Bike Accident - Helicopter

[featuretile]

Thanks for all the kind thoughts. Not sure about suing the city, but I did ask my brother who is a lawyer (but not that kind and he lives in Texas) what to do. I am also not sure if I can get the insurance company to do anything. I just got an invoice from them and all the medical costs seem reasonable (minus the big deductible) but the helicopter is not covered. I don't know if there is any recourse to get them to negotiate with the helicopter company since I was told it was medically necessary. I did get advice not to pay anything until some negotiation happens. We still have not gotten the final bill for this whole thing.

I will let you all know how it works out - whenever that happens. I'm thinking this will drag out. I did want everyone to know about the helicopter costs so that if you are in an area like mine, you could see if there is some sort of insurance. I need to check out that AirEvac. I did look at one site but it sounded more like getting you back from some foreign country rather than taking you to a nearby hospital.

[PamNY]

Glad you are healing well. Good luck with whatever negotiations/legal actions you end up pursuing.

[jessmarimba]

Good luck, and I'm glad your injuries weren't worse!

I had some initial trouble with my insurance company after a wreck a couple years ago (though I turned down the helicopter, not knowing how bad my injuries were) and for me, the phrase "life-threatening injuries" was enough to overturn every one of their denials. Granted, my problem was out-of-network doctors working the trauma center, but there's sometimes a clause in the fine print somewhere that forces them to cover transport coded with a serious threat to life. (Along those lines, if you can check your claims online or have the paperwork in hand already, you can double-check the code numbers for the transport - sometimes the billing people at the hospital will miscode something that will cause a denial when it shouldn't be).

[featuretile]

So, I contacted my insurance company today about the $23,000 helicopter bill. They said that the helicopter company had not filed a pre-certification so they denied their claim. They said I am not responsible for the bill. After I meet my $5000 deductible (I've apparently already met that), they will pay the rest. But the helicopter company would have to file the correct paperwork and resubmit. If they try to bill me directly, I should send it to them. This is different than what they told my husband the first time he called (that there was a $1000 limit on transport). I think the medically necessary part must trump that. Anyway, I AM RELIEVED! We haven't gotten all the bills yet. Don't know how long that will take and if there will be any more surprises. But $5000 sounds a lot better than $5000 plus $23,000.

[goldfinch]

Good to hear and this makes a lot more sense.

[ny biker]

Well that is good news.

Though I don't understand how a helicopter company (or any emergency transport company) is supposed to pre-certify with the insurance company in a life-threatening situation. But anyway.

[tulip]

Glad you are okay. I had a very similar accident about 10 years ago. I was riding behind my riding buddy and our wheels crossed because I got too close to his rear wheel. I completely missed my 'copter ride, though. I was out.

I never received a bill for the helicopter ride, nor for the hospital. The hospital apparently had some management issues and shortly thereafter was taken into receivership, so I guess that's the reason.

[jobob]

Heh, I still have the bill for the helicopter ambulance ride from my crash, lurking someplace in my files.

It had, in very large letters at the top, THIS IS NOT A BILL, followed by something to the effect that my insurance company had been billed and that I'd hear back from them presently.

Didn't keep my stomach from dropping to the floor when I saw the amount, which was, coincidentally, about $23,000.

I ended up having to cough up a few thousand dollars, but, I consoled myself with the fact that it wasn't 23 grand.