united health insurance pays 100%

[jackpell]

I have united health insurance that covers hearing aids 100% up to $5000 every 3 years. Sounds great but I can't find anyone who will give me aids without me paying upfront. I don't have that much money. Has any body received aids and the provider of the aids collected from united health or any other insurance company?

[jay_man2]

Eight years ago I got aids and the office billed United Health. It was a real hassle. Three years ago when I went to get new ones, I had to pay up front. I put it on a credit card, and luckily got reimbursed before the payment was due.

[jackpell]

I don't understand why providers won't except the payment from insurance company. I even had the insurance company call and talk to the provider. Provider stated it is common practice for them to collect 1/2 of the payment upfront. The provider told me that they didn't trust the insurance company to pay. So I have a great benefit that no one will honor.

[jay_man2]

Both times with mine I had to get someone in my company HR department to talk to United Health to get them to pay up. They were a major PITA to deal with.

[Statos]

Im in the process right now of buying new aids with United Health Care Insurance. I had the Audi send in a letter asking what they would pay even though it says in the benefits that it will pay up to $5000 minus your deductible. She got a letter back with no clear answer. I can see its going to be a pain in the ass but you better believe I will keep on them to do what they say in the benefits. If anyone has any tips on how to make things easier please post them or PM me .
Thanks!

[roberthamden]

I paid up front supplied the paperwork to United, they followed up with the office to verify and I had payment in 2 weeks.

It was a great experience... I do think Providers should accept payment form Insurance companies, but fully understand why they need to collect up front some funds to cover their costs.

I have a dental policy, my Dentist accepts payment from the Insurance group and I pay my deductible, some charges have gone as long as a year before the Dentist is paid, in my mind for silly reasons.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by jackpell

I don't understand why providers won't except the payment from insurance company. I even had the insurance company call and talk to the provider. Provider stated it is common practice for them to collect 1/2 of the payment upfront. The provider told me that they didn't trust the insurance company to pay. So I have a great benefit that no one will honor.

Unfortunate, but all too common. You can pretty much lay this in the lap of the insurance company. Phone calls from a member or provider to an insurance company don't guarantee at all that they are telling you the right benefit or that they will pay any or all of the claim. That is why many providers ask for payment up front. They can and should prepare all of the claim paperwork for you and submit it, with the HCFA marked that any insurance payment should go directly to the patient.

[dr.amy]

Brad is right - it all boils down to the fact that just because insurance companies say you have a benefit and what it will pay, it doesn't mean the provider will get paid.

Often times, we file a claim and the patient gets fit, and then the claim is denied or they only pay a small portion. Then we have to come back and collect the balance from the patient. If the patient can't pay it - then what happens? It's not like want to repo hearing aids!

It's simply too risky because the insurance companies are so dodgy about what they cover.....

dr. amy

[tinkroper]

Nobody really likes filling out paperwork, answering tedious and embarrassing health questions, or going from one company to the next to the next, comparing quotes and wondering whether the offers we've been getting are actually reasonable. For some of us, there simply doesn't seem to be enough time in the day to get all these things done. The good news is that this isn't actually true.

[663518]

Try government recognized insurance company would be the great option for insurance. They have great insurance plans which are really legit and profitable too.