Question
Here is the dilemma.. my father gets va compensation benefits and ssdi. He recently had to go into the hospital in an emergency situation and couldn't get to a Va. The Va should have still picked up the bill and paid it in full as it is a service connected problem but medicare picked it up instead and of course leaves a balance that my father now has to pay. Not sure why medicare did this instead... The VA said there is a way to have medicare reverse this and then bring the bills to them and they should/would pay. But how is this done? and where do I start? Also, he has paid in over eight thousand dollars in chemo bills up front because they said he HAD to pay or no treatment! I believe this should get reimbursed, or am I wrong? If the VA is supposed to pay it... I hope I said this right.... help please!!!
Answer
Hi Keith!
You need the hospital to retract their bill from Medicare and bill the VA. Call the hospital and explain that they billed Medicare in error and ask to advise Medicare and bill the VA.
Regarding the chemo bills, who is the primary carrier for your father? Whoever it is whether the VA or Medicare I would think they would be responsible. I never heard of a provider billing a patient for chemo treatment when they have insurance coverage. I definitely would look into that.
Need to figure out first who is responsible to pay as primary then all bills should go to them first with the other carrier as secondary. I am not sure how the VA works.
Good Luck!
Tricia
