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Good news: we are eligible for a class action lawsuit against our health insurance company. Their reimbursement rates were found by whatever court to be unacceptably low. Anyone on their plan who saw an out-of-network doctor and had to pay the difference in cost themselves will get an extra 5% of the amount the insurance company paid. So for example, if the doctor charged us $1,000, and the insurance company reimbursed us $200, the court has decided I am owed an extra $10. Woo! It doesn't sound like much, but actually, given our proclivity for out-of-network doctors, a rough estimate leads me to expect at least $400-$600, all told.
Bad news: We have to document the shit out of these eligible claims. First we have to print off the Explanation of Benefits from the insurance company showing what was claimed, and what was paid; then we also must provide proof that we actually paid the difference (and didn't just throw the bills in the trash, I guess.) They want a cancelled check, a credit card bill, or a statement from the doctor showing payment.
So far, I have gone through past tax binders and flagged 75+ EoBs that I have to copy. I have called the three main providers most of these fall under, and fortunately they have each agreed to send us a ledger of our entire account, which will put all charges, and evidence of payment, in a handy 1-2 page list, instead of having to copy the receipt for each appointment (which I do have, just like I have every EoB since 2009, but I really don't want to copy them all.)
It will be worth the work, in the end... but what a huge pain in the ass, just to claim money that is supposedly owed me to begin with.
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