Hospital Forgot To Get Signed Confirmation

[LukeB]

Some advice needed.

I had an operation in a top hospital last week.

I was told the insurance agreed to pay the bill but when I woke up the following day after the operation the hospital told me that the insurance wont pay and that I must pay !! A nice good morning awakening !!

I thought the hospital had to get me to sign confirmation before the operation ?? But they didnt.

Where do I stand legally as I still havent paid the bill ?

More details if needed.

Thanks in advance

[Nisa]

What kind of insurance? Are they refusing to pay for the procedure or refusing to pay the hospital directly?

As for legally, my guess is you are still on the hook for the bill. Regardless of what you did or didn't sign, you agreed to the procedure and they did do it. However, I think you have some room to negotiate the bill and/or payment plan. Hopefully it is just a matter of your out of country (assumed) insurance not paying the hospital directly but will be willing to reimburse you when you present them the receipts. If it USA insurance then you can probably work this out by simply getting on the phone with them.

[kwonitoy]

Two years ago my wife had to have an emergency operation, she went in the morning for a checkup and was found to have a tumor and was operated on that same evening.

I have complete world wide coverage for myself and her and assumed the insurance would cover it. When I contacted them they seemed very put out by the fact that I didn't call them before the operation to aprove it!!!!

I paid the bill at the hospital myself but was told to keep all the recipts and forward them onto the insurance company.

They did reimburse me fully.

What I've since learned is that the hospitals don't like to deal with the insurance companies here because it takes time to get there money so they pressure the patient to pay up immediatly and let you chase the insurance money down yourself.

If your in the hospital, phone your insurance company and hand the phone to a hospital rep and tell them to figure it out as your not paying, you have insurance, why do I spend all this money,etc,etc, and generally be a pain in the ass, It' the Thai way.

[soundman]

I am moving this to the insurance forum, for some expert knowledge.

Moved.

[erre191]

It all depend s what insurance and what kind of coverage you have. Most insurances have a clause they need to be informed and approve surgery and certain treatments ahead of time, except in emergencies. They usually give exact time frames. Some insurances discount their benefits by 50% if not pre-informed. It really pays to do a complete read-up of all the small print before signing any insurance. There is many out there, which limit cancer treatment, don't include HIV, or only if tested etc. etc.

I would play hardball with the hospital as a first measure and try to let them correct their "mistake". I am aware of several similar cases in a prominent Pattaya hospital, with insurance and hospital blaming each-other for all kinds of shortcomings and mistakes.

All these private hospitals are flexible in financial respects to a point, even give major discounts if the patient is inquiring in time and they don't want anymore negative publicity on the Internet. Good luck and get better soon. Erre :jap: