Just keep on it. Make sure you understand the details of the denial and make sure the hospital follows up. THen make sure your insurance admits to receiving the info then processing it. THen make sure they pay it. Then make sure the hospital posts it to your acct properly…sounds like fun, huh?

I am glad it’s working out for you NOT to be away so long. I enjoy the guest posts, but your voice is unique and I look forward to your posts.

Eating simply food wise is such good common sense. It is pretty much the M.O. for me being gluten free. Much healthier and less expensive than buying tons of prepared and nutritionally deficient “gluten-free” foods.

I have yet to sell anything on eBay. It makes sense, but i don’t have an eBay system in place and I seem to reap more returns by giving to charity. I just think goodness and wealth come back to you when you give away things other can use. I suppose if I were in desperate need, I would consider selling on eBay.

I will have to think about the one thing I can do …

My single step that I’ve decided to take is to always be aware of all my accounts, so I signed up for mint.com. I’m a big fan so far. I have a budget spreadsheet for each paycheck but its nice to see checks clearing and deposits made all on one page, no need to log onto 5 different sites. I hope the site continues to grow…

On a PF front…please please please keep all statements and EOBS from her insurance. If the insurance is great or not, it still must be worked correctly to avoid costly financial mistakes.

I suggest keeping a log and record all providers and services she receives and what date it occurs. The facility bills as well as each specialty involved…and even lab, radiology, etc can have physician bills. Even if you don’t receive a bill or statement – it doesnt mean a claim hasnt been sent to the insurance and possibly not paid. (“Denial” doesnt always mean a real denial. It may simply be a request for more info).

I assume your mother is Medicare age? Even if she is entitled to it due to age, she still must complete the paperwork. If she does have Medicare, please inform all providers of the correct coordination of benefits regarding. If Medicare is billed incorrectly, even as an honest mistake, it is considered fraud.

Sorry to lump a bunch of information at you. I lecture about this all the time because I see the havoc that can occur in a person’s financial life and credit report when it comes to medical billing. And, with medical billing, it doesnt matter if it is the provider’s fault or the payer’s fault – the individual still suffers.

Take care.

This very day Our Beloved Employer, who has canceled its best plan and the only one that covers my doctors, is going to tell the assembled peons what choices we will have this year.

Does she get her coverage through an employer, or is it Medicare supplemental coverage? If the latter, who’s issuing it?

Glad your mom is feeling better. Hope she springs back to full health soon.

On the saving money on food tidbit and after reading your post about the diminishing sizes of your favorite yogurt, I decided it was time to take the plunge and try to make my own yogurt WITHOUT having to buy a yogurt maker. WOW! An easy process and depending on what kind of milk you buy, a HUGE savings! I’ve saved at between 1.00 and 1.70 per QUART (depending on brand of yogurt…Dannon or Stoneyfield) and will be trying a store brand milk (3.39 a gallon or .85 cents PER QUART of yogurt.)

Google “homemade yogurt” for easy tips and tons of recipes. You need milk, dry powdered milk, yogurt starter (plain store bought yogurt–just 2-3 tablespoons with live cultures OR dry powdered mix), a 4 cup measuring cup, candy thermometer, some towels and heating pad and something to put the yogurt in–I use a quart jar. Also, a draft free, warm (105-110 degree) environment in which to incubate the yogurt.

You’ll never buy ready made yogurt again–unless you need some new starter!