Doctor Office Working Against Me!

[Getzer928]

I just took an app with a senior for a med supp. when i left she called her current docter whos shes been using her current med supp with. the doctors office said that they have never heard of this insurance company and that they do not accept it. im new to the business but i thought that all doctors and hospitals that accept medicare accept medicare supplements. luckily i was able to save the client. How do you guys handle doctor offices that "havent heard of your insurance company"?

 

[somarco]

Deal with major carriers, and check the network (if applicable).

 

[Frank Stastny]

I just took an app with a senior for a med supp. when i left she called her current docter whos shes been using her current med supp with. the doctors office said that they have never heard of this insurance company and that they do not accept it. im new to the business but i thought that all doctors and hospitals that accept medicare accept medicare supplements. luckily i was able to save the client. How do you guys handle doctor offices that "havent heard of your insurance company"?

The first time I had that happen I was as perplexed as you are. I called the doctors office and the girl I spoke with gave me the same answer.

Then it dawned on me. The girl at the office immediately looked at the list of HMO's the doctor accepted, the company name was not on that list so she said they don't "accept" that company. The girl assumed she knew the question your new client was asking.

It is a matter of educating your prospect at the time of the sale. It is imperative that you explain to your prospect how to ask the question if they are going to call. If you tell your prospect that the doctor really doesn't even need to know the name of the insurance company because the doctor never has any communication with the company they will better understand. The doctor only really cares about whether or not the patient is with an HMO.

The reason is that if the person is on Medicare and has a Med Supp that the doctor sends the claim to Medicare, not the insurance company. If the patient is with an HMO then the doctor sends the claim to the HMO.

 

[captain94]

I have had this happen and I make sure with every med-supp I sell the client understands that the doctor does not bill the med-supp company the doctor bills medicare and medicare pays there portion and sends the claim the the med-supp company who then pays the doctor.

 

[DS4]

How do you guys handle doctor offices that "havent heard of your insurance company"?

"well"..... "I've never heard of your doctor either!".

 

[arnguy]

Of course, she could change doctors.

 

[Frank Stastny]

Of course, she could change doctors.

That's like trying to change the channel when my grandmother was watching "Welk". (The Lawrence Welk show)

 

[arnguy]

I thought Lawrence Welk was dead....Ah one...Ah two...Ah three!

 

[Frank Stastny]

I thought Lawrence Welk was dead....Ah one...Ah two...Ah three!

He is. Check your TV Guide. Bet you can still find his reruns.

 

[wilkin]

"well"..... "I've never heard of your doctor either!".

That's a great reply!

When this comes up I explain that most Med Supp carriers do not have names we all recognize. And that since Medicare is their primary payor, THEY pay first, and determine what their Med Supp carrier pays. If their Dr accepts Medicare they will accept payment from ANY Med Supp carrier.