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Trip to the hospital resulted in charge for out-of-network doctor
Call 12 for Action reporters work to help you become smarter consumers. Read their weekly updates each week in Sunday’s AZ Economy section. Today, Veronica Sanchez explains how Call 12 helped when an injured woman was billed for an out-of-network doctor. Robert Anglen reports on how a bogus funeral notice advising that a close friend has died is the latest scam by hackers to sneak into your computer. Stacia Naquin explains how data breaches at universities worry cybersecurity analysts, and what steps students should take to protect themselves. And, as always, our team of volunteers is here to help weekdays at 602-260-1212 if you have a problem with a business.
Marylou Watters calls herself a repeat Call 12 for Action customer. “This is the third time I used you, so I love you guys,” Watters said from her Gilbert home.
Last year, while she was opening a closet door at her home, a candle fell on her head. Afterward, she started experiencing headaches and blurred vision. Her husband drove her to a hospital.
An emergency-room doctor gave her the diagnosis: a mild concussion. Watters recovered from that. A month later, she got a bill from the hospital, Gilbert Mercy Medical Center, for $510.62. The bill was for an out-of-network doctor at the hospital.
She had no idea her insurance carrier didn’t cover those services.
“No, you’re in a lot of pain, so you don’t ask those ques- tions, you don’t say, ‘Hey doctor, are you on my provider list?’ Nope,” Watters said. “They accepted our insurance, so I didn’t think there would be any problem.”
She contacted her carrier, Blue Cross Blue Shield. Then she tried calling Premier Billing, the doctor’s billing company, but she got nowhere.
When a collection agency came calling, she had had enough.
“I was getting the runaround, and that’s when I called you,” Watters said. Our volunteer helped her get the bill erased. And if Watters ever has another problem, with a company or a health-care provider — you can bet she’s turning to Call 12 For Action.
Premier Billing did not return a call seeking comment. We also reached out to the collection agency, Bureau of Medical Economics, for a comment. They would not talk, citing privacy concerns.