agencydude
Registered User
- Messages
- 67
Hi
About 2 years ago I went for a cardiac MRI scan in a Dublin hospital as an out patient.
I was doing a series of health checks at the time. My health insurance company advised me to pay upfront and claim back later when doing these health checks.
Prior to doing the cardiac MRI scan I rang to see how much that particular test would cost and was informed by the appointments office receptionist in the hospital that they had an existing arrangement whereby the insurance company paid the hospital directly.
So I went ahead and did the cardiac MRI scan.
A year later I got a letter from my health insurance company to say I was not covered for the cardiac MRI scan at that particular hospital. They say I'm not covered as I didn't get prior approval from the insurance company and the hospital in question is not approved for MRI cardiac scans.
Now I'm getting monthly reminders to pay the bill from the hospital.
The first issue here is that I believe I was totally mislead by the hospital staff.
If I had known I was not covered I would have gone to some other hospital approved by the insurance company to get the test done.
The second issue here is that the insurance booklet I had at the time stated the hospital was an approved MRI scan centre.
However, the insurance company are saying that the hospital is not an approved 'Cardiac MRI scan' centre.
Basically the booklet did not distinguish between an 'Cardiac MRI scan centre' and a 'MRI scan centre'
I've already complained to the insurance company via their complaints process. They say they're still not covering me and I should make a complaint to the financial services ombudsman If I'm still not happy.
So what do I do now ? Any advice?
Should I make a complaint to the hospital for misleading me?
If so how should I do this?
About 2 years ago I went for a cardiac MRI scan in a Dublin hospital as an out patient.
I was doing a series of health checks at the time. My health insurance company advised me to pay upfront and claim back later when doing these health checks.
Prior to doing the cardiac MRI scan I rang to see how much that particular test would cost and was informed by the appointments office receptionist in the hospital that they had an existing arrangement whereby the insurance company paid the hospital directly.
So I went ahead and did the cardiac MRI scan.
A year later I got a letter from my health insurance company to say I was not covered for the cardiac MRI scan at that particular hospital. They say I'm not covered as I didn't get prior approval from the insurance company and the hospital in question is not approved for MRI cardiac scans.
Now I'm getting monthly reminders to pay the bill from the hospital.
The first issue here is that I believe I was totally mislead by the hospital staff.
If I had known I was not covered I would have gone to some other hospital approved by the insurance company to get the test done.
The second issue here is that the insurance booklet I had at the time stated the hospital was an approved MRI scan centre.
However, the insurance company are saying that the hospital is not an approved 'Cardiac MRI scan' centre.
Basically the booklet did not distinguish between an 'Cardiac MRI scan centre' and a 'MRI scan centre'
I've already complained to the insurance company via their complaints process. They say they're still not covering me and I should make a complaint to the financial services ombudsman If I'm still not happy.
So what do I do now ? Any advice?
Should I make a complaint to the hospital for misleading me?
If so how should I do this?