Confused by Your Medical Bill? Asking Questions Can Save You Money

SACRAMENTO, CA, Oct 05 (MARKET WIRE) --
Medical bills can be very complicated and, in some cases, they can also
be inaccurate or incomplete. California's Office of the Patient Advocate
is encouraging all Californians to ask for clarification if they do not
understand their medical bill. Start by asking your doctor's office to
explain any charges that you are being asked to pay -- many billing
problems are solved this way. If there are still questions, health
insurance plan members should call their health plan for further
explanation and to ensure that the bill reflects the correct payment
contribution from their health insurance. Taking the time to understand
your medical bill can save you money while helping you get the most out of
your health care.

"Patients have a right to receive accurate information about their medical
bills and the charges they are responsible for paying," said Sandra Perez,
director, Office of the Patient Advocate. "If any part of your bill is
confusing or if you see something that you would like clarified, ask about
it. Asking questions about your medical bill can ensure that the payments
from your health insurance company are accurate and that you are paying
only what is necessary."

The Office of the Patient Advocate provides tools and tips on how you can
best understand your medical bill, such as asking for a list of fees so
you will get a sense of what you will have to pay before you go to the
doctor. The Office of the Patient Advocate also provides information on
how health insurance works and tips on how to spend money wisely when it
comes to health care. For more tips and information about how to navigate
through health care costs, please visit www.opa.ca.gov.

If you've already talked to your doctor's office and your health insurance
plan and you still disagree with your medical bill, the next step is to
file a formal complaint with your health plan. If you're not satisfied
with your health plan's decision, contact the Help Center at the
Department of Managed Health Care at 1-888-466-2219 or
www.HealthHelp.ca.gov. The Department of Managed Health Care makes sure
that health plans follow the law and address member complaints on time,
and its Help Center can help you with your complaint.

Health care plays an important role in the lives of all Californians. The
Office of the Patient Advocate seeks to provide Californians with the
information and tools needed to make informed health care decisions and
get the most out of their health insurance plan. In addition to free
educational materials, the Office of the Patient Advocate releases an
annual health care quality report card rating the largest health
insurance plans and doctors' medical groups in the state on quality of
care and patient satisfaction as rated by members of the plan. There are
also easy links to report cards on hospitals, nursing homes, PPOs,
Medi-Cal, Medicare, and Healthy Families.

The Office of the Patient Advocate is an office in state government
established in 2000 to inform and educate Californians about their rights
and responsibilities as health insurance plan members and to teach them
how to get the most out of their health care. To learn more about getting
the most out of your health care, or to download health worksheets and
other health care-related tools, visit www.opa.ca.gov.

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