Page 3 - Breast Cancer.2017

El Dorado NEWS-TIMES – Today, Month 00, 2017
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really read that policy so that they understand what the insurance compa- ny is obligated to covered.”
People should ask their HR depart- ment questions, and they also can go directly to their insurance company.
Insurers want to hear from patients. “Healthcare providers have a sensitivi- ty to this issue that they haven’t had in the past,” Brown says. Insurers know patients in financial difficulty won’t be able to follow their treatment, which can lead to bad outcomes. To help with this, many insurers have “navigators” within the walls of the
company to help
patients understand
the process and what
happens next.
When talking with an insurance compa- ny, take time to learn about your individual policy and follow the procedures the insur- ance company requires. “If there’s a sequence where things should occur,
follow that sequence,” Brown says. She also advises asking lots of ques-
tions, especially whenever anything is unclear. (See the sidebar for some sug- gested questions.) Keep a written record of whom you talked to and when, and keep that log in a designat- ed place along with letters, claim forms and other insurance documents.
Above all else, she says, ask ques- tions, don’t be embarrassed and find all the resources available.
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Brown suggests patients ask to be put on a payment plan to spread out their out-of-pocket costs. The Komen foundation also maintains a phone helpline at 1-877-465-6636 for live answers to questions. The American Cancer Society website also maintains an extensive set of pages on paying for cancer treatment (https://www.cancer.
org/treatment).
Patients also can educate themselves
on the terms of their health insurance plan. They can start by getting a copy of their health insurance policy from human resources.
“The written policy itself is really important,” Brown says. “It’s a legal document, and that patient should
Anita Burleson, ANP
SKINNER FAMILY PRACTICE
Dr. Christie Skinner, DNP
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