Ask Laz: How to deal with a sky-high medical bill
Ely wants to know if there’s an effective way to dispute a medical bill.
He said his wife recently went to a prominent Los Angeles hospital for a mammogram. A dark spot turned up, he said, and she was advised to undergo additional testing.
There was no talk of cost, and of course Ely’s wife had the extra tests performed. Who wouldn’t?
ASK LAZ: Smart answers to consumer questions
Then came the bill: $15,000. Their insurer knocked this down to $5,000. However, Ely and his wife have a $10,000 deductible on their policy to keep their premium down, so they’ll have to pay the entire amount out of pocket.
Ely called this “outrageous” and wants to know how he can challenge it.
First of all, many hospitals will negotiate patients’ bills, especially if the patient is uninsured or if the treatment isn’t covered. Explain the situation and don’t be shy about asking for the bill to be cut by a third or even in half.
If the hospital digs in its heels, you might consider bringing in a patient advocate. These are professional negotiators who know the ins and outs of the medical system and often can produce results that mere mortals cannot.
Some patient advocates charge as much as $200 an hour. Others seek a percentage of however much they manage to get your bill reduced by, perhaps 30%.
A Web search should produce listings for patient advocates in your area, or you can go to the website of the National Assn. of Healthcare Advocacy Consultants and search there.
If you have a consumer question, email me at asklaz@latimes.com or contact me via Twitter @Davidlaz
