I paid for my SRS out of pocket (Not covered by insurance. What else is new?). However I set up a "flexible spending account" for my work, so that a small part of the cost would not be subject to income taxes.
1. Shortly after surgery, I got email that the flex account people needed a "statement of medical necessity". My surgeon's office provided one quickly.
2. A few weeks later, the flex account people also asked for an itemized statement from the hospital.
3. So I called up the hospital. They said they weren't ready. Call again in a week.
4. So I called a week later. After a surprising amount of explaining what I needed, they agreed to send it.
5. I received the statement in the mail and sent a copy to the flex account people.
6. Got a message a few days ago from the flex account people. The statement is no good because it contains an estimate of insurance coverage. I need to submit a DIFFERENT statement that tells what I'm responsible for, or a refusal from my insurance company.
7. So I called the flex account people. Explained that the bill was not submitted to the insurance company, so there would be no refusal. I'm responsible for the entire bill. No good, they said. I needed to go back to the hospital and get another bill without estimated insurance coverage.
8. So I called the hospital. Sat on a queue for a while, after which I was "connected" to an operator who didn't answer. The phone rang and rang. Tried again, same result.
9. Called a couple hours later. Sat on the queue again, only to hear one ring and then get disconnected.
10. Finally reached an operator. She said she'd send another statement. I asked whether this would have the estimate. She said it's the only kind of statement they can send. I asked again, will it have the estimate. She said "just wait until you get it." I asked again, saying I didn't want to wait. I had already been sent an itemized statement that was no good. Unless I know whether this is any better, I'll be in the same boat I am now, a few weeks later. I couldn't explain this to her. Finally she said "wait" and put me on hold.
11. The operator's supervisor got on the line. Explained to me that there was no way they could produce a statement without the insurance estimates. Their computer kicks them out automatically, whether or not there is insurance coverage. (I figured this was the case). I asked what I could do, given that the flex account people won't accept it as is. She actually offered to call the the flex account people I'd been dealing with. She called and got a voice mail box.
So the whole thing is still unresolved.
