These are common frustrations we all have. So you are normal. Now what does all that stuff I get in the mail really mean? And how can I make better sense of it?

You go see the Doctor and hand them your insurance card. They eagerly collect your co-pay. Know your plan here. Most plans pay for Sickness Visits and Wellness visits differently. Understand your plan and why you are seeing the Doctor, so you are not having the Doctor owe you  in 4 months. Better to owe them. The Doctor’s staff is Johnny on the spot getting a bill out to you in what seems like less time than it took you to drive home. Most people start to worry here. DON’T. The Doctors office does NOT know how your insurance plan will pay, so they bill at their outrageous rates, not the Insurance discounted rates. These discounted rates are part of why you pay insurance premiums. But, the Doctor billed you first at the higher rates. Don’t panic, create a file for OPEN Medical Expenses. Wait for the Insurance Company to send you their adjustments (how they will pay per your plan), commonly known as an Explanation of Benefits, aka EOB. This is your friend. When it arrives a while after the Doctor bill, pull out your Open Medical Expense file and match up the visit dates. See the power of negotiated rates at work for you. If it is like my sons visit to his Pediatrician, $190 in Doctors bill for the pleasure of the Doctor’s company, known as the Visit, plus a normal Immunization, was reduced to my Insurance co-pay of $15 and $25 Doctor copay.

So in summary, do not be frightened by high Doctor bills. Instead, be organized and confident that I or someone you trust analyzed your needs, made experienced recommendations to meet your requirements for coverage, and explained your plan thoroughly. By being organized, creating the file for Open Medical Expenses, and waiting for the EOB to match up, you will be happier in your decisions and will not fear medical care quite so much.