Nightly News
| January 09, 2014
The Two Words That Cost Medicare Patients Thousands
When it comes to Medicare claims, it’s
all about the fine print on your hospital chart. Find out how being
“under observation” can cost you.
If you are on Medicare, pay
attention to this if you have to be hospitalized....this is MAJOR NEWS.
This is going to be a trap for many people unaware of two words: Under
Observation!
If the hospital uses these words for your admittance, you will be
responsible for the hospital expenses; medicare will not cover them.
You should insist that the hospital admit you as In-Patient
In review, do not let the hospital admit you with the words, "Under
Observation." Insist on "In-Patient" designation.
It might be wise to inform family members too.
Reference:
http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/54026469/#54026469
9 comments :
Good to know. Thank you.
Never tell the cops or insurance company that you hit a deer. Tell them that a deer ran into you. If not, you may be shocked at your insurance premium increase.
THIS HAPPENED TO ME A WHILE AGO. I WROTE A LETTER AND POSTED IT. THIS IS TRUE SO IF YOU HAVE A HEART ATTACK OR IMOBILIZED AND ARE RUSHED TO A HOSPITAL, YOUR ATTENDING DOCTOR MUST ADMIT YOU. I JUST WENT AROUND AND AROUND WITH THE CLINIC IN BRADFORD,PA.OVER THIS AND THE BLOCK MARKED ADMITTED .NOT OBSERVED. MUST BE FILLED OUT. ENOUGH SAID
I wish they would also tell you that Medicare will not pay for getting admitted if you don't meet criteria either....so an overnight observation for chest pain to rule out a heart attack isn't covered under an admission. But, they WILL pay for you to sit in the ER for 8 hours waiting for repeat bloodwork...need overnight Fluids if you have a stomach bug...not covered for admission either...so have fun sitting in the ED all day anyways.
This article is completely misleading, and 2 of you who commented are totally ignorant of the facts! A hospital can NOT admit you if you do not meet criteria, insurances will NOT pay for it!! Medicare does indeed pay for "observation", 80% like they pay for everything else! It is considered outpatient, so you will be responsible for the normal 20%. Unnecessary inpatient admissions are costing the insurance companies - and you and I - millions of dollars, that's why they don't admit unless conditions are met. EDUCATE yourselves!
You can't demand to be "in-patient" or "observation." These titles for your admission are based upon your symptoms or diagnosis. If you don't want to be "observation", chances are you're going to have to sign out AMA. And before you get all hyper that you'll be changed billions of dollars for your stay, call your insurance company NOW (as in sooner rather than later...don't wait til after you're sick and in the hospital) and ask about your coverage.
When did this ALL go wrong???? The insurance Company is in charge of YOUR LIFE... WHY did they take the decisions of a qualified DOCTOR and give it [TOOK IT] to the insurance Companies???? Something is NOT right with this picture....WE are to TRUST a Doctor with OUR LIFE that the insurance companies CAN NOT TRUST their judgment of what is BEST for the PATIENT!!!
You can thank all the ones that try to game the system ,but that is just about everyone in some form or another from big companies to the people on the system GOOD LUCK changing it
I thought Obama care was going to fix everything?
8:36, The same with Home-owners insurance also! They can rule your home!
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