Insured Patients and Fees
Patients are often surprised at the amount of paperwork they have to complete to ensure they are covered by their insurer for the procedure they are coming into hospital for. We would advise you check very carefully the level of cover you have, as failure of payment by the insurer automatically becomes the responsibility of the patient. Many patients wrongly assume that by paying their monthly premiums they will be covered completely by their insurer and this is sometimes not the case. Some insurers will deduct the patient’s policy excess from their anaesthetic fee, which then becomes the patient’s responsibility to settle. All insurers have their own fee schedule and most anaesthetists choose one or two fee schedules to follow. Your insurer should inform you prior to you admission to hospital if you are likely to face a shortfall. If you are in any doubt or would like clarification, please call our office to check your anaesthetic fee. You will need to quote the procedure code your surgeon has given you.
In recent years some insurance companies have refused to acknowledge major nerve blocks or epidurals as separate from an anaesthetic fee. Skill and expertise are required to perform these and if your insurance company refuses to pay for blocks or epidurals, you may be asked to settle these directly. The most you would be asked to pay for these pain relieving procedures would be £120. However, it is likely that by receiving these, as opposed to oral pain relief i.e. morphine, your stay in hospital will be shorten and your pain much better controlled.
It is wise to remember your insurance company is merely a vehicle for payment. Your anaesthetist will ensure you receive their expert attention whilst under their care, but will expect full payment for the services they provide.
If you insurer fails to cover our fee and you are left will a shortfall, we will write to you requesting this is settled within 28 days of our letter.
Fixed Price Patients
When you approach your local private hospital, they will be able to give you a ‘complete package’ cost for your procedure, which will include your anaesthetist’s fee. If you have any serious underlying medical problems or are clinically obese, this will be flagged up with your hospital and may affect your anaesthetic fee. Fixed price packages usually include the anaesthetic fee, however if it hasn’t been included you will be asked to settle it directly.
Telephone: 01494 513964 / E-mail: info@csas.uk.com