Earlier this year I had several visits to my PCP to adjust my hypertension meds. My insurance requires a $20 copay, which I usually pay with cash.
A month or so ago I received a $20 check in the mail from the health care corporation my PCP is a member of. The only explanation was a date and the word “overpayment”. Fine. I was confused, but cashed the check.
Today I received another $20 check from the same corporation, also with a date and “overpayment” as the only explanation.
My concern is that these are in error and I will continue getting checks each month. I could make some calls, and that’s what I would do if the check was for $200. But I hate dealing with phone trees and being put on hold. Offered $20 to make some calls to a company to resolve a situation, I’d turn down the money.
If I receive a book I didn’t order in the mail, it’s mine. What about money?
Perhaps the copay wasn’t required after all? We’ve had that happen a few times in the past when it involved on-going treatment. Maybe that’s the situation here.
In my experience, when it comes to money, companies don’t tend to make mistakes in your favor. Even when I’ve questioned certain things, the seemed to know what they were doing. Just tuck the money away if you’re worried about them coming back and asking for it.
Sometimes follow-up visits do not require a co-pay. Possibly one of yours didn’t, but you had paid it anyway? I would keep the check. If you keep getting them, you might find out if something has changed with your co-pay so you don’t keep paying and receiving refunds.
My PCP has done this also. Sent a refund of the copay. They explained with my insurance the PCP can only collect one copay per condition. So:
sore throat = copay
cold = copay
hypertension = copay
additional visit to fine tune RX = no copay, etc
The person at the check in desk always collects a copay unless I tell her it is a follow up visit.
In my case (Mecicare), I have to satisfy a deductible each year. The doctor’s office doesn’t necessarily know whether I’ve satisfied the deductible, so I pay the full amount instead of just the copay before I go home. This could lead to an overpayment.
