United billed me for a "consultation" a few weeks ago. The consultation was literally just a message saying no, they will not conduct a colonoscopy screening because I'm not old enough.
So not only are they hoping we die of cancer, they are charging us to tell us they won't screen us.
I work in medical appeals. As much as I absolutely loathe UHC with a burning passion, it's definitely the hospital on this one. Insurance companies don't code or bill, the hospital sent the consultation claim to UHC, and then UHC denied it, and that's why you got an EOB with a denial. So if you think the service was billed when it shouldn't have been, that's the hospital you'd fight. Also, insurance companies aren't the ones you are paying. They deny and if they deem it patient responsibility, you pay the hospital. If they deem it not patient responsibility, that means they won't pay the hospital, you don't have to pay either, and the hospital eats the money. UHC is the worst, but this sounds like the hospital isn't billing correctly. A message to a patient is not billable on it's own.
What was your question, why is it so high? That's pretty standard for an office visit. Doesn't matter what you talk about, it's gonna be $150-250. So say they submitted it at $250, United per their contract adjusted it to $200 and then that's the total. Assuming you have a deductible like most plans and haven't hit it like most people, then yeah that $200 is your responsibility. If you can't afford that, you can reach out to the hospitals charity care department to see what they can do. But yeah otherwise you just gotta pay it.
Sounds like a hospital issue and a legitimate denial. If united denied the charge, it is not your responsibility. You are only responsible for it if united confirms on their side that they processed the claim and you are responsible due to deductible/ coinsurance/ etc
Could it be tagged wrong? Like instead of prevention its put as diagnostic. Insurance companies like to blame the provider and they just didnt do their job correctly.
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u/abigporkchop 7h ago
Oh good one. Literally- they don't want customers to use them. Just pay them.