even though the deductibles in the plan will approach $3000 for a family plan. The plan is a step toward a focus on health care instead of sickness care.

The Cover Florida plans will provide access to health insurance to more than 3 million who would otherwise never be able to find coverage in the individual market. Pre-existing conditions will not be a factor in getting coverage. The Florida health insurance plan is available for all residents between 19 and 64 who have not been covered for at least the prior six months.