My wife was in the hospital a few months ago, for knee-replacement surgery. Medicare, as usual, paid 80 percent of the adjusted charges.
For the past several weeks, she has been bombarded with requests--no, demands--for the remaining 20 percent.
The problem is that she has a Medigap policy--"Medico"--that pays 100 percent of what Medicare does not pay (unless Medicare denies the claim altogether).
She has repeatedly asked the billing department at the hospital to contact Medico, and get the money from them.
They have always apologized, and responded that they will do so.
But they never do.
It is as if the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing.
If it were me, I would return the billing statement to them, with these words written on it:
"I do not plan to pay this. Not this week. Not next week. Not next month. And not ever.
"But if you will file with my secondary insurer, you will receive your money.
"Thank you."
This is beginning to get beyond the absurd stage...