Many people’s frustration and anger with their health insurance companies continues to grow as more people share experiences of their insurance companies suddenly cutting off coverage, denying claims, or overcharging for basic services. I am.
In the TikTok video, a young woman named kim During a recent doctor’s visit, he revealed that his insurance company charged him extra for basic questions the doctor asked him about his mental health. She was also not given the option of not being asked these questions to avoid additional charges.
The woman’s insurance company charged her an additional $100 because her doctor asked questions about her mental health during a medical exam.
“I just learned that every year when I go to the doctor, they ask me if I have any sad thoughts or questions about alcohol.” [consumption] And on material issues, they’re charging insurance companies money to ask you those questions,” Kim began in the video.
She explained that health insurance companies use the questions doctors ask patients as a means to overcharge. Kim admitted she didn’t think a simple 15-second question about her health warranted separate charges, but she was proven wrong.
This woman would never have known she had been charged for health questions if she hadn’t looked at her insurance claim breakdown.
Kim said when she checked her insurance bill, she discovered that the doctor had charged her $60 for how much alcohol she had consumed, and an additional $30 for asking questions about her mental health. spoke.
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In the comments section, some medical students and professionals pointed out that these additional fees are often outside of their control. Recording these questions in an insurance patient’s medical record would incur additional costs for the company.
This is another reason why people are so burnt out about the seemingly morally corrupt health care system. Many people pay thousands of dollars a month just to have insurance, only to be charged extra fees for necessary treatments and medications, or even be denied coverage.
A surprising number of Americans are receiving surprise bills from their health insurance companies.
Commonwealth Fund research reveals Nearly half of Americans with insurance have experienced an unexpected medical expense in the past year. Still, the majority did not dispute billing errors or coverage denials. Of the 7,873 insured adults surveyed nationwide, 45% said they had been charged for a service they thought should have been covered, and nearly one in five (17%) said their doctor reported being denied coverage for the services they recommended.
However, the poll found that fewer than half of people who reported billing errors or coverage denials did so primarily because they did not know they had the right to do so. The study also described the impact of being denied insurance coverage, with nearly 60% reporting delays in treatment and nearly half (47%) reporting worsening health status as a result.
Both the cost of health care in this country and the lack of transparency around some costs and billing have led to the shock and fear that accompanies receiving a medical bill, especially for something as mundane as a routine doctor’s visit. This is a contributing factor.
If you notice a claim that isn’t covered by your insurance, don’t hesitate to call the company and insist that the claim be dropped completely or reduced. It’s clearly unreasonable for people to pay more than $100 for something as simple as a routine question from a doctor.
Nia Tipton is a staff writer with a BA in Creative Writing and Journalism who covers news and lifestyle topics with a focus on psychology, relationships, and the human experience.
