an Insurance question?

I rarely go to the doctor, I've been blessed with good health. the last time I had been to a doctor, was back in 2005 when I fell off the roof of my porch and broke my ankle. I had a little knot to come on my chest, and went to the doctor and had it removed. now here is the question. I have insurance where I work, and my wife has insurance where she works. I'm on hers and she is on mine. when I went to the doctor, I gave them both insurance cards, and payed 35.00 cash before seeing the doctor. when the bill came from my insurance, it was 290.00 for about 5 minutes of work from the doctor. which weren't a bad price. my insurance bill showed it was payed in full. now today I got the billing statement, from my wifes insurance, and it was charged the same amount, 290.00 and it to showed it payed the full amount. I thought using my wifes insurance would pick up and pay any that my insurance didn't pay. but both showed to have payed 290.00 each. now don't this sound like the doctor got payed twice for the same thing. I'm going to call the doctors office, and ask them about this, and was wondering what you guys think about this, before I make the call.

I does sound like they got payed twice, but that doesn't mean they are intending to keep it. They likely submitted it to both since you did so, and both insurance companies paid. My guess is they will return one in full or half to each, but I would ask them about it and maybe even request a follow up letter informing you of how it was refunded and to whom for you own records.

Usually insurance companies want to know if you have another company you are insured with so things like this don't happen. I know I have been sent form letters from my insurance company requiring me to list any other companies I am insured with.

[QUOTE=SLP;507719]I does sound like they got payed twice, but that doesn't mean they are intending to keep it. They likely submitted it to both since you did so, and both insurance companies paid. My guess is they will return one in full or half to each, but I would ask them about it and maybe even request a follow up letter informing you of how it was refunded and to whom for you own records.

Usually insurance companies want to know if you have another company you are insured with so things like this don't happen. I know I have been sent form letters from my insurance company requiring me to list any other companies I am insured with.[/QUOTE] thanks, for the reply. like I said I rarely go to a doctor. and kinda in the dark on these issues. your info kinda gave me a way to ask them the question. I was thinking of how to go about that. and having them send me a follow up statement would take care of it. thanks again.

[QUOTE=waterdog101;507722]thanks, for the reply. like I said I rarely go to a doctor. and kinda in the dark on these issues. your info kinda gave me a way to ask them the question. I was thinking of how to go about that. and having them send me a follow up statement would take care of it. thanks again.[/QUOTE]
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Not sure but it seems I remember something about a primary and a secondary insurance in these situations, seems odd that both ins. paid the same amount... I paid a bill some years ago and then the ins. co. paid it also, took me forever and a day to get my money back.

[QUOTE=SLP;507719]I does sound like they got payed twice, but that doesn't mean they are intending to keep it. They likely submitted it to both since you did so, and both insurance companies paid. My guess is they will return one in full or half to each, but I would ask them about it and maybe even request a follow up letter informing you of how it was refunded and to whom for you own records.

Usually insurance companies want to know if you have another company you are insured with so things like this don't happen. I know I have been sent form letters from my insurance company requiring me to list any other companies I am insured with.[/QUOTE]

Yes it does............for an insurance company to reclaim that, it is a LOT of work.......once it has been paid, it is rarely reimbursed.

If the doctor does a lot of business with the insurance company, them maybe, but I doubt it.

Later,

Geo

[QUOTE=waterdog101;507722]thanks, for the reply. like I said I rarely go to a doctor. and kinda in the dark on these issues. your info kinda gave me a way to ask them the question. I was thinking of how to go about that. and having them send me a follow up statement would take care of it. thanks again.[/QUOTE]

On the forms, your provider should have asked primary, secondary......they are LAZY. Basically, they submitted to both insurance companies, and are relying on the insurance companies to handle coordination of benefits (COB).

In your case, they submitted to both. If BOTH don't handle the COB, or if they don't care, your provider got paid twice.

Who better knows WHO is primary or secondary. YOU and the provider. You didn't realize, but the provider should have.

Not saying they did anything wrong, and when you talk to them I sure hope they clear it up, because if not, then you will have to, or just not worry about it...........but that is the unintended consequence of having multiple payers.

Later,

Geo