Medical Miles
 

There is a way to occassionaly earn substantial extra miles, sometimes at little or no cost. As often as I've done this, it's still very easy to overlook the opportunity. I'm talking about miles from medical bills.

Last week, I had to be rushed to the ER due to a medication reaction. (I'm fine now.) I received a bill today for over $5,000, not including the doctor's charges. Although my insurance company is being billed, I am charging the entire amount on one of my mileage affinity cards. Once the insurance pays, I will have a credit balance for most all of it. Then, I simply ask the hospital to send me a check for the credit. I have charged medical bills, (some huge,) many times before. When requesting a refund for a credit balance, never once, has any hospital issued a credit to my charge card. I have always received a check.

Now, I do pay my entire credit card bill in full each month and don't get hit with any finance charges. But even with finance charges, it may still be worth it, depending upon what you pay for interest and on your mileage situation in general. Remember, you can do the same thing for most doctor visits. I come accross very few doctor's who don't accept credit cards these days.

WARNING: PLEASE don't get sick or injured just for the miles. You don't get any bonus miles if you're dead. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by Neal (edited 08-02-2001).]

>>WARNING: PLEASE don't get sick or injured just for the miles. You don't get any bonus miles if you're dead. <<

Darn...my messed-up mind was already contemplated the possibilities. Have an unnecessary surgery out of town...one could really rack up the miles!!

A new category for "Surgery Runs."

I'm not sure this is entirely legal, if done primarily for the purpose of getting the miles. There may be some problems with the cardholder agreement or the common law on this one.

In any event, I'm surprised the hospital would cut a check. They're probably writing off 2-3% of your bill (the participating merchant fee) when they do that.

Let me get this straight...if I get a bill from the hospital, then pay that bill, it may be illegal?????? If so, this is the biggest "crime" I've ever committed in my life.

I've had hospital billing department personal thank me for paying so promptly. Do you have any idea just how long hospitals usually wait to get paid, whether by an insurance company or an individual? They must at least break even on the 2-3% from having the funds in their coffers that much sooner.

The cardholder agreement states that you are not entitled to miles for goods or services that have been returned or rescinded. I interpret this as meaning I would not be entitled to the miles if my credit card account was later credited. This makes sense as the card company would indeed be giving me free miles at their expense.

But if the charge stands and the hospital reimburses me by check, how does that have any bearing on the card issuer? Why should they even care? It makes no sense.



[This message has been edited by Neal (edited 08-02-2001).]

Neal-
Let me share with you my experience. I happen to be a volunteer EMT-D and late one Sunday night I wasn't feeling well. Had a fever of almost 104 which wasn't coming down with tylenol. As it was 11pm and no clinic in my area was opened I was taken by a friend to a local hospital emerg. room. Their computer system wasn't equipped to take Canadian addresses so I simply charged the entire bill (about $800.00 for five hours) to my credit card for the miles. Bottom line it took almost a year to get reimbursed from my insurance company. They told me that they never received the bills from the hospital. The hospital would tell me that the bills were sent out to the insurance company. What a run around. Basically, there was no incentive for the hospital to help me as I was from out of the country and the hospital was paid the night I left. A word to the wise, be very carefull. It could take a long time until you are reimbursed.

What a mess...and I realize these things happen. But whether the hospital had any incentive to help you or not, it may still have taken a long time. And in the meantime, the hospital may have begun hassling you for payment.

Do you think that being from another country could have added to the insurance mess?

This is one situation where I would be hesitant to pay upfront, as I do believe that billing departments work harded if they haven't been paid. I have had situations where my insurance company has been slow to pay and I have been hassled and could have paid with a credit card (even threated with being sent to collections), but I held firm saying that this should be paid by insurance. I'm afraid that non-payment, sometimes is the only leverage you have. I would have to be absolutely sure. Also, many hospitals/dr.s are suppose to "write-off" amounts above the "allowed amount." If you have paid in advance, they might not and you would have no recourse. It's great that it has worked for you.

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DtG

When I saw the topic of this thread, I was imaginging everyone racking up miles on Air Ambulances or something.

"Two more gunshot wounds and the next one's free!"

Did something like this with my braces...Ortho gave me bill up front for entire amount and I sent to insurance and received benefit amount from them. I then had the practice put me on their interest-free payment plan. First two monthly payments of around $1000 each, followed by monthly installments of $200+. I gave them my CC number and they automatically charged my monthly amount to the CC on the 10th. So, my mouth jewelry netted me about as many miles as my wife's rock 13 years ago!!! LOL

Baker

You are definately funny and I like your humor. You must be spending too much time at the Presidents Club in AUS. I'll have to get with you when I pass through AUS.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/redface.gif I once charged a relative's funeral just to get the miles. Since I was the executor, I wrote myself a check before the bill was due.

I think I have a better plan.
I used to manage a health care billing office. Believe me if you pay and then the account rep gets a check from the insurance carrier they are very likely to not worry taking the correct adjustments (assuming they are contracted with the insurance) this can mean a headache for you. <br>
If you want to do this, don't pay at time of service. Let the provider send the bill to the insurance company wait a month and then start checking with the insurance company when they pay the bill, verify they "covered" then entire amount. Then call the provider and pay with the credit card. Thus you should have to wait significantly less time for the check and take a smaller chance on an account rep making your life miserable.<br>
(don't know anything about legalities, most times provider will send you a statment that you are not supposed to pay, but says at the bottom "pay this amount" therefore i can't see any legal problems there)

I have my health insurance premium automatically billed to my credit card, as well as utilities and cable.