After your infant has spent some time in a hospital or neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to treat fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia or for any other reason, getting the sign-off to be discharged home should come as a relief.
But for some, discharge may cause even more anxiety as they think about impending medical bills. If the thought of medical debt is stressing you out, here are some steps you can take to make this process as simple as possible.
Learn more about FNAIT treatment and care
Refer to your insurance policy (if you have one)
If you are on some form of healthcare insurance plan, now is the time to check whether your hospital stay and the treatments you were on are covered.
There are a few terms that you will need to familiarize yourself with, such as “deductibles”, “out-of-pocket maximums”, and “copays.” These are technical terms that determine the terms and conditions of your insurance coverage. If you have any doubt over these terms or whether any part of your medical bill is not covered by your insurer, do contact them to gain additional clarity.
Request an itemized bill
An itemized bill contains everything that you are being charged for, including small procedures such as blood withdrawal. It contains the full, detailed list of all care that was performed that is chargeable.
When receiving an itemized bill, be sure to check for any mistakes, such as those involving dates and times, as well as medications that are listed but were never prescribed.
Formulate a payment plan
If you are insured but not all items on your medical bill are covered, your insurer will let you know the exact amount that you need to pay out of pocket. If you are not insured, you will need to have a payment plan in place unless you can afford to pay everything at once.
If you cannot pay the full amount immediately or in the near future, speak to the billing office to discuss your situation and to negotiate a payment plan that works for you. If you need assistance with bills payment, it may be a good idea to use services such as “Dollar For”, which helps patients who are stuck financially due to larger than expected hospital bills.
Most importantly, stay calm. You’ve just been discharged from a hospital stay and you need energy to rest and recover. Should you require assistance for paying your medical bills, be sure to look for resources and organizations that can help you deal with your bills so you can get back on your feet as soon as possible.
