Hospital Bills not covered by Insurance

[imported_tsrusa2002]

Hi,
I bought visitor insurance for my father (maximum benefit of $50,000). The insurance had a max of $1250 per day for in-patient services. My father was hospitalized for 2 days and total bill came to about 6.5K. Insurance covered about half of it and I paid a portion of it. Now the balance has been sent to my father asking for payments. Throughout the stay, only my father had been communicating with the hospital and obviously, since he is a visitor, he does not have a credit history or ssn etc. He went back to India 6 months ago.

Is there is a way to have the balance waived by the hospital. My father is old, retired, lives on pension. If hospital does send it to collections, will my credit history be affected or his visa or other thing affected?


Please suggest asap.
Thanks

[insubuy]

Unfortunately, you will have to pay the difference yourself.

Most likely, the hospital is not going to the waive the amount. They are commerical organization and run for profit.

I sincerely don't hope so, but in reality, collection agencies may come after you to collect the money.

That is exactly why we urge everyone to purchase comprehensive coverage plans. Please avoid fixed coverage plans if at all possible. Read https://www.insubuy.com/visitors-insurance/ to understand the difference.

Even though not directly related to your problem, please read FAQ at https://www.insubuy.com/visitor-medi...ng-conditions/
It discusses about insurance company not covering some benefits because of pre-existing conditions. More or less, similar rule applies when insurance company paid a portion of it.

[imported_tsrusa2002]

Well,
What do you think the Insurance company is for? They are commercial organizations running for profit.
Comprehensive or fixed, they will always find ways to not cover for the expenses. Its always the end customer who inspite of paying high premiums, ends paying hospital bills.

[insubuy]

Of course, insurance company is a commerical organization run for profit.

But you can't blame the insurance company if you bought the insurance that has limited coverage, insurance company paid according the terms and conditions of the policy. They have fulfilled what they promised. Why would they pay more?

They actually paid the claim. Therefore, what is the problem?

That is exactly why the same insurance company sells fixed coverage plan and the comprehensive coverage plans. If the fixed coverage plan were enough, no body would buy comprehensive coverage plan at 2 to 3 times higher premium and there would no reason for insurance company to offer comprehensive plan.

What you pay is what you get.

There is no point blaming the hospital or the insurance company in this case. I can understand your frustration, but please purchase comprehensive coverage next time.

[imported_tsrusa2002]

Its not frustration. Its reality. We (me and my wife) have a comprehensive plan and have had a very bad experience in getting treatment inspite of the fact that those are covered under the plan. After certain visits, Insurance company started creating problems in approving further visits to doctor, delayed approvals. Sometimes we had to miss appointments for 2-3 weeks (waiting for approvals) for treatment that require continuous visits. They pay upto a certain point and after that they start creating issues.


Its the extent to which these insurance plans are tested determines whether its useful or not. Comprehensive or Fixed doesn't matter.

[insubuy]

If you had a bad experience with particular company for your own insurance, you can't blame the entire industry.

I don't know from which company you purchased the fixed coverage plan for visitors, from us or somewhere else, but insurance company paid whatever they promised to pay. Therefore, they completely fulfilled their promise. I don't see any reason to complain.

If you think entire insurance industry is bad and after you, you should not buy any insurance going forward from anywhere, any company.

I am closing this thread as there is nothing meaningful being discussed here anymore.