How To Read A Medical Services Receipt

​Medical services receipts are a foreign language to most people. When you get one, you're likely to toss it aside without reading it or even taking the time to understand what's written on it. But suppose you don't understand the details of the receipt of your medical service.

 In that case, there's a good chance that someone might commit insurance fraud and take advantage of your insurance company by claiming they never received care from your doctor's office.

Terminology You Should Know
Understanding each terminology may help you read your medical receipt, which may guide you in reading your bills.

• Statement Date:
• Account Number:
• Service Date
• Description
• Charges
• Billed Charges
• Adjustment
• Insurance Payments
• Patient Payments:
• Balance / Amount Due
• Payable to:
• Service code

Request For An Itemized Statement
Call the billing office and request an itemized invoice if your bill does not include a complete list of the costs. The only way to guarantee that you are only getting charged for your services is to do that. 

You might also hear from doctors, surgeons, or specialists not affiliated with the hospital or facility where you had treatment, such as anesthesiologists, radiologists, and pathologists. Ask those service providers for itemized invoices as well.

Always Check Everything Inside The Information
It's a must to check that your name, address, and other personal details on the bill are precise and that your health insurance information is up to date. If this data is inaccurate, the claim may be disallowed.

Know What The Code Means
Each medical procedure has a 5-digit code that corresponds to it. The amount that will reimburse to your provider is determined by these numerical methods, known as Current Procedural Terminology (CPT). 

There are many thousands of difficult billing codes. Typographical errors can vary from minor inaccuracies to billing departments misreading or misinterpreting medical records or summaries of hospital discharges.

You can enter the code to acquire an accurate description of something if the description is vague or the cost appears unreasonable. Get an idea of typical costs for various codes in your area using free internet resources.

Be Wary Of Common Errors
Errors happen, and they can be expensive. They can involve repeated charges, inaccurate information (such as a false insurance ID number), or an exaggerated number of services rendered.

Conclusion
The bottom line is that the medical services receipt is your key to understanding what's going on with your health care. By keeping it and taking good care of it, you can protect yourself against fraud and ensure you're getting the best possible service at a fair price.

At Medicare Supplement Store, we do our best in making sure that our clients are well-protected with affordable and comprehensive policies. We make sure to go the extra mile to help you with your needs. To learn more about how we can help you, please contact our agency at (732) 252-8828 or Click Here to request a free quote. Topics and coverage discussed in this article are not guaranteed, consult with your agents to determine what your policy does and does not cover. We are more than happy to help!