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How to Cut Your Medical Bills – Before and During Treatment

Ask your insurance company to confirm that the health care provider is in its provider network  — or you can simply ask your doctor or lab or hospital Read your insurance plan’s benefits booklet (or online benefits summary).    First, look at the sections labeled “Exclusions” or “Not Covered,” you’ll find good information there.   If you… Continue reading How to Cut Your Medical Bills – Before and During Treatment

Welcome To The Insurance Mom!

Listen doll… I think it’s safe to assume you’re here because you need real information about, and help with, the insurance part of your life. I’m so glad you’re visiting. Yes… insurance, any kind of insurance, is a dark and scary place and The Insurance Mom is here to help guide you along the way.… Continue reading Welcome To The Insurance Mom!

EOB – Explanation of Benefits

An Explanation of Benefits (sometimes called a Claims Summary), is a document the health insurance company sends you and your medical providers telling you how your medical claims (expenses) have been processed. For you it is simply an FYI. The EOB lists the treatments that took place, the portion of the cost that is covered… Continue reading EOB – Explanation of Benefits

PPO – Preferred Provider Organization

With a PPO, you can see any doctor you like, or visit any hospital usually within a preferred network of providers.  You always have the option of seeing doctors or visiting hospitals that are “out-of-network,” but you will spend more of your own money on medical expenses.   In a PPO, you do not have to… Continue reading PPO – Preferred Provider Organization

HMO – Health Maintenance Organization

A Health Maintenance Organization (it used to be called Managed Care, but The Insurance Mom now refers to it as Mangled Care!).  An HMO requires that you see only doctors or hospitals on their list of providers, and sometimes at a specific facility. An HMO also requires that you choose a Primary Care Physician (often sight unseen), who will… Continue reading HMO – Health Maintenance Organization