Insurance carriers who wrongfully deny legitimate claims by policyholders can exact a devastating toll. However, the hardships associated with such unjustified denials are even more harmful if the claim involves health insurance. The ordeal involved in fighting an insurance carrier to obtain coverage of medical treatments is stressful, but there are approaches to improving the chance of getting health care services covered. There are relatively simple problems that can be resolved with a phone call, such as a coding error made by your doctor or a hospital. By contrast, certain health coverage issues involve complex medical questions, such the appropriateness of a particular cancer treatment.
If you receive notice that coverage for your health care issue is denied, the first priority is to ascertain the basis for denial of your claim and the insurance carrier’s policies and procedures to appeal coverage decisions. When engaging in communications with a health plan, an insured must heep meticulous records regarding the content of the communications and names of insurance company representatives. Certain documents should be requested that will facilitate a patient’s ability to reconstruct the pathway that led to the denial. Key documents that will be necessary to appeal the decision include: (1) the denial letter; (2) copy of the plan’s full benefits/insurance policy. There are some large health care providers like Aetna and Cigna that post their health care plans on the internet.
An insured’s success in obtaining coverage will often turn on the policyholder’s ability to establish that the treatment falls within the plan's coverage. The policy must be reviewed to identify the language that establishes the health care sought falls within the policy coverage.
Many health coverage denials are tied to the issue of whether the proposed diagnostic or treatment alternative is medically necessary and/or scientifically proven. A patient should research scientific evidence regarding the benefits and effectiveness of a particular treatment online at websites like pubmed.gov, which is sponsored by the National Library of Medicine. Studies revealing positive results treating the insured’s condition in similar situations can provide effective evidence. While the most persuasive evidence will include large random trials, other supportive articles published in reputable medical journals also can be helpful. If you bring such research to your physician, the doctor might be able to assist you in presenting the information in a persuasive manner. Sometimes the researchers that perform such studies also will provide assistance to patients trying to obtain urgent treatment.
You can reach Miami Insurance Claims Lawyer J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo by dialing his direct number at (786) 272-5841, calling the main office at (305) 461-1095, or Toll Free at 1 (866) 71-CLAIM or email Attorney Gonzalez-Sirgo directly at [email protected].
