Medical math: Baffled by health care billing

Medical billing has me wholly baffled.

A fairly routine medical test, which took less than an hour, supposedly cost $3,765.24. That’s what my medical insurance claim summary report says. It’s listed right under the “Provider Charges” heading.

The very next column lists “Allowed Amounts” and this magic number: $532.67.

Finally, the “Patient Share” figure is listed: $103.52.

Let’s summarize, shall we?

• Hospital claims:   $3,765.24
• Insurance accepts:  $532.67
• Patient must pay:    $103.52

Sorry, wrong number.

It just doesn't add up!

Where do they come up with this stuff? One thing is clear: The cost is not the cost. In fact, there seems to be no hard-and-fast actual cost at all. (OK, that's not clear at all.)

Who would ever pay the full price, anyway? And who taught these guys to do basic math? (Don’t get me started on the Common Core thing.)

Maybe someone needs to go back to Square One. Perhaps the hospital accountants need to have their heads examined. I wonder what that would cost … and who would pay for it.

Many have claimed there’s strength in numbers. After seeing my medical bill, I beg to differ. One plus one equals ... what?

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You can support the MS cause for free on Amazon.com

Amazon Smile, a free program, offers to donate to customers’ chosen  charities.

How does Amazon Smile work?

Each Amazon.com customer (or Amazon Prime customer) simply signs up online, designating the philanthropic organization he or she picks to receive the benefits. Then Amazon automatically gives 0.5 percent of that customer’s purchase to the chosen organization.

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Options feature nearly a million different charities. Multiple sclerosis and related organizations include:

• American Academy of Neurology
• American Brain Tumor Association
• Brain Injury Association of America
• National Alzheimer's Association
• National Multiple Sclerosis Society
• Race to Erase MS
• Special Olympics, Inc.
• and many more.

Users may suggest charities that do not appear on the list as well.

Is Amazon Smile really free?

Apparently, the Amazon Smile program is completely free to join and passes no costs or price increases to participating customers.

Can an Amazon.com customer change the charity he or she has selected for the Amazon Smile program?

Yes, this is simple to do. Under the YOUR ACCOUNT drop-down menu on the Amazon website, the user can click CHANGE YOUR CHARITY.

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Caught in the MS life insurance racket

Does multiple sclerosis affect a person’s insurability? You bet it does.

I recently experienced the process, and I’m pretty steamed about it.

My original life insurance policy came to an end. (Don’t ask.) It was time to take out a new one. So I went through the rigmarole – the mountains of paperwork, the telephone interviews, the detailed medical histories, and the physical exam.

And then they bumped me … and bumped me again … and bumped me again.

Finally, the actuary called to follow up on a few of the personal details. She revealed that my MS diagnosis nearly disqualified me altogether.

Seriously?

She said her staff had applied with more than 20 insurance companies before finding one that would take on my case.

Maybe it’s time for a little background.

Yes, I received a diagnosis about five years ago. And I began treatment with daily self-injections, once- or twice-annual MRIs and neurological exams, and the whole deal.

I also continued riding horses nearly daily and began training for cross-country runs. I completed numerous 5K and 10K races and evena half marathon.

My lab results, weight, lifestyle, and overall health earned high points in the exam process.

“You’re my healthiest client,” the actuary confessed. “In fact, I’m 20 years younger than you are, and you are way healthier than I am. But you’re still almost uninsurable.”

And yet, my life insurance premiums more than doubled because of the MS tag.

“If you can get your MS diagnosis reversed, we might be able to revisit your application,” she said.

Oh, really? Wonder how often that happens.

So I did a little digging and discovered that many MSers have trouble finding affordable life insurance, particularly if they try to apply after their diagnoses. Several have discovered they were able to procure term life insurance policies at high premiums, but not whole-life policies.

Other MSers have been declined for life insurance across the board and have relied upon other investment plans, hoping to save enough to provide something for their heirs.

It can be far easier to renew existing (pre-diagnosis) life insurance policies than to let them run out and try for new ones after MS has made the scene.

Yeah, that’s a domestic argument, waiting to happen. (Again, don’t ask.)

Color me miffed, but also relieved to be insured at all.

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