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Why Does It Take So Long for Medicare to Pay A Bill?
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Medicare & Insurance
Why Does It Take So Long for Medicare to Pay A Bill?
Share Medicare dos and don’ts, including eligibility and supplemental insurance.
I am fairly new to Medicare and I don't understand why it takes them so long to pay the bill. It took a year for the Laboratory to be paid. This year I have received a Collection Notice fr
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Cat:91a4afbf-9555-4e02-b9d3-9eef604476f6Forum:c79f53c3-fa71-4e76-b517-aef042efd7ff
Cat:91a4afbf-9555-4e02-b9d3-9eef604476f6Forum:c79f53c3-fa71-4e76-b517-aef042efd7ffDiscussion:acbdfe1c-9d88-4288-9034-2c3d0d2d2d92
Forums » Health » Medicare & Insurance » Why Does It Take So Long for Medicare to Pay A Bill?
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Why Does It Take So Long for Medicare to Pay A Bill?
posted at January 26, 2012 5:26 PM EST
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Posts: 114
First: August 9, 2010 Last: May 6, 2013 |
I am fairly new to Medicare and I don't understand why it takes them so long to pay the bill. It took a year for the Laboratory to be paid. This year I have received a Collection Notice from the company with the same problem. My premiums are not cheap either and they are withdrawn monthly from my annuity check. Who can I complain to with this problem? Looking for solutions. |
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Re: Why Does It Take So Long for Medicare to Pay A Bill?
posted at January 27, 2012 9:41 AM EST
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Posts: 1923
First: November 27, 2011 Last: May 18, 2013 |
I'm not on Medicare but I am seeing the same thing on my Mom's bills. It has to be on the Medicare end because (1) her doc said it was submitted in a timely manner (2) right after it is paid by Medicare, her supplemental coverage comes right after as it should. Two things have slowed down the process. (1) Congress fighting over this "Doc Fix" which involves reimbursement rates to Doctors. They renewed in in December for (2) months so by the end of Feb. something has to be done or they will reduce the doctor's reimbursement rate by 27% - it is already the law that they do it this way - (Clinton time) but every year Congress has put off doing it and I think I know why - Docs would leave the Medicare system! (2) CMS has slowed down processing claims - the longer the government can hold the money, the better. This health care thing is sure messed up - for everybody. |
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Re: Why Does It Take So Long for Medicare to Pay A Bill?
posted at January 27, 2012 6:18 PM EST
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Posts: 14571
First: January 28, 2008 Last: May 18, 2013 |
Many liberals don't see that Medicare has many flaws and tout the "low overhead" compared to insurers. I don't know if CMS cost is included in Medicare overhead calculation,but it operates as a separate entity with even a different set of software so inquiries to Medicare on billing can't be answered ! Karl |
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Re: Why Does It Take So Long for Medicare to Pay A Bill?
posted at January 28, 2012 11:40 AM EST
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Posts: 678
First: October 17, 2009 Last: February 17, 2013 |
In Response to Why Does It Take So Long for Medicare to Pay A Bill?: [QUOTE]I am fairly new to Medicare and I don't understand why it takes them so long to pay the bill. It took a year for the Laboratory to be paid. This year I have received a Collection Notice from the company with the same problem. I am not seeing that problem with Medicare. The week before Christmas, I saw an ENT and he has been paid already by Medicare and my Medigap Insurance. A lot depends on coding I bet. If the lab did not code your procedure properly, it could cause a delay. |
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Re: Why Does It Take So Long for Medicare to Pay A Bill?
posted at January 29, 2012 7:29 AM EST
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Posts: 12532
First: February 29, 2008 Last: May 17, 2013 |
In Response to Why Does It Take So Long for Medicare to Pay A Bill?: I am fairly new to Medicare and I don't understand why it takes them so long to pay the bill. It took a year for the Laboratory to be paid. This year I have received a Collection Notice from the company with the same problem. My premiums are not cheap either and they are withdrawn monthly from my annuity check. Who can I complain to with this problem? Looking for solutions. Posted by keonne Medicare has gone up since I got into the plan just like all of my other expenses have gone up. They have paid bills within a reasonable time, been very efficient ( just like the Soc Sec Adm ) For most people the past decade, expenses have not kept pace with income. Your complaint is highly unusual and that's all I have to say about it. . |
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Re: Why Does It Take So Long for Medicare to Pay A Bill?
posted at January 29, 2012 2:22 PM EST
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Posts: 1923
First: November 27, 2011 Last: May 18, 2013 |
In Response to Re: Why Does It Take So Long for Medicare to Pay A Bill?: In Response to Why Does It Take So Long for Medicare to Pay A Bill? : Medicare has gone up since I got into the plan just like all of my other expenses have gone up. They have paid bills within a reasonable time, been very efficient ( just like the Soc Sec Adm ) For most people the past decade, expenses have not kept pace with income. Your complaint is highly unusual and that's all I have to say about it. . Posted by JANMB I thought I read in one of your post that you have a Medicare Advantage plan (Medicare Part C). If I am remember this correctly, doesn't the MA plan provider pay your claims rather than CMS? I'm asking cause I don't know - I'm not on Medicare and my Mom has Traditional Medicare with a supplemental & D. |
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Re: Why Does It Take So Long for Medicare to Pay A Bill?
posted at January 29, 2012 10:23 PM EST
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Posts: 114
First: August 9, 2010 Last: May 6, 2013 |
Thanks for your response. I have Part A and B with Medicare. I believe CMS pays the bill. Blue Cross and Blue Shield will not pay until Medicare pays their part. I never had this problem until I joined Medicare. Medicare claims they do not pay for routine exams. I know they paid the Lab last year. Maybe the hired help are not completing the paperwork correctly. I guess I have to continue calling Medicare until someone finally complete the form correctly. It's such a nuisance. I feel as if I don't have any health coverage. In Response to Re: Why Does It Take So Long for Medicare to Pay A Bill?: In Response to Re: Why Does It Take So Long for Medicare to Pay A Bill? : I thought I read in one of your post that you have a Medicare Advantage plan (Medicare Part C). If I am remember this correctly, doesn't the MA plan provider pay your claims rather than CMS? I'm asking cause I don't know - I'm not on Medicare and my Mom has Traditional Medicare with a supplemental & D. Posted by GailL1 |
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Re: Why Does It Take So Long for Medicare to Pay A Bill?
posted at January 30, 2012 9:02 AM EST
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Posts: 1923
First: November 27, 2011 Last: May 18, 2013 |
In Response to Re: Why Does It Take So Long for Medicare to Pay A Bill?: Thanks for your response. I have Part A and B with Medicare. I believe CMS pays the bill. Blue Cross and Blue Shield will not pay until Medicare pays their part. I never had this problem until I joined Medicare. Medicare claims they do not pay for routine exams. I know they paid the Lab last year. Maybe the hired help are not completing the paperwork correctly. I guess I have to continue calling Medicare until someone finally complete the form correctly. It's such a nuisance. I feel as if I don't have any health coverage. In Response to Re: Why Does It Take So Long for Medicare to Pay A Bill? : Posted by keonne Actually, I was responding to the other poster who said he/she had had no problem with the slow down in paying claims and I was just wondering if having a Medicare Advantage plan was different in the respect of claims paying. My mom is like you, she has Traditional Medicare(A & B) with BCBS supplemental and I am seeing a real slow down in claim paying. "Routine exams" covers lots of territory - consult your Medicare book - they do cover "some" yearly "preventative" exams and test plus what they specify as the 1X Wellness Exam when you 1st enroll. Here is what Medicare says about these preventative check-ups. Welcome To Medicare Preventative - Wellness Coverage Medicare Annual Preventatve/Wellness Evaluation As any other health insurance - public or private - understanding your coverage is paramount to using your benefits. Look over that receipt that your doctor's office gives you at the end of each visit and make sure the checked procedure/diagnosis is what you had done cause that is what they will be submitting for a claim. I usually make myself some notes about what the visit covered and any test or lab and then wait.. I'm not having any problem as to what and how much is paid; only the timing that it takes for CMS to pay the claim, followed by the supplemental payment. Good Luck |
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Re: Why Does It Take So Long for Medicare to Pay A Bill?
posted at March 8, 2012 7:44 AM EST
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Posts: 23748
First: August 22, 2008 Last: May 14, 2013 |
I don't have MediCare Advantage, but I am on my retirement program which supposedly pays before MediCare. I check both sites once a week because I am still receiving bills from a hospitalization back in October. It's debatable if my retirement insurance pays before MediCare, but I do have one bill pending because they apparently did not send it to my retiree insurance for coordination. That is the only bill I've had that MediCare has hesitated on. To the original poster: is your doctor having this problem with other MediCare patients? Does he or she have a good mix of Seniors and younger people coming to them? I live in Florida, so the doctors here are quite used to dealing with Seniors and their health insurance. I don't know how true that is in other areas.
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Forums » Health » Medicare & Insurance » Why Does It Take So Long for Medicare to Pay A Bill?
