Hospital charges $40 fee to hold baby after delivery

Here is a link to a story about how one hospital charged a woman nearly $40 to hold her baby after it was delivered.

https://www.vox.com/2016/10/4/13160624/medical-bills-birth-delivery

And here is a link to Steven Brill’s article, “Bitter Pill: Why Medical Bills are Killing Us” from TIME magazine. This article, “The $21,000 Heartburn Bill,” discusses other outrageous charges.

http://www.uta.edu/faculty/story/2311/Misc/2013,2,26,MedicalCostsDemandAndGreed.pdf

These types of absurd charges are driving healthcare costs higher, especially for self-insured employers who are not auditing every claim.

Contact Healthcare Horizons today and let us help you achieve greater transparency and savings.

HUMAN RESOURCE TIP

Brokers should do more than just provide a quote for a healthcare plan. Here are a few “beyond the price” services a good broker offers.

The broker has a working understanding of a company’s organization. Will full and part-time employees have some level of insurance? At what point are part-time employees offered benefits by the organization?
The broker stays on top of trends. Is the broker aware of the any new legislation that may impact an insurance plan? Are there healthcare plans that may offer a company more flexibility?
The broker has strong relationships. A broker, by definition, is not committed to use a specific healthcare provider. A good broker works with numerous insurance companies to find the best solution for each company’s situation.

The broker sees the process through from start to finish. A broker should be willing and able to help with the enrollment process. This is the time most employees have questions. Having the person that was most heavily involved in reviewing a plan on-site will reduce the number of questions directed to the HR department.

A $40 Fee to Hold Your Baby?

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