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In reply to the discussion: If you suddenly found yourself working for an insurance company and received a claim that looks like this for MRI-- [View all]rog
(897 posts)76. You can look up the cost some procedures on the Medicare site (example for MRI below).
        
          https://www.medicare.gov/procedure-price-lookup/cost/72149
This is for "Magnetic resonance (eg, proton) imaging, spinal canal and contents, lumbar; with contrast material(s)".
Spoiler: Patient pays $58 in an ambulatory surgical center, $89 in hospital outpatient dept.
Not too hard to compute what Medicare pays the facility, since this is 20% of the Medicare Approved Amount.
Edited to add more info (All costs are national averages.) ...
Total cost: $292
Doctor Fee: $82
Facility Fee: $210
Medicare pays: $233
Patient pays: $58
          
          
          
        
        This is for "Magnetic resonance (eg, proton) imaging, spinal canal and contents, lumbar; with contrast material(s)".
Spoiler: Patient pays $58 in an ambulatory surgical center, $89 in hospital outpatient dept.
Not too hard to compute what Medicare pays the facility, since this is 20% of the Medicare Approved Amount.
Edited to add more info (All costs are national averages.) ...
Total cost: $292
Doctor Fee: $82
Facility Fee: $210
Medicare pays: $233
Patient pays: $58
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                        If you suddenly found yourself working for an insurance company and received a claim that looks like this for MRI-- [View all]
							Silent Type
							Dec 2024
							OP
                        
        
        It's not denied in the sense they will never pay. It's denied because they ain't gonna cut a check until they get
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #5
      
        
        There are also denials regarding valid claims and treatment approvals with delay tactics
        Meowmee
        Dec 2024
        #16
      
        
        In my opinion it's the doc's office responsibility. They have all the information, they under codes,
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #59
      
        
        They've gotten care in most "claim" denials. Preauthorization is much the same. For example, Medicare's policy on MRIs
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #8
      
        
        You need to understand something. I have been for Medicare/caid-for-All since 1982. If I were to dig through my addict
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #24
      
        
        I'm saying insurance companies are not worse than other aspects of our healthcare system -- doctors, hospitals, big drug
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #82
      
        
        Medicare wouldn't ask you, they'd ask providers if claim wasn't coded well enough,
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #71
      
        
        I'm all for something like in other countries. I just don't see any Congress person with guts to tell millions of people
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #74
      
        
        I have had the same satisfactory experience with just plain Medicare, no supplemental no advantage
        Walleye
        Dec 2024
        #77
      
        
        Hospitals and insurance companies work hand-in-hand on thousands of claims a week....
        Think. Again.
        Dec 2024
        #7
      
        
        Yeah sure. That's how Medicare or private insurers end up paying claims to providers who don't even exist.
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #9
      
        
        One more time. Those are INITIAL denials -- similar to examples above -- that are overturned in over 80% of cases
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #13
      
        
        Oh, okay, so this doesn't even address the 34% of final claims denied by UHC.
        Think. Again.
        Dec 2024
        #15
      
        
        Because 80+% of initial claim denials are reversed exactly as outlined in the OP. Have a good night.
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #25
      
        
        It happens with Medicaid because the government hires unscrupulous people to deny claims
        questionseverything
        Dec 2024
        #36
      
        
        Good point, it ain't just private insurance. Medicaid and Medicare are government programs and likely model
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #37
      
        
        I'd have to see the bills. He might have been submitting improper bills, that were changed
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #43
      
        
        Like Wendell Potter, got rich supporting denying claims and felt guilty. Ask him if anyone died from his
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #48
      
        
        Yes. The actual claim form submitted electronically has a Units column. But, good example of claims not always making
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #14
      
        
        Example in OP includes meds. The type sedation -- xanax or something -- is pretty cheap. Well, unless provider cheats.
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #20
      
        
        If you are uninsured, someone might charge you $50 K. Insurance will not approve $12K, including Medicare.
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #31
      
        
        Let's say $12 K is going rate. Should insurer, including Medicare, pay $17K, or deny and ask for additional . . . . . .
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #32
      
        
        Give me a break. You know who Luigi shot and his rationale. Heard tonight Luigi was apparently never insured by UHC.
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #30
      
        
        So if he was never insured by them he certianly wasnt denied a payment claim by them.
        Eko
        Dec 2024
        #40
      
        
        OK, guess his manifesto said nothing about denials, claims, pre authorization. And UHC never insured him
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #46
      
        
        Read the last paragraph. I explain that. But very few here are going to understand what an electronic claims looks like.
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #21
      
        
        I answered your question since you didn't read the note in OP. Have a good evening.
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #44
      
        
        I didn't ask you any questions. Your notes in the OP are inadequate.  Good night. eom.
        vanessa_ca
        Dec 2024
        #49
      
        
        Got a good laugh out of that, actually. I do care about shooting someone in the back while being misinformed.
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #26
      
        
        Get it and envious. But lot of the blame is on greedy providers for prices. I've never seen Medicare or private insurers
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #33
      
        
        Fun fact: UHC employees have been ordered to defend their murders. N/t
        Hellbound Hellhound
        Dec 2024
        #52
      
        
        Considering the misinformation, Luigi cult, etc., don't blame them too. When people catch on government programs
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #54
      
        
        So what do think a typical insurer might pay? Three times Medicare, 1.5, even less than Medicare by requiring
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #56
      
        
        Not "defending" anyone. Trying to point out not just insurance. It's also Congress, Medicare, Providers,
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #61
      
        
        Think we ought to put blame where it belongs, Congress primarily for failing us.
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #63
      
        
        No, not in insurance business. There are federal guidelines too, not just state insurance laws. In fact
        Silent Type
        Dec 2024
        #70
      
        
        You can look up the cost some procedures on the Medicare site (example for MRI below).
        rog
        Dec 2024
        #76
      
        
        If a hospital charges $1800 for an MRI that is what the insurance company should pay
        Autumn
        Dec 2024
        #80