Have you ever been to the ER or scheduled a surgery and found out that one of the doctors that treated you was not in your insurance network?
This is more common than you think. People typically go to a hospital that is in their insurance network, only to find out that the ER Doctor is not in their network. Or, you schedule your knee surgery with your doctor, who is in your insurance network, at a hospital that is in your insurance network, only to get a separate bill from the anesthesiologist who is NOT in your network. It is so frustrating!
One such client of mine recently had surgery. Afterward, they received a bill from the anesthesiologist for $822.00. I have heard similar stories like this. Sometimes it is the anesthesiologist, a radiologist, the ER Doctor and other specialists who are not in the patient’s insurance network. This will create a separate bill for services, even though the hospital they went to was in the network, and they thought that all services there would be covered.
We need regulations so that we, as consumers, are not put into a situation like this! Until then, the next time you or a loved one is planning a surgery, make sure you interview everyone that will be in the room, and check to see if they are in your insurance network.
As an insurance agent, this is one of the reasons why it is so very important when you purchase Health Insurance, to ask about how large the Insurance Network is. (Because the smaller the network, the lower the insurance costs will be). So once again… If it sounds too good to be true… it could be the insurance network!
Feel free to reach out to me if you have questions about the insurance plan or insurance network that you are in. 770-527-5598 Amy Kelley
Or email me at: Amy@InsuranceNana.com