1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,040 Speaker 1: Welcome to How to Money. I'm Joel and I am Matt, 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 1: and today we're talking how to avoid and combat crushing 3 00:00:06,559 --> 00:00:09,480 Speaker 1: medical debt with doctor Virgie Ellington. 4 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 2: Deest of the leading cause of personal bankruptcy is you 5 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 2: guessed it, medical bills. So when a singular expense like 6 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:39,400 Speaker 2: this is such a blight on our personal finances, you 7 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 2: better believe that we're going to spend a minute on 8 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:44,960 Speaker 2: how we can not only eliminate medical debt, but just 9 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 2: avoid it in the first place. So here are some 10 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:51,840 Speaker 2: some more sobering statistics. And estimated one hundred million Americans 11 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:55,000 Speaker 2: have amassed nearly two hundred billion dollars in medical debt, 12 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 2: and nearly one in five adults have medical debt that 13 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 2: is currently in collections. This is according to us study 14 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 2: by the Journal of the American Medical Association. And that 15 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:07,399 Speaker 2: is why we're happy to have doctor Virgie Bright Ellington 16 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 2: joining us today on the pod. She obviously, I said doctor, 17 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:15,119 Speaker 2: so she's an insider and her book Crushed Medical Debt. 18 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 2: It outlines the steps that we need to take to 19 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 2: ensure that we're not paying money that we don't owe 20 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 2: so we can avoid becoming one of those statistics. I 21 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 2: just mentioned earlier. So doctor Virgie, thank you so much 22 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:27,040 Speaker 2: for joining us today on the podcast. 23 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 3: You know what, thank you so much for having me guys. 24 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:31,600 Speaker 3: It's awesome talking with you. Yeah. 25 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:34,679 Speaker 1: No, we're really excited for this conversation because I think 26 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:37,040 Speaker 1: a lot of people might say bull ring, but Matt 27 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 1: just highlighted so many rings. Yes, it's like money. 28 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 3: It is not boring exactly. 29 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 1: And we like money, and we like keeping money in 30 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 1: our pockets, and this we want. 31 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 3: To keep your money. 32 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 1: Yes, this is a place where we get separated from 33 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 1: our money. So it's really important to talk about. But 34 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 1: the first question we have for everybody who comes on 35 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 1: the show is Matt and I we like to splurge 36 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: a little bit into here and now on a couple 37 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 1: things we enjoy. One of those things is craft beer, 38 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 1: even though I know you're a doctor and you might 39 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 1: say it's not the ideal choice, right, but that is 40 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:09,160 Speaker 1: something we do enjoy. And moderation. What is that thing 41 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:10,960 Speaker 1: you like to splour John in the here? Now? What 42 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 1: do you spend more money on in your personal life 43 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:15,240 Speaker 1: while you're also still making wise choices for the future. 44 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 3: I have to tell you, guys, it is sushi and 45 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 3: It's one of those things that sneaks up on you. 46 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 3: You write with any addiction, you don't realize you trouble 47 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 3: until something happens right is just matched in your face. 48 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 3: And I am just so thrilled and fortunate that my 49 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 3: favorite sushi place delivers and I'm just like doing my thing. 50 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 3: And then the day after Black Friday, so the day 51 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 3: after Thanksgiving one year, I order my sushi usual thing 52 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:45,920 Speaker 3: and the guy, you know, just really sweet, you know, 53 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:49,799 Speaker 3: kind guy with his usual smile, has in one hand 54 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:53,079 Speaker 3: the sushi bag and then the other hand a big 55 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 3: giant bottle of sake. And it hit me. I was like, 56 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:00,520 Speaker 3: I spend so much money with these folks, just like 57 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 3: they're like, okay, we're going to get in on, you know, 58 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:06,919 Speaker 3: giving our best customers a big giant pressure. And that's 59 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 3: when I figured out, you know what, Virgie, you have 60 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 3: a problem. We're spending too much with a lot of 61 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:14,000 Speaker 3: money on sushi. 62 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 2: Okay, then quick follow up. Do you like the the 63 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 2: different roles that they make, you know, with the different ingredients, 64 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 2: or do you like the super fresh, high end cutting 65 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 2: meat there just on that perfectly formed piece of rice? 66 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 3: You know what? I really I'm pretty predictable. I really 67 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 3: enjoy the salmon, that fresh salmon surrounded by carbs. You know, 68 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 3: there's just nothing like pure white rice carbs. It's also 69 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 3: a little bit of extra fat that mouth feel with 70 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 3: the avocados. So my thing right when I'm trying to 71 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:50,200 Speaker 3: be healthy and be a good girl is the salmon 72 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 3: avocado role. But when I am being a bad girl, 73 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 3: I always have to get this shrimped tempearl with it fry. 74 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, be that so that's. 75 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 3: Me they again, these guys have my order down cold. 76 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 2: I love it. Yeah, that's so good. Speaking of that 77 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 2: rice that those cars, I've been trying to talk Joel 78 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 2: into getting the high end rice that they sell at Costco. 79 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 2: It's like three times the price of the cheaper stuff. 80 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 1: But it's so much. But when you buy a back 81 00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 1: in Costco, it's still last year, five years. You're still 82 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 1: exactly all. 83 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 2: Right, doctor Virgie. Let's let's kind of dive into talking 84 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:28,160 Speaker 2: about medical debt, and you know, like here on the podcast, 85 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 2: like I don't think there's much reason for us to 86 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 2: talk necessarily about like policy shortcomings and how this impacts 87 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 2: millions of folks across the country quite untimately, every year. 88 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:40,600 Speaker 2: But given the lack of political will and output and 89 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:43,720 Speaker 2: changes we've seen oftentimes seen that we were just left 90 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:47,080 Speaker 2: to advocate for ourselves. Is that your experience and what 91 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:49,080 Speaker 2: you've seen working with patients, This. 92 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:54,159 Speaker 3: Is the problem, guys. The issue is is that in 93 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 3: the United States, in order to have medical financial literacy, 94 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 3: you it's just it's really really people feel like it's 95 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 3: impossible to have. But in the United States, you have 96 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 3: to have medical financial literacy in order to have financial stability, period, 97 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:16,600 Speaker 3: because most Americans, even those of us with fabulous insurance, 98 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 3: are just one accident or serious illness away from a 99 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 3: lifetime of debt or worse. And so people think, well, 100 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 3: we don't have any other choice. You know that we're 101 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:32,360 Speaker 3: just stuck with this system, and it's an expensive system, 102 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:35,480 Speaker 3: and it is what it is. No, that's the bad news. 103 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 3: The good news is, no, it doesn't have to be 104 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 3: this way. It doesn't have to be that way. So, no, 105 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 3: we have control over not getting taken advantage of. We 106 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 3: have control over not becoming victims to predatory billing. We 107 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 3: just don't know it. Ninety nine point nine percent of 108 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 3: us don't know it. 109 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:56,240 Speaker 1: I feel like we've all talked to somebody who says 110 00:05:56,480 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 1: I avoided going in to seek medical care because I 111 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 1: was worried about the financial repercussions of going in to 112 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 1: see the doctor or going to the hospital. And so 113 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 1: people will avoid getting the medical care they need sometimes 114 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 1: because they're scared of the financial outcome, which says a lot, right. 115 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 1: I mean, that's kind of scary stuff that people won't 116 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 1: get what they need, they won't see someone who can 117 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:19,839 Speaker 1: help them with their problem because they're worried about how 118 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: much it's going to cost. 119 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 3: You know, you guys are talking about the statistics at 120 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:27,039 Speaker 3: the beginning the top of our conversation, and what's really 121 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 3: really sad and heartbreaking is scary, is that there's direct 122 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 3: relationship between having medical bills meaning medical debt meaning it's 123 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 3: a bill that you can't pay off in total at 124 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:43,200 Speaker 3: the end of the month, and life span. So people 125 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 3: put off to your point, people put off getting care 126 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:48,280 Speaker 3: because they can't afford it. They're afraid of the bill, 127 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 3: and something that could have been preventative maybe before the 128 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 3: issue started, or like screening type stuff or something that 129 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:59,479 Speaker 3: was small gets really really huge and it's really expensive 130 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 3: and or can shorten your life. So it's real there 131 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:06,720 Speaker 3: is a lot of statistics that bear this out, that 132 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 3: the American life span actually is shortened by debt. 133 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 1: Well, and I mean that everybody's heard of the phrase 134 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 1: that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of care. 135 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 3: Right, if we just would And I always say, you know, 136 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:19,320 Speaker 3: I tell my family this all the time. I say, 137 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:22,000 Speaker 3: you know, not a pound of care. I say, worth 138 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 3: more than ten pounds of care. Ounce of prevention is 139 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:29,200 Speaker 3: worth more than ten pounds of cure. It's just I 140 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 3: can't even begin to tell you believe that it's a 141 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 3: big deal. And you know, the student debt. I saw 142 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:39,080 Speaker 3: you guys are talking about that the other week. The 143 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:42,880 Speaker 3: student debt or student loan pause is ending, you know, 144 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 3: at the end of this month, so basically all of 145 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:48,960 Speaker 3: the payments are now due again as of October first. 146 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 3: There's a study that came out last week that showed 147 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:58,120 Speaker 3: those folks with student debt have lower health outcomes and 148 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 3: higher essentially medical more medical problems, and actually end up 149 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 3: having more medical bills because they're cutting back on other 150 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 3: things trying to make those student debt payments. So there's 151 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 3: a direct relationship between debt and destroyed families, destroyed lives, 152 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:18,720 Speaker 3: and financial futures. 153 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 2: Sure, and foregoing some of that care. That would be 154 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 2: the classic example of being cheap versus frugal, which we. 155 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 3: Talk penny wise pound for sure exactly. 156 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:32,839 Speaker 2: Okay, So what you kind of I mean, you launched 157 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 2: into your book right like right out of the gate, 158 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:36,480 Speaker 2: you kind of give some different case studies, and you 159 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:41,160 Speaker 2: gave one where you were documenting basically signing an agreement 160 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:45,680 Speaker 2: for these services before there was any services being provided. 161 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:49,080 Speaker 2: So how common is this tactic? And you know, is 162 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:52,080 Speaker 2: there a chance that if you are faced with one 163 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 2: of those and it feels like you're being pressured to 164 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:55,040 Speaker 2: pay that, is there a chance that you would potentially 165 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 2: not receive care, you know, were you to actually refuse 166 00:08:57,760 --> 00:08:59,440 Speaker 2: signing one of those questions? How does that work? 167 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 3: You know? And I laugh. I always say this. I 168 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:04,680 Speaker 3: laugh so I don't cry. And that's how I got 169 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:09,960 Speaker 3: into this work really literally was I had been a 170 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:13,840 Speaker 3: internal medicine physician for god knows how many years, and 171 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:17,200 Speaker 3: I was a health insurance executive, which gave me a 172 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 3: complete three hundred and sixty degree total view of the 173 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:24,640 Speaker 3: US healthcare system and how it works, or so I thought, 174 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 3: until I became a patient and met Mia, my hospital roommate, 175 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 3: who told me she had been tripped into signing a 176 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:36,199 Speaker 3: bill or agreement I should say to pay a bill 177 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:40,320 Speaker 3: that I was pretty sure she didn't owe, but I 178 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:43,560 Speaker 3: was definitely sure it was putting her and her family 179 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:47,360 Speaker 3: into a lifetime of debt. The thing is is that 180 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:51,480 Speaker 3: in an emergency situation, when you go into an emergency room, no, 181 00:09:51,559 --> 00:09:53,840 Speaker 3: you don't have to agree, you don't have to sign anything. 182 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:57,840 Speaker 3: The care has to be provided to you until you 183 00:09:57,920 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 3: are stabilized. Once you're stabilized, they can ship you out 184 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 3: to someplace else that gives charity care or free care, 185 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 3: that kind of thing. My point to her was when 186 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:10,720 Speaker 3: I was talking with her, she was telling me the 187 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:12,720 Speaker 3: story about the last time she had been in the 188 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:16,439 Speaker 3: hospital the year prior, and it was for the same thing. 189 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:18,480 Speaker 3: She was being worked up, something happened, and they were 190 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:21,040 Speaker 3: concerned doing these tests on her and kept her for 191 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:23,079 Speaker 3: a week doing all these tests because they were concerned 192 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 3: that she was having a rare reaction of rare something. 193 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:31,200 Speaker 3: And she was telling me that she was really concerned 194 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:34,400 Speaker 3: about what this is going to cost this current hospitalization 195 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:37,800 Speaker 3: because and she told me the story about yeah, when 196 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 3: this happened to me a year ago. One of the 197 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:45,920 Speaker 3: hospital representatives came in and said, hey, before you can leave, 198 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:50,360 Speaker 3: you need to sign this, and she explained, well, I 199 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:52,360 Speaker 3: had insurance, I don't know what they were asking me 200 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:55,080 Speaker 3: to sign. And guysa she was telling me the story, 201 00:10:55,120 --> 00:10:58,959 Speaker 3: I realized, oh my gosh, they tricked her into believing 202 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 3: that she had to sign to agree to be balance built. 203 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:06,360 Speaker 3: And what that means is that if you have insurance, 204 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:10,720 Speaker 3: if your provider a hospital in this case, is in 205 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:14,559 Speaker 3: network with your insurance, it means they accept your insurance, 206 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:19,560 Speaker 3: they have to take whatever the insurance pays them for 207 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:23,439 Speaker 3: the services that they provide. So let's say that the 208 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 3: usual care for a service or service, the price for 209 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 3: a service that they offer is one hundred dollars. But 210 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 3: the insurance company says, well, if you want to be 211 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:36,080 Speaker 3: a network with us and have access to our millions, 212 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:38,959 Speaker 3: hundreds of thousands to millions of patients, then you know 213 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 3: you're going to have to accept this as payment and 214 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:44,920 Speaker 3: full and we only pay like ten dollars for this service. 215 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 3: So that is a contract with between the provider with 216 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:55,120 Speaker 3: the insurance company saying what they're going to take for 217 00:11:55,400 --> 00:12:01,520 Speaker 3: their members. For this particular insurance company as payment in full. 218 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:05,600 Speaker 3: Balance billing is going back and saying, hey, yeah, you 219 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 3: know that service is reprovided for you. Your insurance only 220 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:11,400 Speaker 3: paid ten dollars. We charge one hundred, so you owe 221 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 3: us ninety dollars. 222 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:16,280 Speaker 1: That's breaking balance that agreement right with the insurance company. 223 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 3: That is essentially contract fraud because the person who is 224 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:26,600 Speaker 3: agreed to the agreed the party that's been affected negatively 225 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:31,360 Speaker 3: didn't sign a contract with them. The patients don't know that, hey, 226 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:34,800 Speaker 3: this is balance billing. This is this is essentially contract 227 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:37,600 Speaker 3: fraud between the insurance company and the provider. 228 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 1: To talk to me about also just medical billing errors, 229 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:44,720 Speaker 1: and there's I think you said in your book that 230 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 1: estimates are that ninety percent of medical bills contain errors. 231 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:50,439 Speaker 1: So balance billing is an issue, but so is that 232 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:54,200 Speaker 1: And so if we have insurance, are they finding and 233 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:57,840 Speaker 1: pushing back against the errant bills that we're getting and 234 00:12:57,880 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 1: how can we find them in contest them if the 235 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:00,880 Speaker 1: insurance isn't doing it. 236 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:03,480 Speaker 3: For us, well, the insurance company isn't going to know 237 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:06,079 Speaker 3: that you're being balanced bill. Think about it. That's why 238 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 3: the providers are so ubiquitous and feel comfortable doing it, 239 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:11,920 Speaker 3: because how is the insurance company going to know that 240 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:16,720 Speaker 3: their provider that their network with balance built the patient, right, 241 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 3: They're never going to know. The insurance company isn't going 242 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:23,079 Speaker 3: to see the bill that the provider sent you. That's 243 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:26,880 Speaker 3: why it's so it's such an ubiquitous problem. Yes, to 244 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:30,920 Speaker 3: answer your question, there are studies that say minimum eighty percent, 245 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:35,720 Speaker 3: but up to ninety percent of all medical bills generated 246 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:39,920 Speaker 3: in the United States have errors. And if you can imagine, guys, 247 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:42,640 Speaker 3: they're not going to be in the favor of the patient, right, 248 00:13:42,679 --> 00:13:44,640 Speaker 3: They're going to be in the favor of the provider 249 00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:49,720 Speaker 3: and or the insurance company if you have insurance. So, yes, 250 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:53,080 Speaker 3: it's a real thing. But this is a caveat, I say, 251 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:56,200 Speaker 3: And in my experience, what I've seen is that these 252 00:13:56,280 --> 00:14:01,200 Speaker 3: quote unquote mistakes aren't really mistakes. I'm being generous by 253 00:14:01,320 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 3: calling the mistakes. And one of the top five mistakes 254 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:08,080 Speaker 3: I talk about is balance billing. So the balance billing 255 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:12,559 Speaker 3: we just discussed is one of the top five reasons 256 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:15,760 Speaker 3: that eighty to ninety percent of us have been overcharged 257 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 3: with our medical care. 258 00:14:17,559 --> 00:14:19,440 Speaker 1: So it's not in oops, it's intentional. 259 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:22,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, So let's say that we call you on it. 260 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 3: You know, we get this bill, Hey, you owe us 261 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:28,760 Speaker 3: ninety dollars for that service that we charge one hundred 262 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:32,120 Speaker 3: dollars for, but your insurance only pays ten. If I 263 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 3: call them up and say, hey, I'm looking I got 264 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 3: this bill from you guys, and I'm looking at this, 265 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:40,480 Speaker 3: and it says that you're in network with my provider, 266 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:43,560 Speaker 3: and I call with my insurance company. Rather, I call 267 00:14:43,680 --> 00:14:46,120 Speaker 3: my insurance company and they say, yes, you are in 268 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 3: network with them. By definition, in network means that you'll 269 00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:52,360 Speaker 3: take whatever they pay as payment in full for the 270 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 3: services that you that they cover. Okay, so where's this 271 00:14:57,080 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 3: ninety dollars coming from? This is I don't understand. And 272 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 3: they'll say, oh, gosh, you know what, our mistake, just 273 00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:05,360 Speaker 3: disregard them. 274 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, I didn't realize how big of an issue that was. 275 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 2: Balance billing. But in your book you talk about some 276 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:12,840 Speaker 2: of the other common errors, and we're going to discuss 277 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:15,240 Speaker 2: some of the ways that we can discover those errors, 278 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 2: and we will get some of that right after this break. 279 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 1: All right, we're back from the break. We're still talking 280 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:31,760 Speaker 1: about crushing medical debt, how to avoid it with doctor 281 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:36,160 Speaker 1: Virgie Ellington and doctor Virgie. We're talking about the bill 282 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:38,920 Speaker 1: you receive. Sometimes it's a balance bill that you should 283 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:41,040 Speaker 1: have never received in the first place. And so the 284 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:42,680 Speaker 1: way to combat that is to call and be like, hey, 285 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 1: call them out on their fake oops. Right, But let's 286 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 1: talk about some other stuff too, Like when we get 287 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 1: a bill that we do owe that the insurance doesn't 288 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 1: fully cover, Well, one, how do we know that it 289 00:15:55,560 --> 00:15:57,440 Speaker 1: is something that isn't fully taken care of by the 290 00:15:57,520 --> 00:15:59,520 Speaker 1: insurance company that we do actually owe, and then how 291 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 1: do we get to the bottom of Like you talk 292 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 1: about medical billing codes and it feels like it's this 293 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 1: completely new language that we have to learn if we 294 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:09,880 Speaker 1: want to learn how to fight back against medical bills 295 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 1: in general, Like, how can we know what that system 296 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:16,360 Speaker 1: entails and learn how to fight back against it. 297 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:19,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, So the way to figure this all out and 298 00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:21,600 Speaker 3: to not have to think, oh my gosh, what I 299 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:23,880 Speaker 3: do now? What I do? What do I do and 300 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 3: not get overwhelmed is just understand there's only one right 301 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 3: way to pay any medical bill, and it involves three 302 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 3: simple steps. Step one, the key is CPT codes. CPT 303 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 3: codes are to medical services what bar codes are to 304 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:46,480 Speaker 3: products in a retail store. So every medical service you 305 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:48,720 Speaker 3: can think of getting in the United States has its 306 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 3: own unique CPT code. So every test, every operation, procedure, outpatient, 307 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:59,120 Speaker 3: doctor visit, anything you can think of has its own 308 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 3: unique CEP codes. And that is the currency that is 309 00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 3: saying okay, this is the service that was provided. This 310 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:12,639 Speaker 3: is the common language between providers and payers. So if 311 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 3: you want to make sure that you're not getting overcharged, 312 00:17:16,920 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 3: get the CPT codes, meaning call the provider and ask 313 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:25,240 Speaker 3: for a real bill with quote unquote CPT. 314 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:27,280 Speaker 1: Codes, and that's is that typically known as the itemized 315 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:29,119 Speaker 1: bill as well, So that's. 316 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:34,440 Speaker 3: The language is played with. It's a game. So an 317 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:36,959 Speaker 3: itemized bill. They'll say, yeah, sure, I'll send you an 318 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:39,760 Speaker 3: item We'll send you an itemized bill and it'll have 319 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:42,480 Speaker 3: all kinds of details of the things that they they're 320 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:45,560 Speaker 3: charging you for the services you received, but they don't 321 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:49,520 Speaker 3: have any CPT codes assigned to them. CPT codes are 322 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 3: usually about or usually five digits and at the top 323 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:56,639 Speaker 3: of every bill if you scan it and it doesn't 324 00:17:56,680 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 3: have something at the top that says CPT or c 325 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:04,280 Speaker 3: PT slash kicks picks hcpcs, which is a subtype of 326 00:18:04,680 --> 00:18:08,919 Speaker 3: CPT code, then it's not a real bill. There is 327 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:14,680 Speaker 3: no insurance organization company in the country period that will 328 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:19,240 Speaker 3: accept a bill that doesn't have CPT codes. Fly do 329 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:25,119 Speaker 3: providers send insurance companies different bills, then they send patients 330 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:27,760 Speaker 3: ninety nine points, I'd say nine times out of ten. 331 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:31,320 Speaker 3: There are some hospitals that will send a real bill 332 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:34,320 Speaker 3: the first time without having a call back and request one. 333 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:36,399 Speaker 3: But if you call them and say I need an 334 00:18:36,440 --> 00:18:39,720 Speaker 3: itemize bill, they'll say, yeah, sure, and it makes them 335 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:42,159 Speaker 3: very happy. They'll send you a very long list of 336 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:44,840 Speaker 3: something that even says they'll have codes at the top 337 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:48,080 Speaker 3: or service codes at the top, and it means nothing. 338 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:48,520 Speaker 1: Guys. 339 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:52,679 Speaker 3: It's language that's internal to that organization or to that 340 00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:57,040 Speaker 3: medical system. It is not a CPT code. That is 341 00:18:57,200 --> 00:19:01,439 Speaker 3: the common language that the providers and payers in the 342 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 3: United States speak for paying for medical care. 343 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 1: Okay, So once we have those CPT codes for a 344 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:09,399 Speaker 1: lot of people, it's going to feel like reading Latin, 345 00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:11,840 Speaker 1: going back to high school looking at a dead language 346 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:14,199 Speaker 1: sort of thing. So what do we do with that 347 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:15,640 Speaker 1: information once we have it in hand? 348 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:18,960 Speaker 3: So, yeah, now you finally have your bill, the real 349 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:22,600 Speaker 3: bill that has CPT codes. And step two, you're going 350 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:24,879 Speaker 3: to take each of those codes and you're going to 351 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:29,120 Speaker 3: google what Medicare pays for each of those services. You're 352 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:31,840 Speaker 3: actually why you're googling. You're doing two things. You're going 353 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:34,240 Speaker 3: to plug in and let's use an example. I like 354 00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:38,000 Speaker 3: to use a lot CPT nine ninety two one three, 355 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:41,479 Speaker 3: and that describes a type of outpatient office visit. You 356 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:44,760 Speaker 3: plug that in, you do an Internet search, Google it, 357 00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:50,280 Speaker 3: and up will pop some descriptions of that code. And 358 00:19:50,359 --> 00:19:52,919 Speaker 3: what you're doing is basically just making sure it sounds 359 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:55,960 Speaker 3: roughly like the services you believe that you were provider, 360 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:58,040 Speaker 3: that you were told by your physician that you were 361 00:19:58,080 --> 00:20:02,320 Speaker 3: provided great, and while you're there, you're going to find 362 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:08,679 Speaker 3: what Medicare pays for that CPT code, for each CPT 363 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:13,639 Speaker 3: code for which you're being charged now Medicare. The reaction 364 00:20:13,760 --> 00:20:18,760 Speaker 3: I get Joel and Matt often is that people will say, well, Medicare, 365 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:23,119 Speaker 3: that's for old people. That has nothing to do with me, 366 00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:27,159 Speaker 3: and I say, well, yeah it does, because Medicare is 367 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:30,679 Speaker 3: the lowest, most fair retail price that is paid for 368 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 3: medical services in the United States period. So that's the 369 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:38,520 Speaker 3: number you're looking for. That's the fair retail price you're 370 00:20:38,560 --> 00:20:41,480 Speaker 3: looking to pay. That's the price that shows you're not 371 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:47,119 Speaker 3: being overcharged, overcharged, or upcharge. For instance, let's say you know, 372 00:20:47,320 --> 00:20:49,480 Speaker 3: God forbid, you had to go into the emergency room. 373 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:54,320 Speaker 3: You're away a couple hours away skiing and you fell 374 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:57,280 Speaker 3: broke your arm. Go to the nearest emergency room and 375 00:20:57,280 --> 00:20:59,200 Speaker 3: they're like, you know what they did the X rays. 376 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:03,400 Speaker 3: You're going to need this set surgically. We'll call the 377 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:06,800 Speaker 3: orthopedis closer to your home. You can go home. I'll 378 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:09,520 Speaker 3: just put you in a sling here until you can 379 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:13,080 Speaker 3: have surgery tomorrow or the day after near your home 380 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:15,880 Speaker 3: with a provider near your home, or who's a network 381 00:21:16,119 --> 00:21:19,760 Speaker 3: with your insurance if you have insurance. So you go, 382 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:23,480 Speaker 3: you go home, you get the surgery at the orthopedis 383 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:26,800 Speaker 3: closest to your home, and a month later, you get 384 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:31,560 Speaker 3: a bill and you from the emergency room right when 385 00:21:31,560 --> 00:21:34,960 Speaker 3: you're on vacation, and you look at it and you're like, well, 386 00:21:35,119 --> 00:21:37,400 Speaker 3: well no, there's no CPT codes here, So you call. 387 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:41,399 Speaker 3: You finally get a real bill that has CPT codes 388 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:44,359 Speaker 3: and you plug them in and one of the CPT 389 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:51,520 Speaker 3: codes says humoral fracture intervention. So it sounds like well, 390 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:54,480 Speaker 3: I don't know what humorous is, but fracture it sounds 391 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:58,480 Speaker 3: like something broken. Okay, But intervention, well, all they did 392 00:21:58,600 --> 00:22:01,359 Speaker 3: was put it in a sling. No, they didn't do 393 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:05,320 Speaker 3: an intervention. That's an up charge. There is a CPT 394 00:22:05,520 --> 00:22:08,480 Speaker 3: code I'm sure for a sling if they're going to 395 00:22:08,560 --> 00:22:10,959 Speaker 3: charge you for that, but they need to delineate that 396 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 3: in the CPT codes. They should not charge you for 397 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:18,760 Speaker 3: fracture intervention. The intervention you had was at your home. 398 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:21,159 Speaker 3: It was not in the emergency room. So that is 399 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:23,439 Speaker 3: getting up charged. That's why you're going to take in 400 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:27,000 Speaker 3: step two. Those CPT codes you work so hard to get. 401 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:30,280 Speaker 3: In step one, google them, do an internet search, find 402 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:34,160 Speaker 3: out what descriptions come up. Make sure it sounds roughly 403 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:35,960 Speaker 3: like the services you had. To make sure you're not 404 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:39,760 Speaker 3: getting double billed or up charged. And while you're there, 405 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:43,240 Speaker 3: find out what the lowest, most fair retail price for 406 00:22:43,280 --> 00:22:43,960 Speaker 3: that medical see. 407 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:45,919 Speaker 2: Okay, so then you've got the procedure, you've got the 408 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:49,520 Speaker 2: price is Step three just basically saying hey, this is 409 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:50,360 Speaker 2: what I would like to pay. 410 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:52,959 Speaker 3: Yep, Matt and Joel, you guys are always putting ahead. Here, 411 00:22:53,040 --> 00:22:55,960 Speaker 3: you got it. Step three is calling back the provider 412 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:58,800 Speaker 3: and saying, hey, yeah, you know that emergency her and 413 00:22:58,880 --> 00:23:01,920 Speaker 3: your surgery I have last month and I just got 414 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:05,040 Speaker 3: a bill that the first bill you guys sent was 415 00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:09,680 Speaker 3: like ten thousand dollars. But in my case, I am 416 00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:14,200 Speaker 3: willing and able to pay three thousand dollars. And you're 417 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 3: not going to share this with you You don't have to 418 00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:17,040 Speaker 3: share this with them. It's not of their business and 419 00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:21,160 Speaker 3: they don't really care. But three thousand dollars is the 420 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:23,280 Speaker 3: price that you may have come up with when you've 421 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:27,159 Speaker 3: done the three steps against that medical bill. Medicare pays 422 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:29,920 Speaker 3: three thousand dollars for the services you were billed ten 423 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:34,280 Speaker 3: thousand dollars for in the initial bill that was not 424 00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:38,120 Speaker 3: a real bill. And you're going to say, you know what, yeah, 425 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:40,760 Speaker 3: I can pay three thousand dollars, and you know what, 426 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:44,480 Speaker 3: that was an emergency. Nobody's prepared for an emergency. I 427 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:47,439 Speaker 3: can only look, you can't get blood out of a stone. 428 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:50,560 Speaker 3: I've tried to turn my budget up every which way. 429 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:54,520 Speaker 3: I can only get fifty dollars a month out of 430 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:58,000 Speaker 3: my budget to pay this. Who can I speak with 431 00:23:58,040 --> 00:24:00,960 Speaker 3: who can help me set up an interest repayment plan 432 00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:04,399 Speaker 3: for this fifty dollars a month for this three thousand 433 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:07,880 Speaker 3: dollars that I'm willing and able to pay. So Matt 434 00:24:07,920 --> 00:24:11,280 Speaker 3: and Joel. People also often when I get to this point, 435 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:15,120 Speaker 3: when I share the example of the three steps, they'll say, well, 436 00:24:15,960 --> 00:24:19,440 Speaker 3: three thousand dollars fifty dollars a month, Oh my gosh, 437 00:24:19,480 --> 00:24:22,720 Speaker 3: even if they would accept that number, it's going to 438 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:26,720 Speaker 3: take you forever. It will take you forever to pay that, Okay, 439 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:29,720 Speaker 3: So it'll take you sixty months, five years, half a decade. 440 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:33,800 Speaker 3: And the reason why they're going to accept it, it 441 00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:36,080 Speaker 3: doesn't matter how long it's going to take. That's what's 442 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:38,320 Speaker 3: in your budget, and that's what you're gonna stick to. 443 00:24:38,320 --> 00:24:40,800 Speaker 3: You're gonna stick to your guns. And the reason why, 444 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:44,320 Speaker 3: even though you're gonna get pushback, they've been trained to say, hey, 445 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:45,879 Speaker 3: you know what, we took care of you and or 446 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:49,720 Speaker 3: your loved ones during tough time and saved your life. Yeah, 447 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:53,000 Speaker 3: you're gonna get your money. Yeah, guys, you'll get your money. 448 00:24:53,240 --> 00:24:56,160 Speaker 3: I just want to pay what I owe, and this 449 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:58,240 Speaker 3: is what I can pay you, and they don't have 450 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:01,480 Speaker 3: to chase you it costs them money to chase you. 451 00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:02,399 Speaker 2: It's the burglar. 452 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:05,000 Speaker 3: They know they're saving money. That's why they're going to 453 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:08,640 Speaker 3: accept you're being proactive. They don't have to chase you. 454 00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:14,400 Speaker 3: And frankly, they know that their bills are not real 455 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:17,080 Speaker 3: bills to start with. That was a fake number to 456 00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:17,600 Speaker 3: start with. 457 00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:19,240 Speaker 1: And if they have to turn it over to collections, 458 00:25:19,240 --> 00:25:20,600 Speaker 1: they're going to get pennies on the dollar. 459 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:21,639 Speaker 3: It's exactly. 460 00:25:22,040 --> 00:25:23,440 Speaker 1: It's not gonna be worth their time. 461 00:25:23,280 --> 00:25:25,760 Speaker 3: Probably right, you hit it right on the head. 462 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:27,679 Speaker 1: Well, okay, I want to ask you this, doctor Burgee, 463 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:30,520 Speaker 1: because you reference somebody who even with like let's say 464 00:25:30,560 --> 00:25:33,080 Speaker 1: a bill of three thousand dollars, Hey, I don't have 465 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:35,680 Speaker 1: the money to pay, and it's going to take me forever. 466 00:25:35,800 --> 00:25:37,600 Speaker 1: We can do a payment plan or something like that. 467 00:25:37,640 --> 00:25:40,359 Speaker 1: But maybe that's not even the place they need to go, 468 00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:43,160 Speaker 1: because what about what about qualifying for our financial assistance? 469 00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:45,160 Speaker 1: It seems like from what I've read, something like thirty 470 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:47,840 Speaker 1: to forty percent of Americans, given their income and their 471 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:51,760 Speaker 1: family size, could qualify will qualify for financial resistance either 472 00:25:52,080 --> 00:25:55,199 Speaker 1: a greatly reduced overall bill amount or for it to 473 00:25:55,200 --> 00:25:56,720 Speaker 1: be completely forgiven. Is that true? 474 00:25:57,000 --> 00:26:00,520 Speaker 3: Yes, sir, you got it. It's true. So, by federal law, 475 00:26:00,840 --> 00:26:07,200 Speaker 3: all nonprofit institutions, hospital, medical service facilities, medical care facilities 476 00:26:07,680 --> 00:26:11,119 Speaker 3: have to offer to the folks in the communities in 477 00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:16,280 Speaker 3: which they operate sliding scale, income based discounts in exchange 478 00:26:16,320 --> 00:26:20,159 Speaker 3: for not paying any money in taxes, not paying a 479 00:26:20,280 --> 00:26:23,199 Speaker 3: dime in taxes for the hundreds of up to you know, 480 00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:27,840 Speaker 3: hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue. So that's a 481 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:30,439 Speaker 3: big deal. By federal law, Yes, they must if there 482 00:26:30,440 --> 00:26:33,679 Speaker 3: are a nonprofit facility. And the last numbers I saw 483 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:39,040 Speaker 3: about sixty sixty five percent of hospitals medical care facilities 484 00:26:39,080 --> 00:26:41,679 Speaker 3: in the United States are nonprofits. So yes, by federal 485 00:26:41,760 --> 00:26:44,560 Speaker 3: law they have to offer that. This is the thing. 486 00:26:45,040 --> 00:26:47,960 Speaker 3: Don't think that just because you have a high income 487 00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:53,240 Speaker 3: that you won't qualify. So I actually had a case 488 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:58,199 Speaker 3: where the person had a really high income, like I 489 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:01,280 Speaker 3: think her gross income salary was one hundred and fifty 490 00:27:01,280 --> 00:27:05,160 Speaker 3: thousand dollars a year, but our medical bill was so large, 491 00:27:05,200 --> 00:27:08,479 Speaker 3: I think it was like ten thousand dollars. According to 492 00:27:08,760 --> 00:27:12,440 Speaker 3: their formula for this facility, it was it happened to 493 00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:16,880 Speaker 3: be an academic facility, which are by definite. Usually I'd 494 00:27:16,920 --> 00:27:20,080 Speaker 3: say nine plus out of times out of ten. Their nonprofit, 495 00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:24,240 Speaker 3: this particular facility ten thousand dollars one hundred and fifty 496 00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:29,760 Speaker 3: thousand dollars growth salary, that sliding scale income based discount 497 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:32,600 Speaker 3: wipe the whole bill away. 498 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:35,320 Speaker 1: Very nice, but they're not always going to tell you 499 00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:38,440 Speaker 1: that upfront, right, So you either have to like ask, hey, 500 00:27:38,480 --> 00:27:40,960 Speaker 1: what is your financial assistance policy? 501 00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:44,679 Speaker 3: Exactly? Guys are so sharp. So by law, there's a 502 00:27:44,800 --> 00:27:48,320 Speaker 3: law that says they're supposed to post their practices for 503 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:51,480 Speaker 3: offering a financial aid application. You can call it whatever 504 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:53,640 Speaker 3: you call you know, whatever name you want to call it, 505 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:56,639 Speaker 3: financial aid, financial assistance, charity care, whatever you want to 506 00:27:56,640 --> 00:28:00,879 Speaker 3: call it. They have to offer everyone an applicationation to 507 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:07,160 Speaker 3: apply for sliding scale income based discounts. And so people think, again, oh, 508 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:09,639 Speaker 3: I make too much money, and well I went to 509 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:14,400 Speaker 3: this other hospital cross town and I didn't qualify. Every hospital, actually, 510 00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:17,919 Speaker 3: nonprofit facility even in the same town, have different formulas. 511 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:22,680 Speaker 3: So always always ask. So someone brought this up instead 512 00:28:22,680 --> 00:28:27,480 Speaker 3: of doing the three steps, just ask for a sliding 513 00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:31,480 Speaker 3: scale income based application, ask for financial aid assistance application. 514 00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:35,920 Speaker 3: This is the problem. If you do the math if 515 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:41,960 Speaker 3: you're saying about thirty to forty percent of medical services, 516 00:28:41,960 --> 00:28:44,640 Speaker 3: meaning medical bills you're going to get in this country 517 00:28:45,360 --> 00:28:51,280 Speaker 3: qualify for required financial aid required federal financial aid by 518 00:28:51,280 --> 00:28:56,200 Speaker 3: the government. So that means that sixty percent seven sixty 519 00:28:56,280 --> 00:28:59,000 Speaker 3: to seventy percent of the medical bills generating these in 520 00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:04,000 Speaker 3: the United States do not qualify for required financial aid. 521 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:07,080 Speaker 3: So you want to do both. So what I usually 522 00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:10,720 Speaker 3: do is in those cases, if you know that you 523 00:29:10,840 --> 00:29:15,280 Speaker 3: went to a facility that as a nonprofit facility or 524 00:29:15,280 --> 00:29:18,880 Speaker 3: an academic facility, ask call theer billing office and ask 525 00:29:18,920 --> 00:29:22,840 Speaker 3: for a financial aid application. Once you get the bill, 526 00:29:23,640 --> 00:29:25,880 Speaker 3: then you can find out what you owe. If you 527 00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:28,800 Speaker 3: have the whole thing wiped away, they don't have to 528 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:31,560 Speaker 3: bother to apply the three steps. But if there's any 529 00:29:31,640 --> 00:29:34,360 Speaker 3: money left over, or they don't offer financial lead, or 530 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:37,200 Speaker 3: you don't qualify, then you know the three steps to 531 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:41,120 Speaker 3: make sure that you are getting the You're not i 532 00:29:41,160 --> 00:29:44,240 Speaker 3: should say, getting overcharged, you're getting the right bill. 533 00:29:44,600 --> 00:29:47,000 Speaker 2: It's a multi pronged approach, and I think that that's 534 00:29:47,240 --> 00:29:48,960 Speaker 2: a great way to think about it. But once you do, 535 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:51,040 Speaker 2: I mean what you're talking about there, once you get 536 00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:53,000 Speaker 2: the bill let's say you've kind of passed the stage 537 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:55,960 Speaker 2: where you can apply for that financial assistance. What you're 538 00:29:55,960 --> 00:29:58,080 Speaker 2: talking about there is negotiating for it. And one of 539 00:29:58,080 --> 00:30:01,000 Speaker 2: the things that you talk about your book to aid 540 00:30:01,280 --> 00:30:04,480 Speaker 2: within that discussion that negotiation is what you call a 541 00:30:04,560 --> 00:30:08,640 Speaker 2: quote unquote battle journal, which sounds really intense, but I 542 00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:11,160 Speaker 2: feel like it also doesn't have to be the super 543 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:13,680 Speaker 2: confrontational thing. It can even just like basically, what you're 544 00:30:13,720 --> 00:30:15,880 Speaker 2: doing is you're just trying to provide some organization to 545 00:30:15,960 --> 00:30:19,120 Speaker 2: your thoughts. You're trying to provide some organization to discussions 546 00:30:19,120 --> 00:30:21,040 Speaker 2: that you've had, Who you've talked to, what date you 547 00:30:21,080 --> 00:30:23,920 Speaker 2: had that discussion, what it is that you've learned. I 548 00:30:23,920 --> 00:30:26,840 Speaker 2: guess I'm kind of explaining why that's why that's so 549 00:30:26,840 --> 00:30:29,880 Speaker 2: important as well, But yeah, I mean, why why else 550 00:30:29,920 --> 00:30:32,040 Speaker 2: do you need to have a record of some of 551 00:30:32,080 --> 00:30:32,880 Speaker 2: your conversations. 552 00:30:33,600 --> 00:30:39,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, people think that negotiating in whilst something that's aggressive, 553 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:42,960 Speaker 3: or that you have to know fancy words or no 554 00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:48,360 Speaker 3: fancy medical terms or be really really smart. No, when 555 00:30:48,400 --> 00:30:53,680 Speaker 3: you're doing the three steps, you're automatically negotiating. You just 556 00:30:53,760 --> 00:30:56,040 Speaker 3: it's just very matter of fact. It's just going through 557 00:30:56,040 --> 00:30:57,320 Speaker 3: the steps and when you call. 558 00:30:57,200 --> 00:31:01,080 Speaker 2: Them surprise you're negotiating. Yeah, you don't eize, you. 559 00:31:01,160 --> 00:31:03,760 Speaker 3: Know, you don't realize that, Hey, I have this hard 560 00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:06,240 Speaker 3: number here. They're like, okay, fifty dollars is going to 561 00:31:06,280 --> 00:31:07,840 Speaker 3: take us forever to get our money. Can you do 562 00:31:07,880 --> 00:31:11,400 Speaker 3: one hundred? No, no, you can't. And let me tell 563 00:31:11,440 --> 00:31:12,840 Speaker 3: you why. You're going to stand on your ground again. 564 00:31:13,680 --> 00:31:16,520 Speaker 3: If you agreed to one hundred, you're like, okay, maybe 565 00:31:16,560 --> 00:31:18,720 Speaker 3: I can squeeze and stretch to one hundred. If you 566 00:31:18,760 --> 00:31:21,040 Speaker 3: have a bad month and you can't make that hundred 567 00:31:21,080 --> 00:31:24,160 Speaker 3: dollars payment that you agreed to, they can send you 568 00:31:24,200 --> 00:31:27,720 Speaker 3: to collections right away. So stick to your guns. Whatever 569 00:31:27,760 --> 00:31:29,560 Speaker 3: your number that you come up with, you have to 570 00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:32,640 Speaker 3: stick to it. So that's why you want to use 571 00:31:32,720 --> 00:31:35,520 Speaker 3: a battle journal. And I felt kind of bad to 572 00:31:35,560 --> 00:31:37,880 Speaker 3: your guys's point, I felt kind of bad calling at 573 00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:40,840 Speaker 3: a battle journal, But that's what it is. It's kind 574 00:31:40,880 --> 00:31:44,520 Speaker 3: of like armor for you because you are documenting every 575 00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:49,160 Speaker 3: discussion you have with them. And unfortunately, if something happens 576 00:31:49,200 --> 00:31:51,320 Speaker 3: and they try to take you to collection, send you 577 00:31:51,360 --> 00:31:54,959 Speaker 3: to collections or god wd, be even worse, you know, 578 00:31:55,040 --> 00:31:59,080 Speaker 3: bring a claim against you in court, you have documentation 579 00:31:59,160 --> 00:32:01,080 Speaker 3: of who you spoke with and what was said. 580 00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:05,520 Speaker 1: Okay, I want to ask you about best payment method. So, 581 00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:08,160 Speaker 1: for instance, let's say you come to an agreement, you say, 582 00:32:08,200 --> 00:32:11,160 Speaker 1: all right, I got the CPT codes. I push back, 583 00:32:11,200 --> 00:32:13,880 Speaker 1: and now the true bill instead of ten thousand dollars 584 00:32:13,960 --> 00:32:17,560 Speaker 1: is eighteen hundred dollars, and I don't qualify for financial assistance, 585 00:32:17,800 --> 00:32:20,920 Speaker 1: so I've got to pay it. But I also don't 586 00:32:20,920 --> 00:32:23,160 Speaker 1: have eighteen hundred dollars. Some people will just put it 587 00:32:23,200 --> 00:32:25,840 Speaker 1: on the credit card to be done with it, paying 588 00:32:25,880 --> 00:32:28,320 Speaker 1: interest for months and months and maybe even years to come, 589 00:32:28,640 --> 00:32:32,520 Speaker 1: really harming their personal finances and their future. So how 590 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:34,800 Speaker 1: should people pay? How do you agree to pay the 591 00:32:34,840 --> 00:32:37,560 Speaker 1: hospital when there is a certain amount you owe and 592 00:32:37,800 --> 00:32:41,240 Speaker 1: you feel comfortable now with the final bill, how do 593 00:32:41,280 --> 00:32:41,719 Speaker 1: you proceed? 594 00:32:42,320 --> 00:32:44,840 Speaker 3: Yes, you do not want to put it on a 595 00:32:44,880 --> 00:32:48,600 Speaker 3: credit card, no matter what. And that's because once you 596 00:32:48,640 --> 00:32:51,040 Speaker 3: put it on a credit card, a medical bill on 597 00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:55,720 Speaker 3: a credit card, you automatically obliterate all of the federal 598 00:32:55,760 --> 00:33:00,520 Speaker 3: protections federal law, legal protections that you have to have 599 00:33:01,360 --> 00:33:05,320 Speaker 3: medical debt not show up on your FYCAL score. So 600 00:33:05,520 --> 00:33:08,960 Speaker 3: when you make an agreement a payment plan directly with 601 00:33:09,080 --> 00:33:11,160 Speaker 3: the facility. I call it, you know, dancing with the 602 00:33:11,160 --> 00:33:13,920 Speaker 3: ones that brought you to the party. Keep your medical 603 00:33:13,960 --> 00:33:17,160 Speaker 3: bill with the people that provided their service. You want 604 00:33:17,160 --> 00:33:21,200 Speaker 3: to do that, because medical bill payments or payment plans, 605 00:33:21,480 --> 00:33:24,520 Speaker 3: I should say that are made directly with the provider 606 00:33:24,960 --> 00:33:28,800 Speaker 3: don't show up on your fical score. And to your 607 00:33:28,800 --> 00:33:32,400 Speaker 3: earlier point, yes, The second issue is once you put 608 00:33:32,440 --> 00:33:34,560 Speaker 3: something in a credit card, if you can't make pay 609 00:33:34,560 --> 00:33:37,840 Speaker 3: it all off, the interest rates and by the way, 610 00:33:38,080 --> 00:33:41,320 Speaker 3: medical or they call them care credit cards are the 611 00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:43,880 Speaker 3: same thing. They say, oh, well, we charge you zero 612 00:33:43,960 --> 00:33:46,440 Speaker 3: interest for two years. I think I saw one last 613 00:33:46,480 --> 00:33:49,680 Speaker 3: year that has like three years of zero percent interest. 614 00:33:49,760 --> 00:33:51,480 Speaker 3: If you make the payments and pay it all off. 615 00:33:51,720 --> 00:33:54,360 Speaker 3: Well what if you can't. If something happens and you can't, 616 00:33:54,920 --> 00:33:58,080 Speaker 3: there you go and those interest rates rack up fast. 617 00:33:58,560 --> 00:34:00,720 Speaker 1: No that makes sense. Okay, well that's great advice. We've 618 00:34:00,720 --> 00:34:02,240 Speaker 1: got a few more questions we want to get to 619 00:34:02,360 --> 00:34:05,200 Speaker 1: with you, doctor Virgie, including kind of where we go 620 00:34:05,280 --> 00:34:09,000 Speaker 1: for help if we're stonewalled with a bureaucracy at a 621 00:34:09,040 --> 00:34:12,080 Speaker 1: hospital or a medical facility. We'll get to questions about 622 00:34:12,120 --> 00:34:13,399 Speaker 1: that with you right after this. 623 00:34:22,680 --> 00:34:25,400 Speaker 2: We are back. We're talking with doctor Virgie on how 624 00:34:25,440 --> 00:34:29,439 Speaker 2: to avoid this crushing medical debt. And before the break, 625 00:34:29,480 --> 00:34:33,080 Speaker 2: Joel alluded to this, but are there any government or 626 00:34:33,200 --> 00:34:36,480 Speaker 2: nonprofit agencies that can help if we feel like we're 627 00:34:37,040 --> 00:34:39,319 Speaker 2: being given the run around, if it doesn't feel like 628 00:34:39,400 --> 00:34:42,120 Speaker 2: that we're being given the right information, what can we 629 00:34:42,160 --> 00:34:42,680 Speaker 2: do about it? 630 00:34:43,360 --> 00:34:48,160 Speaker 3: So, if you received your care at a nonprofit hospital, 631 00:34:48,600 --> 00:34:55,040 Speaker 3: there is a nonprofit organization called Dollar furdal l l 632 00:34:55,120 --> 00:34:58,279 Speaker 3: A r f o R dot org and they will 633 00:34:58,320 --> 00:35:03,520 Speaker 3: help you work through the process of appealing essentially the 634 00:35:03,600 --> 00:35:08,600 Speaker 3: decisions by this facility to not cover you lower your 635 00:35:08,680 --> 00:35:12,840 Speaker 3: bill or they say that the care is this price 636 00:35:12,880 --> 00:35:15,800 Speaker 3: and not the price that you in your research applying 637 00:35:15,800 --> 00:35:20,120 Speaker 3: the three steps discovered with the medicare fair retail price. 638 00:35:20,960 --> 00:35:25,440 Speaker 3: So that's one organization there. The organization that I always 639 00:35:25,480 --> 00:35:29,160 Speaker 3: refer folks to that's also a nonprofit, will help you 640 00:35:29,239 --> 00:35:31,600 Speaker 3: with all medical bills, it doesn't matter if it was 641 00:35:31,640 --> 00:35:37,480 Speaker 3: with a nonprofit hospital, and that's called the Patient Advocate 642 00:35:38,239 --> 00:35:44,160 Speaker 3: Foundation and that's Patient Advocate dot org. And the reason 643 00:35:44,200 --> 00:35:47,160 Speaker 3: why I recommend them is because basically they do almost everything. 644 00:35:47,200 --> 00:35:51,279 Speaker 3: They do everything other than up to not including going 645 00:35:51,320 --> 00:35:53,680 Speaker 3: with you and representing you in court if you get 646 00:35:53,719 --> 00:35:58,400 Speaker 3: taken to court by these unscrupulous, over aggressive predatory providers. 647 00:35:58,920 --> 00:36:02,640 Speaker 3: Now there are some for profit companies that will do this. 648 00:36:02,760 --> 00:36:07,399 Speaker 3: They'll help negotiate bills down and in exchange they take 649 00:36:07,680 --> 00:36:11,160 Speaker 3: ten percent usually as the going number of the amount 650 00:36:11,200 --> 00:36:15,680 Speaker 3: that they save you. So I saw one case where 651 00:36:16,920 --> 00:36:22,960 Speaker 3: the insurance company refused to pay the eighty thousand dollars 652 00:36:23,040 --> 00:36:28,279 Speaker 3: NICK bill for twins because in their records they said 653 00:36:28,280 --> 00:36:32,600 Speaker 3: it was not an emergency. Well, when is babies being 654 00:36:32,640 --> 00:36:37,040 Speaker 3: born ever? Not an emergency like the right? And they 655 00:36:37,040 --> 00:36:41,200 Speaker 3: were sick they needed to go to a NICK So 656 00:36:41,280 --> 00:36:44,480 Speaker 3: how is that? How was that elective? Right? So, anyway, 657 00:36:44,520 --> 00:36:48,400 Speaker 3: the point is the couple tried to go for months 658 00:36:48,400 --> 00:36:51,719 Speaker 3: in between the providers and the insurance company, and just 659 00:36:51,840 --> 00:36:55,239 Speaker 3: the conversation and the information and medical rectors weren't getting 660 00:36:55,280 --> 00:36:58,720 Speaker 3: passed along. So they got tired. It's a war of attrition, guys. 661 00:36:58,760 --> 00:37:02,120 Speaker 3: That's why I called a battle journal. It's real, it's really. 662 00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:05,239 Speaker 3: They just wore them down, and so they finally went 663 00:37:05,280 --> 00:37:08,440 Speaker 3: to a for profit company that helps resolve these issues. 664 00:37:08,920 --> 00:37:12,000 Speaker 3: And so instead of paying eighty thousand dollars, they paid 665 00:37:12,120 --> 00:37:15,480 Speaker 3: eight thousand dollars to the company that negotiated the bill down. 666 00:37:16,000 --> 00:37:18,279 Speaker 1: Okay, Yeah, I've seen some of these popping up, and 667 00:37:18,320 --> 00:37:22,480 Speaker 1: it seems like for the person who's gotten weary finding 668 00:37:22,520 --> 00:37:25,879 Speaker 1: that bill, it might be a decent kind of last solution, right, And. 669 00:37:26,200 --> 00:37:29,680 Speaker 3: I really disagree. Now, if you're really chronically only has 670 00:37:29,719 --> 00:37:34,040 Speaker 3: some really big major medical issues and hospitalizations prolonged and 671 00:37:34,160 --> 00:37:37,560 Speaker 3: multiple Okay, yeah, but then I would recommend hey reach 672 00:37:37,600 --> 00:37:41,120 Speaker 3: out to just try the Patient Advocate Foundation first. But 673 00:37:41,719 --> 00:37:43,640 Speaker 3: the first thing I want everybody to know is that 674 00:37:43,719 --> 00:37:47,640 Speaker 3: a lot of this foolishness can be just be just 675 00:37:47,640 --> 00:37:51,120 Speaker 3: just not become a non issue if you just apply 676 00:37:51,239 --> 00:37:52,239 Speaker 3: the three steps. 677 00:37:52,520 --> 00:37:54,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, okay, say that. 678 00:37:54,480 --> 00:37:57,439 Speaker 3: Eight thousand dollars, eight thousand dollars supposed a long way 679 00:37:57,440 --> 00:37:59,840 Speaker 3: to a college fund, starting a college fund for twins. 680 00:38:00,080 --> 00:38:02,399 Speaker 1: Right, that's a lot of money too, And we don't 681 00:38:02,400 --> 00:38:05,640 Speaker 1: want any how to money listeners paying any dollars more 682 00:38:05,719 --> 00:38:06,440 Speaker 1: than they have to be. 683 00:38:06,880 --> 00:38:09,600 Speaker 3: You don't, Oh, that's my point. If you don't know 684 00:38:09,840 --> 00:38:10,919 Speaker 3: what no, all. 685 00:38:10,840 --> 00:38:12,560 Speaker 1: Right, you mentioned at the very beginning of your book, 686 00:38:12,600 --> 00:38:14,799 Speaker 1: you say that a portion of the sales proceeds go 687 00:38:14,920 --> 00:38:17,840 Speaker 1: to this nonprofit called RIP Medical debt, which Matt and 688 00:38:17,880 --> 00:38:20,320 Speaker 1: I we've heard of. They have what I think they've 689 00:38:20,520 --> 00:38:23,000 Speaker 1: eradicated over a billion dollars maybe. 690 00:38:22,800 --> 00:38:26,120 Speaker 3: Oh gosh, that was last year. Just in lessen a year, guys, 691 00:38:26,120 --> 00:38:28,760 Speaker 3: they've gone from over a billion dollars to over seven 692 00:38:29,000 --> 00:38:33,400 Speaker 3: billion with a b dollars and medical bills are eradicated 693 00:38:33,960 --> 00:38:37,720 Speaker 3: for folks facing bankruptcy from these medical bills. 694 00:38:37,800 --> 00:38:40,000 Speaker 1: And these are all right, these are all medical bills 695 00:38:40,040 --> 00:38:42,680 Speaker 1: that have gone to collections and then and then RIP 696 00:38:42,760 --> 00:38:44,840 Speaker 1: Medical Debt is saying, listen, for pennies on the dollar, 697 00:38:45,080 --> 00:38:47,560 Speaker 1: we're going to eradicate this on behalf of people. So 698 00:38:47,920 --> 00:38:50,480 Speaker 1: it feels like it should be something that's unnecessary in 699 00:38:50,520 --> 00:38:53,279 Speaker 1: a country like ours, but sadly it's necessary. But I'm 700 00:38:53,280 --> 00:38:55,880 Speaker 1: also I think it's great that what you're doing with 701 00:38:56,040 --> 00:38:57,920 Speaker 1: part of the proceeds of your book is going to 702 00:38:58,239 --> 00:39:00,799 Speaker 1: help ensure that their work continues to to you know, 703 00:39:00,880 --> 00:39:03,560 Speaker 1: continue continues to make waves out in the world. 704 00:39:04,120 --> 00:39:07,319 Speaker 3: So for every book that sold, one dollar goes to 705 00:39:07,560 --> 00:39:12,000 Speaker 3: our IP Medical Debt, which eradicates one hundred dollars in 706 00:39:12,200 --> 00:39:16,600 Speaker 3: medical bills for someone facing bankruptcy from bills medical bills 707 00:39:16,840 --> 00:39:18,239 Speaker 3: that have gone to collections. 708 00:39:18,800 --> 00:39:20,480 Speaker 2: Very cool. We love that, We love that that that 709 00:39:20,600 --> 00:39:23,239 Speaker 2: is a part of your mission, doctor Virgie. And we 710 00:39:23,280 --> 00:39:25,759 Speaker 2: haven't even gotten to everything obviously that you cover in 711 00:39:25,800 --> 00:39:28,799 Speaker 2: your book, and so we will link to where it 712 00:39:28,880 --> 00:39:31,839 Speaker 2: is that folks can purchase your book, and actually, can 713 00:39:31,840 --> 00:39:33,640 Speaker 2: you tell us where it is folks can learn more 714 00:39:33,680 --> 00:39:34,080 Speaker 2: about you? 715 00:39:34,440 --> 00:39:36,360 Speaker 3: Sure? Well, first, why don't you just like have me 716 00:39:36,400 --> 00:39:41,120 Speaker 3: come back? What's just no part way guys, But if 717 00:39:41,160 --> 00:39:45,040 Speaker 3: you want to find out more, Crush medical debt dot 718 00:39:45,080 --> 00:39:47,960 Speaker 3: com is the place to start. And I'd like to 719 00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:52,800 Speaker 3: send people to Crush Medical debt dot com slash free 720 00:39:53,160 --> 00:39:55,919 Speaker 3: dash resources or just go to Crush Medical Debt dot 721 00:39:55,920 --> 00:39:59,120 Speaker 3: com and the free resources as on the top of 722 00:39:59,160 --> 00:40:03,680 Speaker 3: the navbar there. And the reason is I direct folks 723 00:40:03,719 --> 00:40:07,080 Speaker 3: there because that's where you can find a refresher a 724 00:40:07,239 --> 00:40:09,640 Speaker 3: checklist of the three steps of the Only Right Way 725 00:40:09,680 --> 00:40:12,879 Speaker 3: to Pay every medical bill. So, you know, some people say, 726 00:40:12,880 --> 00:40:14,359 Speaker 3: you know what, I really don't even want to spend 727 00:40:14,440 --> 00:40:16,800 Speaker 3: money on a book. I've just things are just so tight, 728 00:40:16,840 --> 00:40:20,960 Speaker 3: I just know, So go to crushmedical debt dot com 729 00:40:21,000 --> 00:40:23,759 Speaker 3: get this information for free, the three steps of the 730 00:40:23,840 --> 00:40:26,359 Speaker 3: Only Right Way to Pay a Medical Bill and I'd 731 00:40:26,360 --> 00:40:28,480 Speaker 3: say eight to nine times out of ten. You just 732 00:40:28,480 --> 00:40:33,200 Speaker 3: eradicate the foolishness that unfortunately predatory billing tries to inflict 733 00:40:33,200 --> 00:40:35,920 Speaker 3: on folks and make us victims of the system. 734 00:40:36,680 --> 00:40:38,920 Speaker 1: Doctor Burgie. We love what you're doing out there. You're 735 00:40:38,920 --> 00:40:41,399 Speaker 1: making a difference, and thank you so much for joining 736 00:40:41,480 --> 00:40:42,320 Speaker 1: us on the show today. 737 00:40:42,680 --> 00:40:44,440 Speaker 3: Oh my gosh, thank you for having me guys. I 738 00:40:44,480 --> 00:40:46,000 Speaker 3: love talking with you, and thank you for what you 739 00:40:46,040 --> 00:40:49,320 Speaker 3: guys do. You're doing awesome stuff helping folks master their money. 740 00:40:49,880 --> 00:40:52,640 Speaker 1: Oh well, thank you. Like you're in a kind similar 741 00:40:52,680 --> 00:40:54,279 Speaker 1: missions I think, like minded for sure. 742 00:40:54,400 --> 00:40:57,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, mutual admiration society. 743 00:40:58,200 --> 00:41:02,040 Speaker 1: Awesome. Well, thanks again, Take care guys, Matt. Always good 744 00:41:02,080 --> 00:41:04,759 Speaker 1: to have a swell conversation. There's so much, so much 745 00:41:04,840 --> 00:41:08,279 Speaker 1: nuance in this topic of pushing back against you know, 746 00:41:08,360 --> 00:41:11,480 Speaker 1: unethical medical billing is sure is one thing, or maybe 747 00:41:11,520 --> 00:41:14,200 Speaker 1: just an error prone industry as on top of that, 748 00:41:14,680 --> 00:41:16,919 Speaker 1: and there's there's a lot we need to know as 749 00:41:16,960 --> 00:41:18,480 Speaker 1: individuals to fight back. 750 00:41:18,520 --> 00:41:21,719 Speaker 2: She mentioned how they never make mistakes in your favor. 751 00:41:21,640 --> 00:41:23,560 Speaker 1: Right, isn't that amazing? 752 00:41:23,840 --> 00:41:27,839 Speaker 2: So if you are out there and you're thinking, oh, 753 00:41:27,960 --> 00:41:29,640 Speaker 2: I don't think I want to check in because what 754 00:41:29,760 --> 00:41:32,239 Speaker 2: if I'm actually going to owe them more money? That's high, 755 00:41:32,560 --> 00:41:33,240 Speaker 2: highly unlikely. 756 00:41:33,360 --> 00:41:36,000 Speaker 1: You never like that community chest of monopoly, right, bank 757 00:41:36,040 --> 00:41:37,960 Speaker 1: are in your favor, here's one hundred and fifty bucks. 758 00:41:38,000 --> 00:41:38,760 Speaker 1: It's not gonna happen. 759 00:41:39,400 --> 00:41:41,480 Speaker 2: But yeah, what was your big takeaway from our conversation 760 00:41:41,560 --> 00:41:42,600 Speaker 2: with doctor Vergie? 761 00:41:42,680 --> 00:41:45,560 Speaker 1: Okay? I think my big takeaway was to use technology 762 00:41:45,680 --> 00:41:48,239 Speaker 1: to your advantage. And she was talking about, well, one, 763 00:41:48,360 --> 00:41:51,480 Speaker 1: just pushing back getting those those CPT codes, But on 764 00:41:51,480 --> 00:41:54,400 Speaker 1: top of that, she was saying, use Google, right, and 765 00:41:54,440 --> 00:41:56,640 Speaker 1: Google can help you not only figure out what those 766 00:41:56,640 --> 00:41:59,800 Speaker 1: codes mean because it's like a foreign language, but on 767 00:42:00,040 --> 00:42:02,560 Speaker 1: out of that you can figure out what is medicare, 768 00:42:02,920 --> 00:42:07,160 Speaker 1: pay these medical facilities right for those codes for those services. 769 00:42:07,520 --> 00:42:10,960 Speaker 1: And without the Internet and Google at your service, man, 770 00:42:11,000 --> 00:42:13,480 Speaker 1: this must have been so much harder back in the day. 771 00:42:13,520 --> 00:42:15,960 Speaker 2: I think it was probably impossible. Yeah, yeah, So. 772 00:42:15,880 --> 00:42:17,480 Speaker 1: It's nice back in the day, nice to know that 773 00:42:17,520 --> 00:42:19,200 Speaker 1: you've got technology on your side. There's a lot of 774 00:42:19,200 --> 00:42:22,440 Speaker 1: information out there. It's not necessarily right there in front 775 00:42:22,480 --> 00:42:23,920 Speaker 1: of your face. You have to dig a little bit, 776 00:42:24,160 --> 00:42:25,719 Speaker 1: but a little bit of digging can save. 777 00:42:25,640 --> 00:42:28,880 Speaker 2: You a lot. Yeah, absolutely, and that's important. Information to know. 778 00:42:29,000 --> 00:42:31,480 Speaker 2: And so you were talking about figuring out what it 779 00:42:31,520 --> 00:42:34,680 Speaker 2: is that Medicare pays. So I guess my big takeaway 780 00:42:34,719 --> 00:42:37,759 Speaker 2: is going to be related to that, because obviously it's 781 00:42:37,800 --> 00:42:40,120 Speaker 2: not that you're trying to get out from paying a 782 00:42:40,120 --> 00:42:42,880 Speaker 2: bill where a hospital or a doctor took care of 783 00:42:42,920 --> 00:42:45,120 Speaker 2: you and provided you a good service. You just want 784 00:42:45,160 --> 00:42:46,839 Speaker 2: to in what she said and when I wrote this down, 785 00:42:46,840 --> 00:42:49,320 Speaker 2: but you want to be able to pay the fair 786 00:42:49,680 --> 00:42:53,399 Speaker 2: retail value. And you know what if the government, if 787 00:42:53,400 --> 00:42:55,440 Speaker 2: they're the ones saying that, oh, this is a fair price, 788 00:42:55,640 --> 00:42:57,000 Speaker 2: well I want that to be a fair price for 789 00:42:57,120 --> 00:42:59,000 Speaker 2: me as well, like I don't't have to pay some 790 00:42:59,160 --> 00:43:01,280 Speaker 2: marked up right. And so it's not that you're trying 791 00:43:01,320 --> 00:43:04,120 Speaker 2: to pull one on the hospital or the doctor or 792 00:43:04,120 --> 00:43:06,880 Speaker 2: the clinic or wherever. It's just about making sure that 793 00:43:06,920 --> 00:43:09,520 Speaker 2: you're not getting ripped off. And so I guess it's 794 00:43:09,560 --> 00:43:13,040 Speaker 2: not just about having the tools and using the technology 795 00:43:13,040 --> 00:43:16,400 Speaker 2: and figuring out the CPT codes. But it's not not GPT. 796 00:43:16,600 --> 00:43:19,360 Speaker 2: By the way, we're not talking about chat chat CPTs. 797 00:43:19,560 --> 00:43:21,239 Speaker 2: Somebody should make a tool. 798 00:43:21,360 --> 00:43:24,719 Speaker 1: That's chat cpt A I can help you push back 799 00:43:24,760 --> 00:43:25,160 Speaker 1: on some of this. 800 00:43:25,320 --> 00:43:27,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's so so it's not just about the tools, 801 00:43:27,520 --> 00:43:29,759 Speaker 2: it's also the mindset and how it is that you 802 00:43:29,960 --> 00:43:32,680 Speaker 2: are looking to approach some of these conversations in some 803 00:43:32,719 --> 00:43:36,279 Speaker 2: of these negotiations, because if you are not afraid, but 804 00:43:36,320 --> 00:43:38,520 Speaker 2: if you're kind of timid about how it is you're 805 00:43:39,280 --> 00:43:43,799 Speaker 2: talking to these medical providers, you may not negotiate as well. 806 00:43:44,120 --> 00:43:46,600 Speaker 2: If you're thinking, well, they did fix me. 807 00:43:46,719 --> 00:43:48,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, you might think, oh, I got good service. The 808 00:43:48,480 --> 00:43:50,799 Speaker 1: doctors and the nurses were great, Like, I guess I 809 00:43:50,880 --> 00:43:52,560 Speaker 1: have to pay what I owe, but you should as 810 00:43:52,560 --> 00:43:55,400 Speaker 1: opposed to divorce those two things. Thankful for the great service, 811 00:43:55,440 --> 00:43:57,560 Speaker 1: but then push back against the bill that's out of line. 812 00:43:57,800 --> 00:44:00,480 Speaker 1: And there are specific lines in this that you can 813 00:44:00,520 --> 00:44:02,920 Speaker 1: draw based on the information you can get from the 814 00:44:02,960 --> 00:44:04,400 Speaker 1: internet from just a little. 815 00:44:04,160 --> 00:44:04,680 Speaker 2: Bit of research. 816 00:44:04,719 --> 00:44:07,520 Speaker 1: So you don't have to feel bad pushing back, especially 817 00:44:07,800 --> 00:44:12,400 Speaker 1: because these nonprofit hospitals in particular, have a lot of discretion, 818 00:44:12,600 --> 00:44:14,960 Speaker 1: have a lot of ability thought for forgiveness, and actually 819 00:44:15,080 --> 00:44:16,920 Speaker 1: legally are required to So yeah. 820 00:44:16,760 --> 00:44:19,160 Speaker 2: Well, she was saying that that's another great point that 821 00:44:19,239 --> 00:44:21,440 Speaker 2: I guess I'd never really thought about it, but that 822 00:44:21,480 --> 00:44:25,040 Speaker 2: they are required to offer what the an income based 823 00:44:25,200 --> 00:44:29,560 Speaker 2: repayment plan. Oh my gosh, that's also some excellent information 824 00:44:29,640 --> 00:44:31,640 Speaker 2: to have on hand, Like, these are all things that 825 00:44:31,680 --> 00:44:34,600 Speaker 2: should help you to think. Oh no, I don't want 826 00:44:34,640 --> 00:44:36,880 Speaker 2: to say that you are owed a discount or that 827 00:44:36,960 --> 00:44:40,200 Speaker 2: you deserve a discount, but that is one hundred percent 828 00:44:40,239 --> 00:44:42,840 Speaker 2: an option. Yeah, especially if you're like, wait a minute, 829 00:44:43,000 --> 00:44:45,880 Speaker 2: I get taxed on what I earn the hospital doesn't 830 00:44:46,120 --> 00:44:47,239 Speaker 2: so a little bit. 831 00:44:47,280 --> 00:44:49,200 Speaker 1: I've done this before too, and before I knew that 832 00:44:49,239 --> 00:44:51,040 Speaker 1: this is the reason why it was forgiving. 833 00:44:50,640 --> 00:44:52,359 Speaker 2: Them just because I want to save money, like pay 834 00:44:52,440 --> 00:44:53,040 Speaker 2: less money. 835 00:44:52,920 --> 00:44:55,840 Speaker 1: I was like naive but just kind of persistent, and 836 00:44:56,560 --> 00:44:59,359 Speaker 1: having looked back on those days, I'm like, man, it's 837 00:44:59,400 --> 00:45:02,120 Speaker 1: just interesting. I've probably paid other medical bills that I 838 00:45:02,160 --> 00:45:04,319 Speaker 1: didn't need to, and I don't want other people to 839 00:45:04,320 --> 00:45:05,799 Speaker 1: go through that. I want people to be able to 840 00:45:05,880 --> 00:45:08,480 Speaker 1: know their rights, know how they can push back and 841 00:45:08,880 --> 00:45:13,040 Speaker 1: get their bills either reduced or forgiven, and fight back 842 00:45:13,040 --> 00:45:15,640 Speaker 1: against a system that is really seeking to part them 843 00:45:15,640 --> 00:45:16,160 Speaker 1: from their money. 844 00:45:16,239 --> 00:45:19,759 Speaker 2: Yeah, to feel empowered and motivated to do it as well. Yeah, 845 00:45:19,800 --> 00:45:22,600 Speaker 2: that's right man. All right. The beer that you and 846 00:45:22,640 --> 00:45:27,279 Speaker 2: I we both each enjoyed, a Passo fino porter. This 847 00:45:27,360 --> 00:45:32,759 Speaker 2: is a beer by Horsefly Brewing Company out of Montrose. 848 00:45:33,400 --> 00:45:35,520 Speaker 2: Is it Montrose? I don't know, it's one word, but 849 00:45:35,560 --> 00:45:39,440 Speaker 2: it's it's Montrose, but just one word in Colorado. But 850 00:45:39,480 --> 00:45:42,759 Speaker 2: this is a beer from Mark and Caitlin. And so 851 00:45:42,920 --> 00:45:45,680 Speaker 2: they actually live in North Carolina and they embarked on this, 852 00:45:46,040 --> 00:45:50,280 Speaker 2: he said, eighty six hundred mile road trip that included 853 00:45:50,400 --> 00:45:51,399 Speaker 2: a couple of days. Nice. 854 00:45:51,719 --> 00:45:54,160 Speaker 1: I guess at a favorite spot of every road trip 855 00:45:54,239 --> 00:45:56,080 Speaker 1: needs to involve a craft brewery or it's not officially 856 00:45:56,080 --> 00:45:57,839 Speaker 1: a road trip. Sorry, you just drove your car around 857 00:45:57,840 --> 00:46:00,600 Speaker 1: the country, all right, True, you gotta have disc golf, 858 00:46:00,680 --> 00:46:03,359 Speaker 1: I think, and craft beer involves. But yeah, big thanks 859 00:46:03,360 --> 00:46:05,520 Speaker 1: to him taking that's a Yeah, that's gonna be interesting 860 00:46:05,680 --> 00:46:07,600 Speaker 1: Mark and Caitlin, big thanks to y'all. And yeah, this 861 00:46:07,640 --> 00:46:09,440 Speaker 1: beer was. It reminded me of like did you dig 862 00:46:09,400 --> 00:46:11,960 Speaker 1: get a semi sweet chocolate chip where it was a 863 00:46:11,960 --> 00:46:15,040 Speaker 1: little bit bitter, a little bit sweet and not too heavy, right, 864 00:46:15,080 --> 00:46:18,480 Speaker 1: So I love a good porter and too heavy. 865 00:46:18,560 --> 00:46:20,839 Speaker 2: Yeah, too sweet, which is kind of exactly what you 866 00:46:20,880 --> 00:46:24,600 Speaker 2: want on a warmer summer day like we're experiencing now, right. 867 00:46:24,560 --> 00:46:27,040 Speaker 1: So you get that it's not stout weather yet, No, yeah, 868 00:46:27,080 --> 00:46:27,920 Speaker 1: we can do porters. 869 00:46:27,960 --> 00:46:30,319 Speaker 2: If you want some of that roasty flavor, then that's 870 00:46:30,320 --> 00:46:32,720 Speaker 2: when you should be looking to something like a porter 871 00:46:33,280 --> 00:46:35,719 Speaker 2: where you've got those darker flavors without the body that 872 00:46:36,040 --> 00:46:38,640 Speaker 2: weighs you down. That feels like it should. You know, 873 00:46:38,680 --> 00:46:40,680 Speaker 2: it's almost like a blanket. You want a nice heavy 874 00:46:40,680 --> 00:46:43,120 Speaker 2: blanket in the winter. That's also how I feel about 875 00:46:43,120 --> 00:46:45,320 Speaker 2: bigger scouts. If you do what some of that flavor 876 00:46:45,560 --> 00:46:47,520 Speaker 2: here in these warmer months, that's when you offer that porter. 877 00:46:47,600 --> 00:46:51,439 Speaker 1: Yeah, the big stouts are December through February. That's absolutely yeah. 878 00:46:51,480 --> 00:46:53,239 Speaker 2: But then again, you know, we'll probably end up with 879 00:46:53,320 --> 00:46:55,879 Speaker 2: us some giant stout in like two weeks while it's 880 00:46:55,920 --> 00:46:56,239 Speaker 2: still warm. 881 00:46:56,280 --> 00:46:59,600 Speaker 1: You never know. We are equal opportunity drinkers. But that'll 882 00:46:59,640 --> 00:47:01,200 Speaker 1: be the that'll be it for this episode. We'll have 883 00:47:01,239 --> 00:47:04,000 Speaker 1: links to some of the free resources that doctor Burgie 884 00:47:04,000 --> 00:47:05,920 Speaker 1: mentioned up in our show notes at how money dot 885 00:47:05,920 --> 00:47:07,520 Speaker 1: com and a link to her book to so you 886 00:47:07,560 --> 00:47:08,160 Speaker 1: can check that out. 887 00:47:08,239 --> 00:47:11,000 Speaker 2: Yea, specifically the patient Advocate dot org. That's sounding like 888 00:47:11,000 --> 00:47:13,319 Speaker 2: an incredible, incredible site. For sure, you can find all 889 00:47:13,320 --> 00:47:15,080 Speaker 2: that up there. But buddy, that's going to be it 890 00:47:15,160 --> 00:47:17,719 Speaker 2: for this one. So until next time, best friends out, 891 00:47:17,920 --> 00:47:19,359 Speaker 2: best friends out