https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 27 May 2026 14:56:24 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-review-and-understand-your-explanation-of-benefits#post-1823684 Tue, 19 Aug 2014 13:48:52 +0000 MaryM 1823684@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: I would ask the PT office. I just ran into an issue with that with my ENT. I've had similar visits to one I just had, but have never paid anything other than a copay. Then this month I got a bill for $500+! And that's all for services during regular visits. I don't even think my sinus surgery was that expensive... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-review-and-understand-your-explanation-of-benefits#post-1823641 Tue, 19 Aug 2014 13:31:26 +0000 alohaorchid 1823641@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have experience with all aspects of benefit plans so I usually understand them pretty well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-review-and-understand-your-explanation-of-benefits#post-1823541 Tue, 19 Aug 2014 12:43:41 +0000 Cole 1823541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have started paying more attention after realizing I was charged a copay for a test that was never run. I agree though that it is basically written on gibberish. Add to that the bills my hospital/lab sends are not actually itemized in a helpful way and it requires a ridiculous amount of time to keep things straight. I recently got a bill for "lab work" well I am pregnant, I get lab work done all the time! It didn't even have a date of service on it.</p> <p>All that to say, I feel your pain. It is frustrating and I don't think it is unreasonable for you to ask your PT to be more transparent when you are paying so much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-review-and-understand-your-explanation-of-benefits#post-1823534 Tue, 19 Aug 2014 12:40:02 +0000 sunny 1823534@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaG: I wish there was more transparency too. This is the only thing I can think of where you don't see a "menu" with prices attached before agreeing to a treatment plan. (Though my OB's office actually did provide an estimate of how much services were going to cost prior to the first visit, based on a "normal pregnancy": ultrasounds, OB visit, etc. I thought that was really great).</p> <p>I was reading online how you can actually code a specific performed service with different codes to maximize the charge billed to the insurance/patient and it depends on the specific plan/insurance. That makes me sad that there isn't just 1 price for a specific service--across all insurance companies, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-review-and-understand-your-explanation-of-benefits#post-1823523 Tue, 19 Aug 2014 12:35:33 +0000 MamaG 1823523@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Don't be afraid to question the therapy office. We should question medical services and their related costs as much as we question the groceries we buy. Groceries are just more transparent as they are display with prices listed so you can make a decision.</p> <p>Not saying that green beans are the same as a medical opinion, but as a society we need to be more questioning of the lack of transparency in medical services and related costs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-review-and-understand-your-explanation-of-benefits#post-1823499 Tue, 19 Aug 2014 12:24:38 +0000 sunny 1823499@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: Yes, cost and effectiveness. I found out they billed me $50 for one type of therapy which I didn't think was effective so I will decline that at my next visit. I know I'm not a trained therapist, so I suppose that is going against medical advice, but I didn't find it helpful or effective. :-( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-review-and-understand-your-explanation-of-benefits#post-1823486 Tue, 19 Aug 2014 12:20:32 +0000 ShootingStar 1823486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Your insurance probably just receives something with medical encoding telling them what service was performed. Why do you want to ask for more or less of something - is it due to cost? I would think the physical therapist and maybe someone that works on the medical billing in that office could help you figure it out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-review-and-understand-your-explanation-of-benefits#post-1823473 Tue, 19 Aug 2014 12:14:42 +0000 MrsRcCar 1823473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I generally understand mine but I work in billing and insurance for a medical office (so it's my job). Sad that your insurance couldn't give you more clear answers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-review-and-understand-your-explanation-of-benefits#post-1823469 Tue, 19 Aug 2014 12:12:19 +0000 sunny 1823469@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am reviewing my explanation of benefits sent by insurance for my physical therapy for the past 2 weeks and I don't understand any of it :-(</p> <p>Even after calling my insurance company, they couldn't shed more light than "this was for manual therapy" vs. "this was a therapeutic activity" (what activity?.. they couldn't give me any more detail). Also, everything was billed at 15 min but I definitely remember that we did not perform some activities for 15 minutes. </p> <p>I wish there were more info so I could understand what to ask for and what to decline during my next PT visit!</p> <p>ETA: Would my PT office be offended if I asked them to explain the different items billed? </p>