Mar 03 2009
I Had My First Panic Attack-
Yesterday as I was opening the mail, and it happened, my first panic attack. The trigger was a benefits paid statement from our health insurance - But there were no paid amounts to be found. All I saw were denials for payments on my recent surgery, to the tune of $22K.
YIKES …
My heart started racing. My face felt warm. And the room started to feel really small.
A panic attack …
Luckily the problem solver in me managed to surface, even through the flood of panic. I found the insurance company’s 1-800 number and called it. The woman on the other end of the line talked me through the problem -
An overzealous claims processor had closed the claim too early - before they had received some necessary paperwork.
Damn, I hate this insurance company!
Don’t get me wrong -
I’m grateful we have any health insurance at all.
But this company aggressively tries not to pay legitimate claims.
They mail paperwork dated 10 days earlier than you receive it, with a-must-return-by-date that is usually the very next day.
It is so nerve racking!
But I know … I know … I’m trying to get back to that place of gratitude. It’s just that dollar amount for one night in the hospital could have CRUSHED our savings account. (And that didn’t even include the surgeon, anesthesiologist, lab techs, etc.) It was so freaking scary!!! It also got me worrying about my oldest son Dillon - Who doesn’t have health insurance right now. (Where he works does not offer health care.) What will he do if something happens to his health??? It scares me … CGI EFFECT CREDIT: CODY
personal finance