#insurance hacks

[samuraiko]

A short thread on how to get a health insurance claim denial reversed (UPDATED)

Originally found on Bluesky here, I am reposting here on Tumblr hoping that this gains some traction coz I know a LOT of folks who could benefit from it here in the US healthcare system.

Please, please, please reblog this and TAG it (if you have additional ideas for tags, go for it).

UPDATE: And then ProPublica added a godsdamned FORM you can use!

[thatsbelievable]

[jadedbirch]

State Disability Life Hack

If you or your loved ones have ever been on state disability, then you probably know that communicating with them feels like screaming into the void, while banging your head against rock at the same time. I live in California, but I suspect these problems are pretty endemic regardless of which state you live in. The bureaucracy inherent in the system is so thick, that the slightest deviation from the norm in any of your answers to their regular follow up questions, will inevitably result in your payments being indefinitely delayed. This has happened to me twice in 6 months. In trying to resolve this issue, I once spent an entire day trying to call CA's SDI (State Disability Insurance) office. I called thirsty-six (36) times and never even so much as got in the queue to speak to an agent. In the meantime, I haven't been paid in 6 weeks (that's 3 payment cycles), but whatever - it's not like we need this money to live! It's incredibly frustrating that a system that's intended to support people with disability so that they can (ideally) get better and get back to work is designed so poorly that instead it causes disabled folks undue stress and illness complications. Because if you're disabled, chances are you don't have the spoons to go deal with this nonsense in person, or even spend all day trying to get through to a person on the phone.

So, what do you do? You contact your local State Assembly person. They all have a process called filing a legislative request which requires your local disability office to respond to them with an update on your case within a short time. And because they're technically the bosses of your local SDI, it'll move things forward for you. I contacted my State Assemblyman's office twice and each time SDI reached out to me the very next day and paid me right away (always without any explanation about why there was a delay in the first place). In fact, my Assemblyman's website has a special portal to request help resolving issues with the department of unemployment and disability - because this is such a common issue. Most people don't know you can get this kind of help - but now you do! So if you ever need help dealing with your disability/unemployment office, go straight to your Assembly member's website, because your taxes are paying their salaries.

P.S. I also had no idea who my Assembly person was, but I Googled it, like the genius that I am 😂

[lindensea]

Just learned that my mom got my dad's hospital bills and kinda wanna burn down the country now

[herawell]

.

[fiendir]

Spending my whole Sunday with unsubscribing from a bunch of digital services and setting up the hardware + software to host them myself is.

Not what I WANTED TO be doing (would rather be napping and perhaps hahah jorking da penits) but it's like. Cleaning out that *one* cupboard which you've just exasperatedly jammed a bunch of stuff into.

It sucks while you're doing it, never fucking seems to end like this shit has SO MANY FUCKING STEPS, but. BUT.

It's gonna be so sexy when it's done. All organised and guilt-free. Honestly I think this is why I let my dishes pile up each week, so I get the dopamine rush of seeing an empty sink again.

[cruelprincae]

I GOT MY DEGREE 🎊🎉📢🐦‍⬛🦠🎓

[astriiformes]

Sending love. Hope you’re okay.

Oh! If this is because of the MRI I mentioned, fear not -- it was a totally precautionary procedure, and I already got the results and they're in the clear. It's actually another box checked on my journey to top surgery next month (!!). I'm genetically high-cancer risk and have been talking to my surgeons about an approach that will be both gender-affirming and minimize my risk of problems later on.

That said, I will take this chance to say to my followers!! If you, too, are someone with a scary family history of breast cancer and are contemplating top surgery, there are options open to you! I knew it was a real risk for me and was able to get genetic testing covered by my insurance before talking to my surgeons, and my top surgeon then talked with me about the various options I had at my initial consult. I'm specifically opting for a procedure that's a little more intense than a standard gender-affirming surgery but not quite a full double masectomy, and it will be done jointly by two surgeons, one who specializes in gender-affirming procedures and one who usually works with cancer patients and/or patients looking to have preventative surgeries.

Anyways not to throw my medical history at the internet, I just feel really strongly about this, in part because I've had multiple people I've talked to about my own top surgery process tell me they had similar worries and didn't know there were options for people looking to combine gender affirmation with preventative care. I want to watch out for my fellow trans and gender non-conforming folks, especially considering how much the healthcare system can suck for us, and there really are health professionals who take this sort of thing into account with their patients!

[angelsdean]

need more deancas marriage of convenience fics. like yea i love fake married fics (esp the of the case-fic varietyy) and those are fun but i also want to see those two get literally married forreals but for plot reasons and then fall in love / realize they both feel the same way

[clonerightsagenda]

I first read and watched FMA in grad school while involved in a riled up graduate student government and watching multiple rounds of undergrad student government undergo scandals which is probably why I developed a very intricate college student government AU with just as much drama and betrayal. Now that I am involved in college governance as an employee I realize I undersold the drama actually.

Anyway as I continue my reread I am going to be incredibly self indulgent and post about this AU because a) I think it's hilarious and b) I need something to distract me from the pain suffering and indignity of having braces again.

[angelmichelangelo]

welp. as if this week couldn’t get any worse, my car just got written off 🙃

[thatsbelievable]

[kingtainorman]

Medical Insurance HACK: How You Could Potentially REVERSE Your Denied Claim

Someone may need to know this...

[nationallawreview]

OCR Proposed Tighter Security Rules for HIPAA Regulated Entities, including Business Associates and Group Health Plans

As the healthcare sector continues to be a top target for cyber criminals, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued proposed updates to the HIPAA Security Rule (scheduled to be published in the Federal Register January 6). It looks like substantial changes are in store for covered entities and business associates alike, including healthcare providers, health plans, and their business…

[champstorymedia]

Step-by-Step: DIY Car Repair Hacks That Save You Time and Money

<h1>Step-by-Step: DIY Car Repair Hacks That Save You Time and Money</h1> <p>Are you tired of the high costs associated with car repairs? Learning some DIY car repair hacks can be a game-changer, allowing you to fix minor issues without breaking the bank or draining your time. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore step-by-step DIY car repair hacks that save you both time and money. Whether…

[no-thot-head-empty]

https://www.cms.gov/medical-bill-rights/know-your-rights/no-insurance

I’m seeing a bunch of posts that make me think most USAmericans don’t know about The No Surprises Act.

It was passed in 2021 (thank you Biden) and essentially states that if you don’t have insurance or your insurance doesn’t cover a service you need (or want) you are entitled to a Good Faith Estimate of the cost of care. (If your insurance does cover the service, you should be able to estimate the cost of care based on your deductible and co-pay.)

As a healthcare provider who does not accept any insurance, I am very careful to not violate The No Surprises Act. Why? Because for every penny more than $400 that the Good Faith Estimate was “off” (or if it wasn’t provided), you are entitled to a refund for that amount.

Y’all. Ask for a Good Faith Estimate. Get it in writing. Compare it to what you are paying. If you are not provided an estimate or if it’s wrong by more than $400, demand a refund.