I worked in a doctor's office. They used a billing service. I was told by that company that if the insurance paid the bill with no push back, they would send it back through at a higher rate because they assumed they could get more. Yeah, the system is broken but none of our politicians have the 🏀 to actually fix it.
Oh my. That is terrible. But not surprising. It's a shame that a whole swath of people think they should just pay the bill and not protest. I am hoping our video helps change things by helping get the word out. It shouldn't have to be this way, but it is. Thanks for watching!!!
I worked in medical billing for years. Their first suggestion is to set up a payment plan for the patient so that they can recover the full bill. But, yes, they can literally cut your bill in half and I did it many times. The idea is to recover at least some of the money for the health provider and not have to send the bill to collections so there is definitely wiggle room. Proud of you Liz. Keep pushing as politely and firmly as you can to reduce your bill with medical providers.
Also keep a journal. Date, time, who you spoke with and what they said. Write a monthly letter to each creditor telling what you’ve done to try to resolve it. Don’t ignore them, keep them in the loop. I have a very thick file from the time my husband had four life threatening medical issues, new insurance and the claim was denied for preexisting conditions(PEC). He had three serious infections and renal failure so no PEC! Short version is that after 14 months of calls and letters from me, an angel in hospital billing checked his admission records and a resident doc added a PEC to the admission notes, which is why it was rejected. Her suggestion was to have his primary go to medical records, rewrite the correct diagnosis and resubmit it. She did, and the $69,000 bill was paid two weeks later! I was working five part time jobs, daughter was eight and husband was out of work almost six months. It was a rough year, and we won! Liz, good for you, and thanks for this video!
I'm sorry that you had to endure this merry-go-round process to get a fair shake. But thank you for your tenacity and sharing this information with all of us. Happy Trails!
Insurance makes me crazy. I have sooo many stories but suffice it to say the medical billing process is truly a racquet! Kudos to you, Liz, for not taking no for an answer.
Sorry to hear about your issues with med bills and med insurance. Somehow hospitals have the legal ability to charge more than any other kind of medical facility. If I'm needing a procedure done, I never use a hospital or a clinic related to a hospital. If a clinic has hospital ties, legally they can charge hospital prices. Find a stand alone facility, non hospital related for lab work, radiology, sleep studies, gastroenterology & more. One example was I had a sleep study done at a hospital at a cost of 1200. Dr asked me to do another sleep study with the CPAP and I told him I couldn't afford another one. Well, that's when he told me to use a private facility. So my next sleep study was under a 100 dollars. Granted it was in 2006, but that's when I learned the traps of hospitals. I am sure I'll need a hospital someday, but it'll be a life or death situation before I head there. I have another story of hospital billing, but it'll take too much space to tell. Best of luck to you.
So many thoughts on this amazing video. 1. Liz, you look amazing at 59! 2. This video spoke to a huge concern across a huge swathe of people. Liz, your tenacity and your ability to stand your ground are amazing. This was truly inspirational. My husband doesn’t fight the medical bills because he deals with autoimmune stuffs and doesn’t have the energy, and, well, I am more like Paul. Dealing with the negative emotions that comes with dealing with the system is too overwhelming. (I can do it. I just have to be in the right state of mind.) 3. I found the tips of getting six “no” answers helpful. Getting a glimpse into the logic of Liz was also helpful; this isn’t right and I am not going to pay that, I know you can reduce this and I am going to hang in there until you do, there has to be somebody there with the power to reduce this bill. I love your videos. They are real, substantive, and sincere. Thank you for the work you both put into them. Paul, I found your self awareness and acceptance of what makes you “you” refreshing and lovable. Thank you again.
i live in Canada im 61 and had a heart attack after spending 2 days in the ER then having a angiogram and angioplasty my bill at the end was Zero no cost to me its hard to imagine having to pay those bills
Many Americans criticize our Canadian health care…. Simply put and to make it simple we are on Medicare from birth as a Canadian except it’s better then Medicare. My father-in-law was in the Hospital for 8mo in Canada…… Zero invoice. Many Americans would have lost their house….
Just spent 2 weeks in hospital thanks to eximia giving me blood posining. Glad I'm a vet with P1&2 like you. I'm glad a 17 year old vollenteered years ago!! Best decision I ever made except for not staying for 20 years minimum! I'd now be holding 2 retirements! But thanks to a friend that actually drug me to the ER, I was put in ICU then quartenteened until my leg healed and stopped oozing blood and nasty stuff! Every nurse had to freaking suit up to come into my room! Now I have nasty scars that are slowly going away but until I get a bottle of Vitamin E extract they'll just be there. Next is to put the Cabover floor back in my RV as I get to start round 2 of cancer which is now officially called bone cancer. My hospital has RV parking with water and power for these types of patients. It will be nice to c rawlings out to the RV after a nice round of chemo and radiation. Especially the days I have to take both one right after the other. Glad the toilet in my Minnie is a bit higher so bending over hugging Johnnie screaming for Ralph isn't as bad! Blue Sky's and Safe Journeys
Hi Liz and Paul, Liz , your tenacity and determination to get what you needed and should have been done by the insurance companies is remarkable! You should not have had to fight so hard , however you did prevail!! I applaud your actions and hope you don’t have to experience that again. Wishing you both good health and safe travels! 🇨🇦🇺🇸
Good Evening, Huge Fan of the channel been watching for a while. Love everything you cover regarding RV Life, it’s Joys & Challenges. You both are such Champions of Life and I appreciate your knowledge and informative formats every episode. Glad to see you didn’t quit regarding those medical bills and equally glad to see you are feeling and doing better. Safe Journeys and God Bless you both.
I’m not a RVer but I do watch a few of y’all and you two are at the top of my list. Both of you are so very helpful to everyone on the road. Most the time I do not comment but you always get a thumbs up 👍 thanks for all you do…you have been so helpful to so many
Thank you so much, Sarah! Your comment made our day. We love having you with us. And you are not alone as we have a large bunch of viewers who are also not RVers. See you in the next one!
This is perfect timing! Last week my fiancé passed away after being in the hospital for 4 months .. his insurance paid most of the 1.5 million dollar bill but the max out of pocket is much lower then what we are expected to pay.. because what the insurance allowed is much less then what the ambulance billed for several trips between facilities.. in addition.. since one ‘ look back period’ I worked 117.5 hours and not 120 hours my insurance is cancelled. Our healthcare is beyond broken
Oh my. First off, we are so saddened to hear of your loss. It sounds like you've been through so much this year. Hugs to you. And when you are ready, check out the non profit healthcare plan I am with. Can't say enough good things about it: 🛎 Start saving on health insurance with our special link: tinyurl.com/AmazingPlan
First of all, when you are wrangling with a medical bill that is really high and/or you are going to dispute, set up a monthly payment plan of something like $50. That keeps the creditors off your back and buys you time. Secondly, most every health system has a financial assistance program. Just before I became eligible for Medicare I was using a very inexpensive ($3/month) high deductible plan and racked up about $7000 in expense. I completed Kaiser’s financial assistance paperwork and my bill was cut in half. These are income based and in our case it was an AGI of about $60,000. Apply even if your income is a lot higher.
Thanks Bill. The main point of the video was that the bills were unreasonable. As long as I was talking with them about reducing the charges they agreed to keep it out of collections. I did not qualify for a financial assistance program and really didn't want that or a payment plan. I wish I didn't have to fight so hard to get my bills reduced. It's so crazy that they reduced my $785 bill to a CREDIT of $15. Whew!
Great video! Good for you being persistent, LIz. It is definitely frustrating and tiring. I've been through it several times. We'll keep this info in case we find we need it in the next 3 years.
🛎 Start saving on health insurance with our special link: tinyurl.com/AmazingPlan The more I read about my new healthcare plan, the more I love it. For example, NO DOLLAR LIMIT to how much they will pay per incident. Check it out!
I am sharing this plan because it's something that works for me and may be a good fit for you. As always, do your own research and make the best decision for you.
So glad you have your health back. I’m always confused which is worse: Medical billing? Or how health insurance companies pay (or not) on an inconsistent basis. You’re absolutely correct - our system is broken.
Yep. It's so frustrating dealing with both unreasonable medical bills AND insurance companies. Glad I have all that behind me and have a NONPROFIT healthcare now. Thanks for watching, Bruce!
Retired RN with a huge insurance/regulatory background and fortunately I know how to deal with healthcare providers/hospitals etc. I have had to fight that fight several times and thankfully have been successful but it angers me that so many have been taken advantage of. This is a great vlog for the many folks out there who might benefit from hearing about your experience and what healthcare coverage might be available to them. And yes, non-profit is the way to go!
Thanks so much Mary Jane! I can't say enough good things about being with Zion and it being a nonprofit. I recently learned that there is no limit as to how much they will take care of once you pay the initial $1000. That's seriously good to know. I sure hope my experience helps others to do their own research and get a better plan, if not Zion, then something else.
This was a extremely great topic to tell all the viewers about. I'm definitely going to check into this ! Thank you guys for all you do with sharing information and helpful tips & such for Current full time RV'ERs and for future full timers like my self . Always looking forward to your next show . Take care . Tony & Donna Hall Delaware
😂😂😂 Love the ending! That's me....my husband sends me in to do the "bad cop" routine in negotiations. Of course, that was before cars and RVs exploded in price but....I have done some great negotiating. Kudos to you Liz! It's a dirty job but has to be done. Now go fill up the tank in that beautiful new truck!❤️😉
Aww, thanks so much! Big hugs to you. Yeah, it wore me out to be like a tiger on those phone calls. So we are grateful to be getting the word out about this. And we are absolutely loving the truck!! Thanks again for commenting. By watching and commenting in the first hour you really help our channel grow. Hugs to you!
Hi, Liz! The eye of the tiger was with you that day! Thanks for your diligence! We have outstanding medical bills and we are now better equipped to handle them after watching this video! God bless you on your journey!! We plan on going full time once we retire, and I will have VA insurance and my wife will benefit from a sharing benefit! We have heard of Medishare, but not Zion. We definitely will be checking them out! Glad to see you out living AMAZING again!
Thanks so much David, so glad this video was helpful. Get out that pencil and start making hash marks next time you have to call. Best of luck and thanks again for your comment!
Thanks for putting this together. It’s not just the private insurance companies. I went through the ringer signing up for the Medicare plan that was right for me. After 2 months of research and appealing the IRMA charge, I finally got what I needed. We snow-bird in a different State. Need a plan that covers nationwide. My wife also is not Medicare qualified yet. Thanks for posting about Zion.
One thing many Medicare eligible folks don't know is if they have a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part B) it is the same as an HMO. That means if you travel out of area it may not cover much, if anything, because you will may be out of their network. I would never have a Medicare Advantage plan if I was a full-time RVer.
Be careful in this area. It really depends on who you get the policy through. Medi-Cal would be the way you describe, however Medicare is different since it’s a federal program. They don’t always cover everything, but emergencies and urgent needs are usually covered. It will depend. I do agree with you on not having this as your primary coverage if full timing.
Yes. Do your own research and make the best decision that's right for you. I am happy to share my WIN in finding such reasonable healthcare. I truly think a nonprofit is the way to go! Thanks for your comment!
Wife and I both have insurance through the government via military retirement, one of the perks of serving this country, can't begin to explain how much money this has saved us over the years
Liz, I worked at a medical call center. Most employers large and small farm out their medical provider help to a call center. Its a business, we were obligated to complete the call regardless if we helped them or not in 3 minutes because the company we worked for would tell perspective new clients that the average call was handled in 3 minutes or less when in actuality the person would need to call back 2-10 times depending on severity of the issue. We were also not allowed to say you need to speak to a supervisor, if I knew they needed to speak to a supervisor and I transferred them the supervisor would ask me if the client ask for one. I did not feel comfortable lying so I would say they did not the response was we will not speak to them. We were not allowed to tell them they had a liaison to help them they personally had to say: do we have a liaison? there were so many things we were not allowed to say but they were basically words the customer had to say. it was very annoying and manipulative. Even enrollment periods were longer than stated but we were not allowed to disclose it. to the person covered but we were not allowed to tell them they have an additional week or so. The most insidious thing was what we all hear”This calls being recorded for quality assurance.” What that means is your employer can request that recording and listen to your conversation. I had so many women concern over their employment and at times wished I could tell them to change the subject. I once even thought of just outright telling them.
I Absolutely loved to help the folks i helped. Sometimes I’d be on the phone with them 10-20 minutes but my supervisor never disciplined me, she had a good heart
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OMG! I discovered this channel fiften minutes ago and I love it! Im a big fan since now, from Panama City, Florida
This is awesome, Stefani! Thanks for your comment and welcome to the channel. See you in my latest video right here, and thanks for watching: ua-cam.com/video/YDqWoQHikg0/v-deo.html
I'm like Paul, have medicare and being retired Navy, I have tricare for life at no cost, I don't get any medical bills, and no co-pay. One of the lucky ones.
Oh, do I feel your pain. I have kidney stones, been to a dozen ER's while we were on the road. I'm with you Liz, I don't give up when dealing with them. I had one send me a refund, twice! Not sure why, but they did. We had a similar medical share plan, but having the business,and with the having to prove insurance on taxes, we went back to a regular insurance. We have had to use it on the road, twice and we had no problems. Good luck and stay healthy you two!!
Also a medical biller for over 30 years, now retired. Sometimes the coding is wrong...especially on mammograms. Most providers have a financial aid or charity program...hospitals are required to have this in place if they are accepting Medicare patients. I was uninsured for 18 months...retired early, but was too young for Medicare, my husband got laid off. I applied for financial aid...My hospital visits were written off at 100%. Doctors visits were reduced to a small amount. You have to ask what programs they have, then be sure to fill out the required forms, provide documents showing income, expenses. So glad you are better! BTW...I live in Alabama and billed for several hospitals (contracted biller), including that big one in Mobile (USA).😉
Liz, I’m sorry you went through that. I hate to say it but two 40-minute calls was good. Some of us have had to call 5-6 times for over an hour each time. Thanks for this great, informative video. Invaluable.
I got sick several years ago and had no insurance and ended the Hospital. Scary! I was sick and boy did the bills roll in. Then being sick, I was not concerned with medical bills but was putting all my energy and thoughts into getting well. I got better with time and then started dealing with medical bills. They double-billed and changed account numbers several times. I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. Yes, this great America has terrible Health Care Insurance. VOTE ! I'm all for Health care for all! Sure would help so many .
The greatest thing about reaching 65 is Medicare and AARP supplement. Mammograms are not supposed to cost anything. Here’s a good one- had a routine bone density test which is covered by Medicare and supplement every two years. Saw the following on Medicare statement- charge submitted was $945.00, Medicare allowed $36.00 and supplement paid approximately $1.50. The imaging center accepted the amount paid to them. I love a good confrontation 🤣🤣!
Liz & Paul,. Sorry for our doubles BUT happy that you are consistent and taking control of your health and pocketbook balance..LOVED LOVED LOVED the ending!! SUPER CUTE 🥰. Happy Trails
Thanks so much! You guys provide some amazing content and great information! One of the issues I have thought about for going full time on the road is health insurance, and this gives me a great option for that when and if I decide to get out full time. Thanks again, you are really helping out the RV community!
As someone who had to take on my insurance company several times and had to have medical professionals help me. Stay persistent and don’t back down. Love your videos!!
I'm a Registered Nurse with 43 years of clinical practice. I am now a Case Manager at a Health Insurance Company. PLEASE, whenever there is a problem with your Health Insurance, call the Insurance Company and ask to be assigned a RN Case Manager. Nothing is impossible in Health Care. A Case Manager is always your advocate!! Also, if you offer to pay $10/month-the facility HAS to accept it-just don't miss a payment! Also-if it's coded wrong, the facility can be fined. Call the state government Health advocate-"wrong coding" can be viewed as Insurance fraud!
Good tip. I am grateful I did NOT accept a payment plan or financial assistance. For me it was all about how unreasonable my medical bills were to begin with. Glad to have that behind me. Thanks for watching.
@@LizAmazing -showing the facility was wrong-and overcharging you-the payment plan would have been null and void. A payment plan is often a stop gap measure to save people's credit. It's always refundable. Liz, I am glad you are feeling better. Love you both. Keep those videos coming!!
No matter what kind of thing we are dealing with, all depends on the persons whom we are facing. Good people always give other's hope. Bad one make us frustrated. Polite and keeping cool are your best strength. Have a wonderful trip....
You are sorry for all the people who don't have time or energy to negotiate with the insurance companies. I also feel sorry for all the people who don't have the money to be insured, or the difference they have to pay uses up all their assets, or sends them bankrupt, or even worse can not get the right treatment. Thank goodness I live in Australia.
Wow that is so dirty. I went through something very similar a few years ago before I was eligible for Medicare when I had to have an emergency lithotripsy for a huge stone that was tearing my ureter apart. Ten times greater pain than all three of my natural childbirths put together. The surgery went well but I had excellent insurance the anesthesiologist that the hospital assigned was not covered on my insurance and we didn't know that until we got the bill for over $2300 just for his part. They also refused to recode it for self pay but I did some research and found that the self pay amount was closer to $700 in this state. When I shared that info with them and complained a few more times they finally reduced it to just under $700. I'm so glad you are feeling better and that you were able to negotiate your bills. I had no idea that six was the magic number but that is great information and should give a little hope to those who might feel like it could take a lot longer or maybe that they feel they would never get results. God bless you.
Oh goodness. First of all, so sorry you went through that ordeal with the kidney stone. Ouch! And it sounds like your experience was similar to mine. Glad you fought it. Thanks for watching and for your kind words. Hugs to you.
My brand new Samsung refrigerator ice maker was not right from day 1. I had to call customer service 10 times before they would send a repair service tech to my house. The phone computer said to me “I see you’ve called many times”! I believe you when you say the 6th time was the charm.
Paul is right our system is broken I had a bill like that and at the time I had no insurance at all and had to do the same thing and I got a 2500 dollar bill down to 500 bucks because I got the right person in front of me and she said if can pay the 500 bucks right now it will be the final bill so I hear you Liz glad you got it taken care of thanks for sharing
Thanks so much Brian. It really shouldn't have to be this way that the person with the best tiger like negotiation skills wins. Ugh! But glad to have that behind me. Thanks again for your comment!
I will have to check into that. I am in the same boat my husband is Medicare age and I just turned 60. We pay 800 per month and they still don’t want to pay anything. I had a $1,200 blood work bill and finally got that reduced to $650. I have to have regular blood work due to leukemia. Additionally had breast cancer and have to go back to Michigan for another mammogram in October because I may have cancer in the other breast. I haven’t even dealt with my back issues but am in pain and have days I feel like I am 90. The insurance I purchased will only cover emergencies outside of Michigan. So our travel schedule has been messed up due to my health issues. If I can get affordable coverage all over that would be great. I did have a blue cross policy that was better but it became completely unaffordable. I will have to speak with your representative and see if he can help me.
Our system is broken, my wife and I are 61 and 62 we pay for Kaiser in California $1,757.00 per month with a $9,200.00 deductible. Nothing kicks in until that's met. We never go to the doctor, we are in perfect health. We will look into this insurance, thanks.
Yes. I'm very pleased with Zion Health and am happy to share my experience. Like anything, do your own research and then make the decision that works best for you. If you like this plan, it could save you thousands each year. Here's the special link to check them out: 🛎 Start saving on health insurance with our special link: tinyurl.com/AmazingPlan
So frustrating dealing with hospitals and medical offices. You just have to survive to 65 when Medicare kicks in. Trying to figure out the Medicare maze was super hard. You’re lucky to have Paul who has gone through it. I learned to ask for the Hospital ombudsman or Social worker.
Thank you Mark! It really was an ordeal having to fight my bills. Thanks for watching and enjoy your Medicare! As an aside, we put the new light on, WOW, too bright to use at night!!!
Liz, it's fabulous that you can share medical insurance tips. The bills you received were inflated. Medical care is a basic human right. No one should have to deny themselves medical care because they can't afford treatment, wind up debt ridden for years or destroy their credit rating, due to excessive medical bills. Another great vlog! ❤
Awww, thanks so much Rhonda! We are so glad to be getting the word out about medical bills AND how my new non profit healthcare plan is so awesome! Thanks for being with us!!
I’ve been told by a friend who worked insurance and probably hospitals also that if they make it difficult because most people give up and pay it anyway.
That was certainly my impression. But it doesn't seem fair that if you fight you pay less. They should just give you a fair bill to begin with. Thanks for your comment and we are glad to be getting the word out!
I am once again SO thankful to be a Canadian! OHIP has its faults but we never have to worry about receiving a bill in the mail. Good for you for fighting peacefully for what is right. It seems that there is a huge 'mark up' on even medical expenses! 🙄
Hey Liz and Paul. I graduated from a 3 year hospital based nursing school program in 1965. Yep, I am older. I predate Medicare. I worked at the hospital until 1969 when I began working in a private MD office. Everyone was pretty much self pay then. If they had insurance they were given itemized bills for them to file for reimbursement. I retired for the second time in 2018. I saw a charge for a EKG go from 10 dollars to 300 plus dollars... a little fancier machine but done the same way as in 1970. Lab work, x-rays etc are being billed at ridiculous rates. The patient is caught in the middle. My mother died in 2004 from diabetic kidney failure. She was well insured but was always self pay with a billing plan until she got itemized bills that she reviewed line by line and filed herself. Billing mistakes, overcharges, duplicate charges were common. You remind me of her. I am not a patient person. I don't do well with bureaucracy. You are amazing. ( p.s. I really worried about you and your back especially with those steps on your bike ride...glad it went well)
Thanks Carole! So glad you were with us during the back ordeal. And yes, up the stairs with the bike I started lifting the back end and then just stopped, didn't want to risk it. My back really does feel great and the new mattress feels great. For anyone scrolling who hasn't seen the mattress and other upgrade video, here it is: ua-cam.com/video/e7WcsRpga-8/v-deo.html
and to think this is America and this is your health (life) Lots of systems are broken in this country. Corruption is so thick Thanks for sharing this valuable info
Hammer on them Liz! It’ll make your eyes glaze over but hammer! I’m a little fortunate as I’m a veteran and 40 years trucking . I pay for our insurance but the coverages aren’t all bad considering. I’m 63 so a couple more so it’s a bit easier. I’m sorry you’ve had to endure the bureaucratic crap with medical and all the sleight of hand skull buggery. Best wishes and i always watch you two.
I agree that our healthcare system is broken! I was in healthcare for 44 years before I retired two years ago and tried to improve the system but, frankly, too many people make so much money that the barriers to prevent change are very strong. Something as simple as price has no correlation to cost. I challenge anyone to demonstrate that they can precisely define the actual cost for anything provided in a healthcare organization. You did great in getting your cost down and switch to a medical cost sharing plan. There are several plans like Zion so there should be many options for people. One last thing, traditional Medicare does not have any limit on your co-pay expense. To minimize cost you either have to have a supplemental plan to cover co-pays or switch to a Medicare Advantage plan. Thanks for doing this video!!
Great video today. As a retired nurse, I saw many people struggle with disease and then added stress with hospital billing in addition to that health issue. You gave great advice and I hope that many got to see this video because it can help people realize how important it is to look into the details of insurance coverage. I am on Medicare but there is also room for information on supplements for that as well, particularly if you were going to be traveling around the country. You need to have something that will transfer from state to state without an issue.
I guess I'm floored because I had no idea their were insurance plans where regular mammograms weren't covered. I'm a couple years away from Medicare and lucky because my husband has an insurance plan. But a lot can change in a couple years. That's also my problem not liking confrontation but have a line where I eventually snap. Whenever I need to buy something with a large sticker price I bring someone along who's the opposite of me.
Yeah liz I think they try to wear people out, so they give up and just pay the bill. My husband and I had a similar incident happen to us with the warranty on our trailer and we just kept calling, and they finally honored the warranty. Be persistent is all I can say
Hi Melody! It sure was upsetting to me that folks that DON'T have the negotiating skills (or are not able to fight like a tiger) end up paying more. Seems so unfair. We are just glad to get the word out. Thanks for watching!
5 months ago, I had a brain mri. The first thing the next morning, I got a phone call from the mri scheduler saying they needed me to come back in ASAP for another brain mri. It was definitely concerning. I go in the same day, and I am told there will be no charge for this scan. I’m thinking they goofed and didn’t get the area the dr ordered. You know what happened- I get billed for the hospital services for the second scan. I track down someone in the actual mri department to look at the online notes from my view sit, sure enough, it said that patient will not be charged. I found that info within a day over the phone. Three months later, billing investigations is still trying to find out what happened. Eventually, I could see on my hospital statement account that there was no longer a charge, and personnel called me to tell me that. Resolution. Not really. I just got an email restating the same bill. Ugh.
Coding/billing in medical departments don't think a thing about lying to you and then lying about the lie. I was recently in ER and tried to pay my bill on departure and was told that I'm covered. Next morning early they called me wanting their money ($35). A tip: ask them for a detailed invoice. Your bill will almost always drop immediately when they have to print a 20 page invoice with $50 Band-Aids on it.
I asked three times for a detailed invoice and they just would not break down the costs of things such as injections. Basically lumped it all under physician or ER room. So frustrating. Thanks for watching.
I got charged for my mammogram the year before I was eligible for Social Security… (my insurance always paid for it in the past). It was over $500. I paid the bill but watching this, I wish I had called them and at least asked to have the bill reduced. I don’t like phone confrontations - Luckily I’ve always been healthy. My first visit to ER was last year (gallbladder emergency). Fortunately SSA (and my blue cross blue shield) paid for the surgery etc. i don’t travel like you guys- but great info and I’ll know what to do in the future if I need to dispute a medical bill.
Yes! Get that pen out and start making hash marks! It shouldn't have to be this way, but we are glad to be getting the word out. Thanks for watching and commenting, you are really helping our channel grow. Hugs.
With regular or traditional Medicare, in addition to the deductible you have 20% responsibility. It also doesn’t cover experimental procedures, which I believe the surgery that Liz had was experimental and not covered by Medicare. I’m wondering if the co-op insurance covers experimental procedures and how many doctors are willing to direct bill it? It all looks great when you buy it, using it is a very different story.
Years ago, I filed a $7 reimbursement request with TriCare, for an approved Rx. It was returned denied. When i called to find out why, I was told they deny everything automatically, but it would be approved if I resubmitted. It's a cost savings for insurance, because most people just accept the original ruling. Sad, but true.
My opinion is the same thing with the credit card company. I've never understood why they issue cards with the lowest credit possible $300, which usually means it's a starter credit builder possibly high school or college student. Insect to pile late fees on top of them so they can't pay the bill or disgusted or inclined to not pay the bill. I had my first card at 17 Capital One. And I did good for about a year until I got double charged at a restaurant. Well I contacted both of the parties put them both on the line and the restaurant admitted yes we charged them because at first they said my "accident" then after a week to charge didn't come off I contacted both parties again and they admitted that one of the employees was stealing charging multiple people this way. So after that the thing was supposed to happen the first time was a refund from the establishment and the understanding from a credit card company that wasn't my fault. Well the next pay period come past and I see the charger still there with too late fees this time. To make a long story short I contacted my credit card company if you need to tell me that the store didn't refund me the money! And in the shocker that I had to pay the late fees and all despite me being on the line with the fraud portion of the card company or you'll be on my credit now that just pissed me off and disappointed me! And I still haven't paid the bill 20 years later. And do you know these sorry fools sent me a letter wanting me
They sure are! The original mammogram bill was $885 but just $84 if self paying. The system is really messed up! Thanks for watching and if you need a good healthcare plan, check out Zion: Start saving on health insurance with our special link: tinyurl.com/AmazingPlan
Liz you are Amazing ! Good for You,sorry you had to go through this,but Good for You for not taking No for an answer ! I am like Paul I would have blew up LOL. Great video,Awesome information !!
Thanks Don! We love having you with us. Yeah, it's a shame that those that fight get to pay less than those that don't. It really shouldn't be this way. We are glad to be getting the word out!!
Hi, really enjoy your channel. Listening to your Healthcare financial issues, makes me thankful that I live in the UK. Here healthcare is free, there are are no excess payments. People in the US should push for a similar system. Even if US citizens have good private cover, they must still worry about contracting a long term condition, when it is likely that they will run out of cover. Keep the videos coming! Best wishes from the UK.
Thank you so much for your comment. Hello across the pond to you! Yes, it is so sad that we don't have national healthcare. Maybe someday! Thanks for your kind words and see you in the next one!
proud of you liz, i had dental insurance and their dentists were always new, later got off the insurance and paid out of pocket to correct what they did.
There are somany elderly people who cannot advocate for themselves. Our system is broken and overly complicated for consumers. So glad you were persistent.
Yes. I kept thinking about all the people who would give up, heck I was close to giving up. It definitely shouldn't have to be this way. Thank you for watching, Christine!
This is what I am concerned about! I am in the process of deciding on a insurance policy through marketplace. No one can seem to answer my questions. I am concerned because what if I have to have a surgery or a major emergency? To be quite honest, I live paycheck to paycheck. I can’t afford to be out of work and pay these outrageous deductibles (like up to $6300 out of pocket and then have to start all over again the following year).
There's only one way to handle the American healthcare system. Never get sick. I've had insurance through my work, and my wife's work for a short time. We've had some really good plans, and a couple of terrible ones. But I've wound up having phone calls with insurance and medical providers over almost every bill. I keep detailed notes of the conversations, including dates and the people that I've talked to, and I make a point of referring back to them each time until I finally get everything settled.
Such great information pays to be persistent I am blessed I have motion picture insurance which is very good I finally got my rig on the road I’m heading to Bend Oregon with my mother hope someday our paths cross on the road sending you guys positive energy 🙏🏼❤️🤙🏼
Glad you have good insurance Mark. And, lucky you to be going to Bend!!! Happy travels and we so look forward to meeting you! Thanks for the positive energy, right back at ya!
Thank you so much! Lucky you to have that good care in Canada. And the Covid pay, too! We look forward to visiting your beautiful country one day. Enjoy!
(Susan:) This was one of the very first issues I personally dealt with and could make quick and obvious comparisons between the two countries after I moved from the U.S. to Sweden 24 years ago. The social healthcare system here means we pay at the very most approximately $120 per year for planned outpatient visits to doctors or other healthcare professionals. Total. No matter what, that's it. For any hospital stay, planned or otherwise, we are only billed a nominal fee (about $7.50/day) for meals. Any operation: $0. Ambulance: $0. Prescription meds: maximum of $240 per year. For all of this, we pay no insurance premiums at all, we only pay our taxes. No one here has to ever, ever worry about the costs or abstain from medical care, medication or treatment they need because they can't afford it. Our hearts go out to those who aren't as lucky as we consider ourselves to be in this matter. Hugs from Susan & Göran in Sweden! 🤗
Hi Susan. And that's the way it should be. Healthcare should be a right available to all, not a privilege. I felt bad that I paid less only because I fought. It really is a broken system. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Hey Liz, when you were in the hospital did they tell you what insurance and your hospital gown have in common? They didn’t? Well what the commonality is……you there yer covered but yer not! Insurance, especially health insurance can be very confusing. Once one goes on Medicare it is very important to pick the right Medicare supplement policy, especially if you are on medications which is covered by Part D. Not all policies are the same and some states offer prescription coverage. I got lucky with SilverScripts covered offered through the state of Wisconsin. Anyone approaching Medicare age, even a year out or so should start doing there homework now for their Medicare supplement coverage if not a vet like Paul.
I worked in a doctor's office. They used a billing service. I was told by that company that if the insurance paid the bill with no push back, they would send it back through at a higher rate because they assumed they could get more. Yeah, the system is broken but none of our politicians have the 🏀 to actually fix it.
Oh my. That is terrible. But not surprising. It's a shame that a whole swath of people think they should just pay the bill and not protest. I am hoping our video helps change things by helping get the word out. It shouldn't have to be this way, but it is. Thanks for watching!!!
I worked in medical billing for years. Their first suggestion is to set up a payment plan for the patient so that they can recover the full bill. But, yes, they can literally cut your bill in half and I did it many times. The idea is to recover at least some of the money for the health provider and not have to send the bill to collections so there is definitely wiggle room. Proud of you Liz. Keep pushing as politely and firmly as you can to reduce your bill with medical providers.
I'd prefer you not play politics in "your fun". Ratings or not, do what is right.
@@willcameron1860 It’s their channel, they can say what they like.
@@willcameron1860 what are you saying…I don’t understand your comment?
Also keep a journal. Date, time, who you spoke with and what they said. Write a monthly letter to each creditor telling what you’ve done to try to resolve it. Don’t ignore them, keep them in the loop. I have a very thick file from the time my husband had four life threatening medical issues, new insurance and the claim was denied for preexisting conditions(PEC). He had three serious infections and renal failure so no PEC! Short version is that after 14 months of calls and letters from me, an angel in hospital billing checked his admission records and a resident doc added a PEC to the admission notes, which is why it was rejected. Her suggestion was to have his primary go to medical records, rewrite the correct diagnosis and resubmit it. She did, and the $69,000 bill was paid two weeks later! I was working five part time jobs, daughter was eight and husband was out of work almost six months. It was a rough year, and we won! Liz, good for you, and thanks for this video!
Great tips, thank you! Great story and so glad for the happy ending. $69,000 wow!!!
I'm sorry that you had to endure this merry-go-round process to get a fair shake.
But thank you for your tenacity and sharing this information with all of us.
Happy Trails!
Yep. Thank you so much!
Great to hear that your back issue has been resolved Liz.
It's been a miracle cure for sure! Thanks Robert!
Insurance makes me crazy. I have sooo many stories but suffice it to say the medical billing process is truly a racquet! Kudos to you, Liz, for not taking no for an answer.
Thanks Lorna. They put me through the wringer but it was worth it in the end. Glad to be getting the word out about this!
Sorry to hear about your issues with med bills and med insurance. Somehow hospitals have the legal ability to charge more than any other kind of medical facility. If I'm needing a procedure done, I never use a hospital or a clinic related to a hospital. If a clinic has hospital ties, legally they can charge hospital prices. Find a stand alone facility, non hospital related for lab work, radiology, sleep studies, gastroenterology & more. One example was I had a sleep study done at a hospital at a cost of 1200. Dr asked me to do another sleep study with the CPAP and I told him I couldn't afford another one. Well, that's when he told me to use a private facility. So my next sleep study was under a 100 dollars. Granted it was in 2006, but that's when I learned the traps of hospitals. I am sure I'll need a hospital someday, but it'll be a life or death situation before I head there. I have another story of hospital billing, but it'll take too much space to tell. Best of luck to you.
You go Liz! I am just like you when things aren’t right. Thanks for the information, Safe travels!
Thank you, Cathy, glad to have you with us!
So many thoughts on this amazing video. 1. Liz, you look amazing at 59! 2. This video spoke to a huge concern across a huge swathe of people. Liz, your tenacity and your ability to stand your ground are amazing. This was truly inspirational. My husband doesn’t fight the medical bills because he deals with autoimmune stuffs and doesn’t have the energy, and, well, I am more like Paul. Dealing with the negative emotions that comes with dealing with the system is too overwhelming. (I can do it. I just have to be in the right state of mind.) 3. I found the tips of getting six “no” answers helpful. Getting a glimpse into the logic of Liz was also helpful; this isn’t right and I am not going to pay that, I know you can reduce this and I am going to hang in there until you do, there has to be somebody there with the power to reduce this bill. I love your videos. They are real, substantive, and sincere. Thank you for the work you both put into them. Paul, I found your self awareness and acceptance of what makes you “you” refreshing and lovable. Thank you again.
Hi Mary Catherine! Thanks so much for your wonderful words. Your comment made my day and I just read it to Paul. Big hugs to you!!!
i live in Canada im 61 and had a heart attack after spending 2 days in the ER then having a angiogram and angioplasty my bill at the end was Zero no cost to me its hard to imagine having to pay those bills
Oh my. First of all, glad you survived and got good care. And what a big win to have to not have to worry about medical bills. Go Canada!!
Many Americans criticize our Canadian health care…. Simply put and to make it simple we are on Medicare from birth as a Canadian except it’s better then Medicare. My father-in-law was in the Hospital for 8mo in Canada…… Zero invoice. Many Americans would have lost their house….
COMMUNIST! every red blooded American want to die for the corporations to make greater profits!
Just spent 2 weeks in hospital thanks to eximia giving me blood posining.
Glad I'm a vet with P1&2 like you. I'm glad a 17 year old vollenteered years ago!! Best decision I ever made except for not staying for 20 years minimum! I'd now be holding 2 retirements!
But thanks to a friend that actually drug me to the ER, I was put in ICU then quartenteened until my leg healed and stopped oozing blood and nasty stuff! Every nurse had to freaking suit up to come into my room!
Now I have nasty scars that are slowly going away but until I get a bottle of Vitamin E extract they'll just be there.
Next is to put the Cabover floor back in my RV as I get to start round 2 of cancer which is now officially called bone cancer. My hospital has RV parking with water and power for these types of patients. It will be nice to c rawlings out to the RV after a nice round of chemo and radiation. Especially the days I have to take both one right after the other.
Glad the toilet in my Minnie is a bit higher so bending over hugging Johnnie screaming for Ralph isn't as bad!
Blue Sky's and Safe Journeys
Hi Liz and Paul,
Liz , your tenacity and determination to get what you needed and should have been done by the insurance companies is remarkable! You should not have had to fight so hard , however you did prevail!! I applaud your actions and hope you don’t have to experience that again.
Wishing you both good health and safe travels! 🇨🇦🇺🇸
Hi Jerry! Thank you. It wasn't fun but it felt good finally getting those bills down. Glad to have new healthcare plan now. Thanks for watching!
Good Evening, Huge Fan of the channel been watching for a while. Love everything you cover regarding RV Life, it’s Joys & Challenges. You both are such Champions of Life and I appreciate your knowledge and informative formats every episode. Glad to see you didn’t quit regarding those medical bills and equally glad to see you are feeling and doing better. Safe Journeys and God Bless you both.
I’m not a RVer but I do watch a few of y’all and you two are at the top of my list. Both of you are so very helpful to everyone on the road. Most the time I do not comment but you always get a thumbs up 👍 thanks for all you do…you have been so helpful to so many
Thank you so much, Sarah! Your comment made our day. We love having you with us. And you are not alone as we have a large bunch of viewers who are also not RVers. See you in the next one!
Thank goodness I am on Medicare and have an awesome supplemental threw my retirement from the state of Tennessee. 👍🏻❤️
This is perfect timing! Last week my fiancé passed away after being in the hospital for 4 months .. his insurance paid most of the 1.5 million dollar bill but the max out of pocket is much lower then what we are expected to pay.. because what the insurance allowed is much less then what the ambulance billed for several trips between facilities.. in addition.. since one ‘ look back period’ I worked 117.5 hours and not 120 hours my insurance is cancelled. Our healthcare is beyond broken
Oh my. First off, we are so saddened to hear of your loss. It sounds like you've been through so much this year. Hugs to you. And when you are ready, check out the non profit healthcare plan I am with. Can't say enough good things about it: 🛎 Start saving on health insurance with our special link: tinyurl.com/AmazingPlan
First of all, when you are wrangling with a medical bill that is really high and/or you are going to dispute, set up a monthly payment plan of something like $50. That keeps the creditors off your back and buys you time.
Secondly, most every health system has a financial assistance program. Just before I became eligible for Medicare I was using a very inexpensive ($3/month) high deductible plan and racked up about $7000 in expense. I completed Kaiser’s financial assistance paperwork and my bill was cut in half. These are income based and in our case it was an AGI of about $60,000. Apply even if your income is a lot higher.
Thanks Bill. The main point of the video was that the bills were unreasonable. As long as I was talking with them about reducing the charges they agreed to keep it out of collections. I did not qualify for a financial assistance program and really didn't want that or a payment plan. I wish I didn't have to fight so hard to get my bills reduced. It's so crazy that they reduced my $785 bill to a CREDIT of $15. Whew!
Great video! Good for you being persistent, LIz. It is definitely frustrating and tiring. I've been through it several times. We'll keep this info in case we find we need it in the next 3 years.
Thank you much. I am very pleased with my new insurance and will probably do an update down the line. See you in the. next video!
Tip Paul, don’t get upset with the people who handle your food 😂. Stay well, stay safe.
Ha, ha. That's excellent advice! Thanks for watching to the end! :)
🛎 Start saving on health insurance with our special link: tinyurl.com/AmazingPlan The more I read about my new healthcare plan, the more I love it. For example, NO DOLLAR LIMIT to how much they will pay per incident. Check it out!
I am sharing this plan because it's something that works for me and may be a good fit for you. As always, do your own research and make the best decision for you.
So glad you have your health back. I’m always confused which is worse: Medical billing? Or how health insurance companies pay (or not) on an inconsistent basis. You’re absolutely correct - our system is broken.
Yep. It's so frustrating dealing with both unreasonable medical bills AND insurance companies. Glad I have all that behind me and have a NONPROFIT healthcare now. Thanks for watching, Bruce!
Retired RN with a huge insurance/regulatory background and fortunately I know how to deal with healthcare providers/hospitals etc. I have had to fight that fight several times and thankfully have been successful but it angers me that so many have been taken advantage of.
This is a great vlog for the many folks out there who might benefit from hearing about your experience and what healthcare coverage might be available to them. And yes, non-profit is the way to go!
Please. please share your info you know with people on here on how to deal with the medical billing system.
Thanks so much Mary Jane! I can't say enough good things about being with Zion and it being a nonprofit. I recently learned that there is no limit as to how much they will take care of once you pay the initial $1000. That's seriously good to know. I sure hope my experience helps others to do their own research and get a better plan, if not Zion, then something else.
Thank you! I so appreciate the time and caring to put this out! 🙏💕🥰
Thank you so much, Jill. Glad to help!
This was a extremely great topic to tell all the viewers about.
I'm definitely going to check into this !
Thank you guys for all you do with sharing information and helpful tips & such for Current full time RV'ERs and for future full timers like my self .
Always looking forward to your next show .
Take care .
Tony & Donna Hall
Delaware
😂😂😂 Love the ending! That's me....my husband sends me in to do the "bad cop" routine in negotiations. Of course, that was before cars and RVs exploded in price but....I have done some great negotiating. Kudos to you Liz! It's a dirty job but has to be done. Now go fill up the tank in that beautiful new truck!❤️😉
Aww, thanks so much! Big hugs to you. Yeah, it wore me out to be like a tiger on those phone calls. So we are grateful to be getting the word out about this. And we are absolutely loving the truck!! Thanks again for commenting. By watching and commenting in the first hour you really help our channel grow. Hugs to you!
@@LizAmazingit is very exhausting! At least it paid off! That's good to know about commenting on your channel!! I'll try to do what I can to help!! ✌️
Hi, Liz! The eye of the tiger was with you that day! Thanks for your diligence! We have outstanding medical bills and we are now better equipped to handle them after watching this video! God bless you on your journey!! We plan on going full time once we retire, and I will have VA insurance and my wife will benefit from a sharing benefit! We have heard of Medishare, but not Zion. We definitely will be checking them out! Glad to see you out living AMAZING again!
Thanks so much David, so glad this video was helpful. Get out that pencil and start making hash marks next time you have to call. Best of luck and thanks again for your comment!
Thanks for putting this together. It’s not just the private insurance companies. I went through the ringer signing up for the Medicare plan that was right for me. After 2 months of research and appealing the IRMA charge, I finally got what I needed. We snow-bird in a different State. Need a plan that covers nationwide. My wife also is not Medicare qualified yet. Thanks for posting about Zion.
Thanks Mike, can't say enough good things about them!
Massive inspiration. As you've said, you never sugar-coat things, unlike many RV lifestyle channels. Best of luck.
thanks so very much Simon. I am so glad I could share my experience to help others. Thanks for being with us through thick and thin!
Thanks for the information. Glad you're feeling better and were able to get good results--physically and financially.
yes! It was truly a miracle. Thanks so much for your kind words.
One thing many Medicare eligible folks don't know is if they have a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part B) it is the same as an HMO. That means if you travel out of area it may not cover much, if anything, because you will may be out of their network. I would never have a Medicare Advantage plan if I was a full-time RVer.
Be careful in this area. It really depends on who you get the policy through. Medi-Cal would be the way you describe, however Medicare is different since it’s a federal program. They don’t always cover everything, but emergencies and urgent needs are usually covered. It will depend.
I do agree with you on not having this as your primary coverage if full timing.
One of the things that is keeping me from retiring is medical insurance. Thanks so much for the video and the insurance advice.
Yes. Do your own research and make the best decision that's right for you. I am happy to share my WIN in finding such reasonable healthcare. I truly think a nonprofit is the way to go! Thanks for your comment!
Wife and I both have insurance through the government via military retirement, one of the perks of serving this country, can't begin to explain how much money this has saved us over the years
That's awesome, and thank you for your service!
Liz, I worked at a medical call center. Most employers large and small farm out their medical provider help to a call center. Its a business, we were obligated to complete the call regardless if we helped them or not in 3 minutes because the company we worked for would tell perspective new clients that the average call was handled in 3 minutes or less when in actuality the person would need to call back 2-10 times depending on severity of the issue. We were also not allowed to say you need to speak to a supervisor, if I knew they needed to speak to a supervisor and I transferred them the supervisor would ask me if the client ask for one. I did not feel comfortable lying so I would say they did not the response was we will not speak to them. We were not allowed to tell them they had a liaison to help them they personally had to say: do we have a liaison? there were so many things we were not allowed to say but they were basically words the customer had to say. it was very annoying and manipulative. Even enrollment periods were longer than stated but we were not allowed to disclose it. to the person covered but we were not allowed to tell them they have an additional week or so. The most insidious thing was what we all hear”This calls being recorded for quality assurance.” What that means is your employer can request that recording and listen to your conversation. I had so many women concern over their employment and at times wished I could tell them to change the subject. I once even thought of just outright telling them.
Wow, thanks for sharing Joe. That sounds like not a fun place to work at all. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I Absolutely loved to help the folks i helped. Sometimes I’d be on the phone with them 10-20 minutes but my supervisor never disciplined me, she had a good heart
OMG! I discovered this channel fiften minutes ago and I love it! Im a big fan since now, from Panama City, Florida
This is awesome, Stefani! Thanks for your comment and welcome to the channel. See you in my latest video right here, and thanks for watching: ua-cam.com/video/YDqWoQHikg0/v-deo.html
I'm like Paul, have medicare and being retired Navy, I have tricare for life at no cost, I don't get any medical bills, and no co-pay. One of the lucky ones.
Yes. Thanks James!!!
You served your country, you eared that. You are not lucky.
Retired Navy (23 years active service) here as well.
The VA has been awesome, too!
Oh, do I feel your pain. I have kidney stones, been to a dozen ER's while we were on the road. I'm with you Liz, I don't give up when dealing with them. I had one send me a refund, twice! Not sure why, but they did.
We had a similar medical share plan, but having the business,and with the having to prove insurance on taxes, we went back to a regular insurance. We have had to use it on the road, twice and we had no problems.
Good luck and stay healthy you two!!
u got a 2x refund bc you must b sweet as sugar...
@@Lauren-vd4qe oh my, if only that were true. Hee hee!
Hi Liz! Glad you tried a medical share plan. I hadn't heard of them before this and I keep hearing good things!
Also a medical biller for over 30 years, now retired. Sometimes the coding is wrong...especially on mammograms. Most providers have a financial aid or charity program...hospitals are required to have this in place if they are accepting Medicare patients. I was uninsured for 18 months...retired early, but was too young for Medicare, my husband got laid off. I applied for financial aid...My hospital visits were written off at 100%. Doctors visits were reduced to a small amount. You have to ask what programs they have, then be sure to fill out the required forms, provide documents showing income, expenses.
So glad you are better!
BTW...I live in Alabama and billed for several hospitals (contracted biller), including that big one in Mobile (USA).😉
Thanks for the tips, Donna!
Liz, I’m sorry you went through that. I hate to say it but two 40-minute calls was good. Some of us have had to call 5-6 times for over an hour each time. Thanks for this great, informative video. Invaluable.
Thanks so much Gina. We are so glad to get the word out.
Glad you won and feeling better God Bless to both of you
Thank you so much! Big hugs to you. See you in the next video.
I got sick several years ago and had no insurance and ended the Hospital. Scary! I was sick and boy did the bills roll in. Then being sick, I was not concerned with medical bills but was putting all my energy and thoughts into getting well. I got better with time and then started dealing with medical bills. They double-billed and changed account numbers several times. I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. Yes, this great America has terrible Health Care Insurance. VOTE ! I'm all for Health care for all! Sure would help so many .
Whew, so sorry you went through this Dawn. It's not fun.
The greatest thing about reaching 65 is Medicare and AARP supplement. Mammograms are not supposed to cost anything. Here’s a good one- had a routine bone density test which is covered by Medicare and supplement every two years. Saw the following on Medicare statement- charge submitted was $945.00, Medicare allowed $36.00 and supplement paid approximately $1.50. The imaging center accepted the amount paid to them. I love a good confrontation 🤣🤣!
I pay 0 with Humana. I also get $$$ put back in my account from Humana.
Liz & Paul,. Sorry for our doubles BUT happy that you are consistent and taking control of your health and pocketbook balance..LOVED LOVED LOVED the ending!! SUPER CUTE 🥰. Happy Trails
Awww, thanks Michelle! We look forward to your comments each week. Big hugs to you!!!
Good for you Liz. I don't have patience for those praying on others misfortune. You are a much better woman than I am!🥰💜
Awww, thanks Cerita! I sure was made but glad in the end to get my bills dramatically reduced. Thanks for your comment!
Thanks so much! You guys provide some amazing content and great information! One of the issues I have thought about for going full time on the road is health insurance, and this gives me a great option for that when and if I decide to get out full time. Thanks again, you are really helping out the RV community!
Thanks so much, Gina! We are so glad to have helped.
Thanks for sharing your hared-won knowledge.
Loved the ending!
Thanks so much! Happy New Year !
Wow. I can understand both of your points of view. I’m glad you got it resolved. This is good advice.
Thank you so much. We hope sharing our experiences helps others. Appreciate you watching, David.
As someone who had to take on my insurance company several times and had to have medical professionals help me. Stay persistent and don’t back down. Love your videos!!
Thanks for the encouragement, Kim. Glad to have you with us. Stay well, that's the best defense!
@@LizAmazing you’re welcome
I'm a Registered Nurse with 43 years of clinical practice. I am now a Case Manager at a Health Insurance Company. PLEASE, whenever there is a problem with your Health Insurance, call the Insurance Company and ask to be assigned a RN Case Manager. Nothing is impossible in Health Care. A Case Manager is always your advocate!! Also, if you offer to pay $10/month-the facility HAS to accept it-just don't miss a payment! Also-if it's coded wrong, the facility can be fined. Call the state government Health advocate-"wrong coding" can be viewed as Insurance fraud!
Good tip. I am grateful I did NOT accept a payment plan or financial assistance. For me it was all about how unreasonable my medical bills were to begin with. Glad to have that behind me. Thanks for watching.
@@LizAmazing -showing the facility was wrong-and overcharging you-the payment plan would have been null and void. A payment plan is often a stop gap measure to save people's credit. It's always refundable. Liz, I am glad you are feeling better. Love you both. Keep those videos coming!!
No matter what kind of thing we are dealing with, all depends on the persons whom we are facing. Good people always give other's hope. Bad one make us frustrated. Polite and keeping cool are your best strength. Have a wonderful trip....
Thanks Jerry, that is so true. And our attitudes can help tremendously. Thanks so much for the reminder.
I had heard good things about the health share options. I have been on Christian Healthcare Miniseries for three years now and I am so pleased!
Yay, so glad you know about them and are happy. As you know I am new at this type of plan. So far so good! Thanks for your comment!
You are sorry for all the people who don't have time or energy to negotiate with the insurance companies. I also feel sorry for all the people who don't have the money to be insured, or the difference they have to pay uses up all their assets, or sends them bankrupt, or even worse can not get the right treatment. Thank goodness I live in Australia.
Lucky you! Thanks for watching. We only wish we had health care as good as you.
Great info! You two are the best
Liz, I know your frustration, you’re the bomb!
Thanks Nancy! I was not going to give up!!!
Defiantly the endings are hilarious. :-). And thanks for all the tips.
Thank you so much, Antonio. We hope our video helps others. See you in the next one.
U 2 r adorable❤️! I love the way u get along! Such a great video & I appreciate u taking the time to get this information out to us:)
Wow that is so dirty. I went through something very similar a few years ago before I was eligible for Medicare when I had to have an emergency lithotripsy for a huge stone that was tearing my ureter apart. Ten times greater pain than all three of my natural childbirths put together. The surgery went well but I had excellent insurance the anesthesiologist that the hospital assigned was not covered on my insurance and we didn't know that until we got the bill for over $2300 just for his part. They also refused to recode it for self pay but I did some research and found that the self pay amount was closer to $700 in this state. When I shared that info with them and complained a few more times they finally reduced it to just under $700. I'm so glad you are feeling better and that you were able to negotiate your bills. I had no idea that six was the magic number but that is great information and should give a little hope to those who might feel like it could take a lot longer or maybe that they feel they would never get results. God bless you.
Oh goodness. First of all, so sorry you went through that ordeal with the kidney stone. Ouch! And it sounds like your experience was similar to mine. Glad you fought it. Thanks for watching and for your kind words. Hugs to you.
My brand new Samsung refrigerator ice maker was not right from day 1. I had to call customer service 10 times before they would send a repair service tech to my house. The phone computer said to me “I see you’ve called many times”! I believe you when you say the 6th time was the charm.
Paul is right our system is broken I had a bill like that and at the time I had no insurance at all and had to do the same thing and I got a 2500 dollar bill down to 500 bucks because I got the right person in front of me and she said if can pay the 500 bucks right now it will be the final bill so I hear you Liz glad you got it taken care of thanks for sharing
Thanks so much Brian. It really shouldn't have to be this way that the person with the best tiger like negotiation skills wins. Ugh! But glad to have that behind me. Thanks again for your comment!
Learn how to write.
I will have to check into that. I am in the same boat my husband is Medicare age and I just turned 60. We pay 800 per month and they still don’t want to pay anything. I had a $1,200 blood work bill and finally got that reduced to $650. I have to have regular blood work due to leukemia. Additionally had breast cancer and have to go back to Michigan for another mammogram in October because I may have cancer in the other breast. I haven’t even dealt with my back issues but am in pain and have days I feel like I am 90. The insurance I purchased will only cover emergencies outside of Michigan. So our travel schedule has been messed up due to my health issues. If I can get affordable coverage all over that would be great. I did have a blue cross policy that was better but it became completely unaffordable. I will have to speak with your representative and see if he can help me.
Yes, give Mike a call. Thanks for watching and good luck to you!
God bless you both , enjoy your adventures and hoping you find a way to move forward.
Our system is broken, my wife and I are 61 and 62 we pay for Kaiser in California $1,757.00 per month with a $9,200.00 deductible. Nothing kicks in until that's met. We never go to the doctor, we are in perfect health. We will look into this insurance, thanks.
I had about the same plan in the state of Washington and it was three or four dollars a month.
Yes. I'm very pleased with Zion Health and am happy to share my experience. Like anything, do your own research and then make the decision that works best for you. If you like this plan, it could save you thousands each year. Here's the special link to check them out: 🛎 Start saving on health insurance with our special link: tinyurl.com/AmazingPlan
So frustrating dealing with hospitals and medical offices. You just have to survive to 65 when Medicare kicks in. Trying to figure out the Medicare maze was super hard. You’re lucky to have Paul who has gone through it.
I learned to ask for the Hospital ombudsman or Social worker.
Thank you Mark! It really was an ordeal having to fight my bills. Thanks for watching and enjoy your Medicare! As an aside, we put the new light on, WOW, too bright to use at night!!!
Liz, it's fabulous that you can share medical insurance tips. The bills you received were inflated. Medical care is a basic human right. No one should have to deny themselves medical care because they can't afford treatment, wind up debt ridden for years or destroy their credit rating, due to excessive medical bills. Another great vlog! ❤
Awww, thanks so much Rhonda! We are so glad to be getting the word out about medical bills AND how my new non profit healthcare plan is so awesome! Thanks for being with us!!
Rhonda Goldberg, I could not agree more!
Medical care IS a basic human right, however FREE medical care ISN’T. But I do agree with the lack of standard costs.
It should be MANDATORY for ALL ACA plans to provide coverage THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE US!!!!
Yep. But they only cover in your home state. Just ER and Urgent Care outside of that.
@@LizAmazing my aca plan had a 900 copay for ER. The only plan available where I lived. 1800 a month premium ! So glad I turned 65 !
I’ve been told by a friend who worked insurance and probably hospitals also that if they make it difficult because most people give up and pay it anyway.
That was certainly my impression. But it doesn't seem fair that if you fight you pay less. They should just give you a fair bill to begin with. Thanks for your comment and we are glad to be getting the word out!
I am once again SO thankful to be a Canadian! OHIP has its faults but we never have to worry about receiving a bill in the mail. Good for you for fighting peacefully for what is right. It seems that there is a huge 'mark up' on even medical expenses! 🙄
Thanks Kerrie and lucky you to be Canadian. We look forward to visiting your beautiful country someday.
Hey Liz and Paul. I graduated from a 3 year hospital based nursing school program in 1965. Yep, I am older. I predate Medicare. I worked at the hospital until 1969 when I began working in a private MD office. Everyone was pretty much self pay then. If they had insurance they were given
itemized bills for them to file for reimbursement. I retired for the second time in 2018. I saw a charge for a EKG go from 10 dollars to 300 plus dollars... a little fancier machine but done the same way as in 1970. Lab work, x-rays etc are being billed at ridiculous rates. The patient is caught in the middle. My mother died in 2004 from diabetic kidney failure. She was well insured but was always self pay with a billing plan until she got itemized bills that she reviewed line by line and filed herself. Billing mistakes, overcharges, duplicate charges were common. You remind me of her. I am not a patient person. I don't do well with bureaucracy. You are amazing. ( p.s. I really worried about you and your back especially with those steps on your bike ride...glad it went well)
Thanks Carole! So glad you were with us during the back ordeal. And yes, up the stairs with the bike I started lifting the back end and then just stopped, didn't want to risk it. My back really does feel great and the new mattress feels great. For anyone scrolling who hasn't seen the mattress and other upgrade video, here it is: ua-cam.com/video/e7WcsRpga-8/v-deo.html
and to think this is America and this is your health (life) Lots of systems are broken in this country. Corruption is so thick Thanks for sharing this valuable info
Thank you so much. We really appreciate having you here. See you in the next video!
Liz amazing suits you perfectly. Lucky guy Paul.
Awww, thank you so much! Glad to share this important stuff and hope it helps others. Thanks for being with us, Donald!
Hammer on them Liz! It’ll make your eyes glaze over but hammer! I’m a little fortunate as I’m a veteran and 40 years trucking . I pay for our insurance but the coverages aren’t all bad considering. I’m 63 so a couple more so it’s a bit easier. I’m sorry you’ve had to endure the bureaucratic crap with medical and all the sleight of hand skull buggery. Best wishes and i always watch you two.
Thanks so much, Rick, we love you and are glad to have you with us. See you in the next video!
I agree that our healthcare system is broken! I was in healthcare for 44 years before I retired two years ago and tried to improve the system but, frankly, too many people make so much money that the barriers to prevent change are very strong. Something as simple as price has no correlation to cost. I challenge anyone to demonstrate that they can precisely define the actual cost for anything provided in a healthcare organization. You did great in getting your cost down and switch to a medical cost sharing plan. There are several plans like Zion so there should be many options for people. One last thing, traditional Medicare does not have any limit on your co-pay expense. To minimize cost you either have to have a supplemental plan to cover co-pays or switch to a Medicare Advantage plan. Thanks for doing this video!!
Good to know about Medicare, thanks John. We hope that the healthcare system can be repaired but that seems a long way off. Thanks for your comment!
Liz,
I’m calling you when I buy my next car! You’re a bulldog! I’m so glad you’re happy and healthy!
-L
Hi Laura! Ha, ha, yes I'd be GLAD to negotiate for you!!! Thanks Laura!
Great video today. As a retired nurse, I saw many people struggle with disease and then added stress with hospital billing in addition to that health issue. You gave great advice and I hope that many got to see this video because it can help people realize how important it is to look into the details of insurance coverage. I am on Medicare but there is also room for information on supplements for that as well, particularly if you were going to be traveling around the country. You need to have something that will transfer from state to state without an issue.
Thanks so much, Pattie. I bet you could tell some stories! Thanks for watching and commenting.
I guess I'm floored because I had no idea their were insurance plans where regular mammograms weren't covered. I'm a couple years away from Medicare and lucky because my husband has an insurance plan. But a lot can change in a couple years.
That's also my problem not liking confrontation but have a line where I eventually snap. Whenever I need to buy something with a large sticker price I bring someone along who's the opposite of me.
Yeah liz I think they try to wear people out, so they give up and just pay the bill. My husband and I had a similar incident happen to us with the warranty on our trailer and we just kept calling, and they finally honored the warranty. Be persistent is all I can say
Hi Melody! It sure was upsetting to me that folks that DON'T have the negotiating skills (or are not able to fight like a tiger) end up paying more. Seems so unfair. We are just glad to get the word out. Thanks for watching!
5 months ago, I had a brain mri. The first thing the next morning, I got a phone call from the mri scheduler saying they needed me to come back in ASAP for another brain mri. It was definitely concerning. I go in the same day, and I am told there will be no charge for this scan. I’m thinking they goofed and didn’t get the area the dr ordered. You know what happened- I get billed for the hospital services for the second scan. I track down someone in the actual mri department to look at the online notes from my view sit, sure enough, it said that patient will not be charged. I found that info within a day over the phone. Three months later, billing investigations is still trying to find out what happened. Eventually, I could see on my hospital statement account that there was no longer a charge, and personnel called me to tell me that. Resolution. Not really. I just got an email restating the same bill. Ugh.
I’m such a big fan of you two! I never miss a video 😀
Aww, thank you so much, Mark! Big hugs to you!
Coding/billing in medical departments don't think a thing about lying to you and then lying about the lie. I was recently in ER and tried to pay my bill on departure and was told that I'm covered. Next morning early they called me wanting their money ($35).
A tip: ask them for a detailed invoice. Your bill will almost always drop immediately when they have to print a 20 page invoice with $50 Band-Aids on it.
I asked three times for a detailed invoice and they just would not break down the costs of things such as injections. Basically lumped it all under physician or ER room. So frustrating. Thanks for watching.
I got charged for my mammogram the year before I was eligible for Social Security… (my insurance always paid for it in the past). It was over $500. I paid the bill but watching this, I wish I had called them and at least asked to have the bill reduced. I don’t like phone confrontations - Luckily I’ve always been healthy. My first visit to ER was last year (gallbladder emergency). Fortunately SSA (and my blue cross blue shield) paid for the surgery etc. i don’t travel like you guys- but great info and I’ll know what to do in the future if I need to dispute a medical bill.
Yes! Get that pen out and start making hash marks! It shouldn't have to be this way, but we are glad to be getting the word out. Thanks for watching and commenting, you are really helping our channel grow. Hugs.
With regular or traditional Medicare, in addition to the deductible you have 20% responsibility. It also doesn’t cover experimental procedures, which I believe the surgery that Liz had was experimental and not covered by Medicare. I’m wondering if the co-op insurance covers experimental procedures and how many doctors are willing to direct bill it? It all looks great when you buy it, using it is a very different story.
I'm 59 so not on Medicare, as far as I know a micro discectomy is not experimental, but maybe it is for Medicare. Thanks for watching!
Years ago, I filed a $7 reimbursement request with TriCare, for an approved Rx. It was returned denied. When i called to find out why, I was told they deny everything automatically, but it would be approved if I resubmitted. It's a cost savings for insurance, because most people just accept the original ruling. Sad, but true.
Oh how frustrating. The people who don't fight back are the ones who pay. How sad indeed. Thanks for your comment.
My opinion is the same thing with the credit card company.
I've never understood why they issue cards with the lowest credit possible $300, which usually means it's a starter credit builder possibly high school or college student. Insect to pile late fees on top of them so they can't pay the bill or disgusted or inclined to not pay the bill. I had my first card at 17 Capital One. And I did good for about a year until I got double charged at a restaurant.
Well I contacted both of the parties put them both on the line and the restaurant admitted yes we charged them because at first they said my "accident" then after a week to charge didn't come off I contacted both parties again and they admitted that one of the employees was stealing charging multiple people this way.
So after that the thing was supposed to happen the first time was a refund from the establishment and the understanding from a credit card company that wasn't my fault.
Well the next pay period come past and I see the charger still there with too late fees this time.
To make a long story short I contacted my credit card company if you need to tell me that the store didn't refund me the money! And in the shocker that I had to pay the late fees and all despite me being on the line with the fraud portion of the card company or you'll be on my credit now that just pissed me off and disappointed me! And I still haven't paid the bill 20 years later.
And do you know these sorry fools sent me a letter wanting me
How frustrating! So sorry you went through that with no help from them.
Good for you for negotiating the price down. You are correct those prices are inflated for the insurance companies.
They sure are! The original mammogram bill was $885 but just $84 if self paying. The system is really messed up! Thanks for watching and if you need a good healthcare plan, check out Zion: Start saving on health insurance with our special link: tinyurl.com/AmazingPlan
And they are inflated to cover the costs of the people with no insurance and for what insurance doesn’t cover.
Liz, you’re right. Most people don’t have the “bull dog tenacity “ to persevere to the end...
Thanks Julia. I think they are counting on people just paying and not having to go through the aggravation. Thanks for your comment!
Liz you are Amazing ! Good for You,sorry you had to go through this,but Good for You for not taking No for an answer ! I am like Paul I would have blew up LOL. Great video,Awesome information !!
Thanks Don! We love having you with us. Yeah, it's a shame that those that fight get to pay less than those that don't. It really shouldn't be this way. We are glad to be getting the word out!!
Hi, really enjoy your channel. Listening to your Healthcare financial issues, makes me thankful that I live in the UK. Here healthcare is free, there are are no excess payments. People in the US should push for a similar system. Even if US citizens have good private cover, they must still worry about contracting a long term condition, when it is likely that they will run out of cover. Keep the videos coming! Best wishes from the UK.
Thank you so much for your comment. Hello across the pond to you! Yes, it is so sad that we don't have national healthcare. Maybe someday! Thanks for your kind words and see you in the next one!
proud of you liz, i had dental insurance and their dentists were always new, later got off the insurance and paid out of pocket to correct what they did.
Thank you, Eilam! Sorry you had that experience.
@@LizAmazing thank you! Not a great deal, it's mostly our system.
There are somany elderly people who cannot advocate for themselves. Our system is broken and overly complicated for consumers. So glad you were persistent.
Yes. I kept thinking about all the people who would give up, heck I was close to giving up. It definitely shouldn't have to be this way. Thank you for watching, Christine!
Navigating your way through the affordable care act is really difficult. Unfortunately, you don’t really learn about insurance until you use it.
Isn't that the truth! Thanks so much for your comment, and stay healthy!
This is what I am concerned about! I am in the process of deciding on a insurance policy through marketplace. No one can seem to answer my questions. I am concerned because what if I have to have a surgery or a major emergency? To be quite honest, I live paycheck to paycheck. I can’t afford to be out of work and pay these outrageous deductibles (like up to $6300 out of pocket and then have to start all over again the following year).
Thank you so much for the tips.
Thank you, Elena, glad to have you with us.
There's only one way to handle the American healthcare system. Never get sick.
I've had insurance through my work, and my wife's work for a short time. We've had some really good plans, and a couple of terrible ones. But I've wound up having phone calls with insurance and medical providers over almost every bill. I keep detailed notes of the conversations, including dates and the people that I've talked to, and I make a point of referring back to them each time until I finally get everything settled.
Agreed, John. It can become a fulltime job keeping track of everything. Best wishes to you, and yes, stay healthy!
Such great information pays to be persistent I am blessed I have motion picture insurance which is very good I finally got my rig on the road I’m heading to Bend Oregon with my mother hope someday our paths cross on the road sending you guys positive energy 🙏🏼❤️🤙🏼
Glad you have good insurance Mark. And, lucky you to be going to Bend!!! Happy travels and we so look forward to meeting you! Thanks for the positive energy, right back at ya!
Thank you for this information -
Thank you for watching Dee!
Great information. Thank you so much for the video.
Thanks, Linda. How our experience helps.
You have a serious issue in the USA! In Canada we buy some extras for health care but Hospital Visit is covered 100%.
WE do indeed. Canada rocks!
great information, stay healthy. Canadians have an up on the Americans but the wait times are out of control in Canada 🇨🇦
Thank you so much! Lucky you to have that good care in Canada. And the Covid pay, too! We look forward to visiting your beautiful country one day. Enjoy!
(Susan:) This was one of the very first issues I personally dealt with and could make quick and obvious comparisons between the two countries after I moved from the U.S. to Sweden 24 years ago. The social healthcare system here means we pay at the very most approximately $120 per year for planned outpatient visits to doctors or other healthcare professionals. Total. No matter what, that's it. For any hospital stay, planned or otherwise, we are only billed a nominal fee (about $7.50/day) for meals. Any operation: $0. Ambulance: $0. Prescription meds: maximum of $240 per year. For all of this, we pay no insurance premiums at all, we only pay our taxes. No one here has to ever, ever worry about the costs or abstain from medical care, medication or treatment they need because they can't afford it. Our hearts go out to those who aren't as lucky as we consider ourselves to be in this matter.
Hugs from Susan & Göran in Sweden! 🤗
Hi Susan. And that's the way it should be. Healthcare should be a right available to all, not a privilege. I felt bad that I paid less only because I fought. It really is a broken system. Thanks for watching and commenting.
You can always ask for a superbill and pay cash, then bill the insurance company yourself. Good for you to keep pushing.
Thanks Gail. It was a rough road but now glad to have that behind me and that I am with a nonprofit. Yay! Thanks for watching!
Hey Liz, when you were in the hospital did they tell you what insurance and your hospital gown have in common? They didn’t? Well what the commonality is……you there yer covered but yer not! Insurance, especially health insurance can be very confusing. Once one goes on Medicare it is very important to pick the right Medicare supplement policy, especially if you are on medications which is covered by Part D. Not all policies are the same and some states offer prescription coverage. I got lucky with SilverScripts covered offered through the state of Wisconsin. Anyone approaching Medicare age, even a year out or so should start doing there homework now for their Medicare supplement coverage if not a vet like Paul.
Good tips, thanks so much Ed! And I hadn't heard that about the hospital gown, lol! Thanks for watching and commenting, we love having you with us!
Great info! Good job.
Thanks Betty! We are glad to have you with us!