Va Billed My Blue Cross Blue Shield

[Fire Courage]

I just received an explanantion of benefits from my insurance provider Blue Cross Blue Shield for services I received at the VAMC. It says I owe the VAMC 385.85 of which BCBS did not cover. I never even gave the VAMC my insurance information and plus I am 80% service connected, so why would they bill my insurance?

Has this happened to anyone else?

[brokensoldier244th]

If you have other insurance you have to tell the VA-its been that way for awhile, but you still shouldn't be being billed by BCBS for things, unless it's non-SC stuff (but you are 80% so that is covered too, for you) What does BCBS have to say? The VAMC asks me every time in there for my insurance card along with my VA ID, though anything that the VA 'charges' gets put towards my deductible.

[Testvet]

Because they can and the insurance companies never question the validity of the bills they don't care if the medical issue is SC or not I used to spend hours on the phone over BC paying bills from Fort Gordon for my ex wives kids whose fathers were retired military and were seen on base and it didn't matter what for pysch a doctor visit lab work etc it was 100 each bill BC paid it it was wrong but the Army kept billing them anyway like someone else pointed out it counts towards your annual deductible and they never try to collect what BC doesn't pay from the veteran

it's just part of doing business with the government hospitals and insurance companies are not going to fight over each bill they make it up over the course of the year in billing the feds and all of the other federal business they do with federal employees BC/BS is not losing any money on the deal

the only ones that it seems to bother are us vets who see how they the insurance companies and government are ripping each other off

in the end only you will have heart burn over it the govt doesn't and neither does BS/BS or any other insurance company they bill

[carlie]

This is quoted as borrowed from elsewhere.

"Will you bill my health insurance carrier?

The law requires VA to bill insurance carriers for covered veterans. Some veterans may have health insurance coverage under a spouse's policy. If you are receiving care for a non-service-connected disability and havehealth insurance, your insurance carrier will be billed. VA does not bill your health insurance carrier for VA-adjudicated service-connected disabilities. (An adjudicated service-connected disability is one for which you have filed a claim and VA has determined that you are service-connected). Link

Do enrolled veterans have to pay the deductibles that their insurance carrier requires when treated at VA?

No. VA does not require veterans to pay those charges. In fact, many insurance companies will apply VA co-payment charges toward satisfaction of their annual deductible. Link

Whether you are 10% or 100%, VA will bill private insurance for care for NSC conditions. That's the law."

[Fire Courage]

Thanks yall. That clears it up. Very much appreciated.

[john999]

The VA will bill for service connected conditions as well. They will just send the bill to your insurance and your insurance will pay. I have BC/BS. The VA has even billed them for C&P exams and for my AO exam. I have DMII and a heart condition all SC and the VA bills for all my blood work. BC told me I need to gather evidence to prove the VA was wrong to save them money. Hey, I have a group policy. If they are dumb enough to pay let them. I tried to do my duty.

[caubulldog]

Crazy VA billed my private insurance for surgery on a knee service connected for 18 years now. I just let them play their games,between labs twice a year and specialist my personal deductibles will be met for this year.