Comments on: who knew getting stuck with a needle was so expensive. http://www.lovebostongirl.com/2007/09/28/who-knew-getting-stuck-with-a-needle-was-so-expensive/ Tue, 21 Jun 2011 19:32:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: RC http://www.lovebostongirl.com/2007/09/28/who-knew-getting-stuck-with-a-needle-was-so-expensive/comment-page-1/#comment-2266 RC Tue, 21 Jul 2009 22:06:53 +0000 http://lovebostongirl.com/?p=175#comment-2266 I would most definitely read through your coverage info and dispute if you can. Honestly, I firmly believe that routine care is NOT Lahey's strength. I had a terrible experience with them last year over a bill from 2007 - which I never received, until I got collection calls a year later...apparently they were trying to mail to my address without filling in the zip code (a problem only the billing dept. had with my address, as I did receive other mail from Lahey during that period of time). It was for my routine GYN exam, which is supposed to be 100% covered by my BCBS insurance. BCBS rejected about $500 worth of lab work related to the routine yearly exam. I'm thoroughly convinced that the rejection had to do with the way Lahey billed. After about 5 phone calls to straighten out the fact why I never got the bill from Lahey...and 4 phone calls back-and-forth between BCBS and Lahey (one person in the Lahey billing dept. just seemed inept, if friendly...another woman was just inexcusably unfriendly, lacking ANY semblance of customer service) - BCBS adjusted their coverage and, as it turns out, I was correct and did not owe. Ironically, after we figured all this out for the 2007 bill, it was time for my 2008 exam...at which time we had the exact some problem with BCBS kicking back the charges from Lahey. I am not going to Lahey this year, and never plan to step foot in their hospital again for routine medical care. My 2009 exam is coming up and I'm very interested to see if I have the same problems with BCBS now that I'm visiting a new practice. I would most definitely read through your coverage info and dispute if you can. Honestly, I firmly believe that routine care is NOT Lahey’s strength. I had a terrible experience with them last year over a bill from 2007 – which I never received, until I got collection calls a year later…apparently they were trying to mail to my address without filling in the zip code (a problem only the billing dept. had with my address, as I did receive other mail from Lahey during that period of time). It was for my routine GYN exam, which is supposed to be 100% covered by my BCBS insurance. BCBS rejected about $500 worth of lab work related to the routine yearly exam. I’m thoroughly convinced that the rejection had to do with the way Lahey billed.

After about 5 phone calls to straighten out the fact why I never got the bill from Lahey…and 4 phone calls back-and-forth between BCBS and Lahey (one person in the Lahey billing dept. just seemed inept, if friendly…another woman was just inexcusably unfriendly, lacking ANY semblance of customer service) – BCBS adjusted their coverage and, as it turns out, I was correct and did not owe. Ironically, after we figured all this out for the 2007 bill, it was time for my 2008 exam…at which time we had the exact some problem with BCBS kicking back the charges from Lahey.

I am not going to Lahey this year, and never plan to step foot in their hospital again for routine medical care. My 2009 exam is coming up and I’m very interested to see if I have the same problems with BCBS now that I’m visiting a new practice.

]]> By: Therapeutic Ramblings http://www.lovebostongirl.com/2007/09/28/who-knew-getting-stuck-with-a-needle-was-so-expensive/comment-page-1/#comment-673 Therapeutic Ramblings Wed, 19 Dec 2007 19:38:00 +0000 http://lovebostongirl.com/?p=175#comment-673 (I found through a link you posted in a recent blog). Insurance companies are the devil. I've always had amazing insurance...until I went to grad school. I went from $5 co-pays and any doctor I wanted, to having to pay out the ass to go to crappy doctors. I feel your pain! (I found through a link you posted in a recent blog). Insurance companies are the devil. I’ve always had amazing insurance…until I went to grad school. I went from $5 co-pays and any doctor I wanted, to having to pay out the ass to go to crappy doctors. I feel your pain!

]]> By: Bass Man http://www.lovebostongirl.com/2007/09/28/who-knew-getting-stuck-with-a-needle-was-so-expensive/comment-page-1/#comment-189 Bass Man Fri, 28 Sep 2007 21:00:00 +0000 http://lovebostongirl.com/?p=175#comment-189 Oh, just wait to you really need insurance...<br/><br/>$1,200/month in insurance premiums and they tell you you've exceeded your lifetime allotment of treatment! Yes, lifetime allotment. Oh, gee you're not cured? You're only half well? Sorry, you've run out!<br/><br/>Health Insurance, yeah right! It used to be called Medical Insurance. It covered (gasp) Medical expenses. Now it only covers you as long as you don't use medical services! I.e., you're healthy, hence Heath Insurance. With it you can't afford to be sick.<br/><br/>Sorry, my experiences with the insurance industry has jaded me a bit. <br/><br/>What you have is catastrophic care insurance. It covers you if you have cancer, get in an accident, etc.. It's not designed to cover preventive care. There are some new (relatively) low cost plans out there, you may want to take a look (<a HREF="http://www.mahealthconnector.org/" REL="nofollow">http://www.mahealthconnector.org/</a>). You're healthy and young, premiums shouldn't be too bad. Also be careful with plans offered thru the school, the school often gets a piece of the action. It's more about money than providing coverage. Oh, just wait to you really need insurance…

$1,200/month in insurance premiums and they tell you you’ve exceeded your lifetime allotment of treatment! Yes, lifetime allotment. Oh, gee you’re not cured? You’re only half well? Sorry, you’ve run out!

Health Insurance, yeah right! It used to be called Medical Insurance. It covered (gasp) Medical expenses. Now it only covers you as long as you don’t use medical services! I.e., you’re healthy, hence Heath Insurance. With it you can’t afford to be sick.

Sorry, my experiences with the insurance industry has jaded me a bit.

What you have is catastrophic care insurance. It covers you if you have cancer, get in an accident, etc.. It’s not designed to cover preventive care. There are some new (relatively) low cost plans out there, you may want to take a look (http://www.mahealthconnector.org/). You’re healthy and young, premiums shouldn’t be too bad. Also be careful with plans offered thru the school, the school often gets a piece of the action. It’s more about money than providing coverage.

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