Other Health Insurance
FAQ's:
Q: How till the Third Party Collection Program help you?
A: It helps to ensure the services, which are available to you, will be available in the future, by offsetting budget reductions enacted by Congress. If your insurance company reimburses Tripler Army Medical Center, then you will not be responsible for paying subsistence and medical service charges. Claims filed by Tripler may help meet your deductible, thus saving you money if you subsequently receive treatment from a civilian provider (up to $500.00 annually).
Q: Will my Insurance company bill me?
A: No. You will not be billed. The obligation to pay medical care costs applies only to the insurance carrier. You will not be sent a bill for amounts not covered by the carrier. We are entitled to receive those same benefits from third-party payers that any other medical care provider would receive. Money collected under this program goes directly to the Tripler to provide enhanced healthcare to you. Your insurance company will pay benefits directly to us and you will not be billed for any uncollected charges.
Q: If the full cost of care is not collected, will I get a bill from the hospital or my Insurance company?
A: No. You will not be billed for any costs that we cannot collect. You will receive a written Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from your insurance company. This form will tell you how much was paid to us, and what deductibles or co-payments were subtracted from the claim we filed. This is not a bill. It is merely an explanation for your personal records. You are not responsible for co-payments or deductibles not paid to us by your insurance company, even if they appear on your Explanation of Benefits form.
Q: Will my Health Insurance premiums increase?
A: No. Health insurance is intended to cover you or your family's needs for the medical services listed in our policy, and the premiums you or your employer pays are for those services. Since you are providing other health insurance information so we can collect the cost of providing you with enhanced healthcare, your insurance is benefiting you exactly as it should. Health insurance premiums, unlike automobile insurance premiums, do not increase due to outpatient treatment or hospitalization. Insurance premiums are determined by calculated statistical risk data based on your entire insured group.
Q: Will I have to pay a deductible?
A: No. Many insurance plans have a deductible that must be paid by the insured before any money is contributed by the insurance company. When the Tripler bills the insurance company, the amount of the deductible is first subtracted by the insurance company before any dollars are reimbursed to the hospital. The deductible gets paid, but not out of your pocket. For patients who have an annual deductible and require future care in a civilian facility, this represents a significant savings.
Q: Do I need to provide my insurance information with every visit?
A: Our clinic personnel will be asking you for this information at every visit. Please have your health insurance card with you every time you come to the hospital to ensure our records are up to date. To collect benefits covered by your health insurance, we must have the information that appears on your health insurance identification card.
Q: Where does the money go?
A: Payments from your healthcare insurance company go directly to the WBAMC. The money is then used to meet budget requirements and enhance the total healthcare services offered to you at our facility. Since the program's inception, critical pieces of medical equipment and other hospital enhancements have been funded using money collected.
Q: What are the legal aspects of this program?
A: The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) established the Third Party Collection program. Under this federal program, Military Medical Treatment Facilities are authorized and obligated to bill health insurance carriers (like Blue Cross or Prudential) for the cost of medical care furnished to military retirees and family members who are covered by health insurance policies. Intentionally providing false information or willfully failing to provide insurance information are grounds for disqualification for health services from military health care facilities. We, as a military facility, must comply with these laws and we need you help to make this program a success.
Q: How do I report my other Health Insurance?
A: If you have any more questions about the Third Party Collection program, or would like to submit your insurance information directly to us please contact the Third Party Collections at:
Tripler Army Medical Center
1 Jarrett White Road
Honolulu, Hawaii 96859-5000
Attn: Third Party Collections
Bldg. 155
Phone (808) 433-4963/2468
FAX (808) 433-9025
You are also welcome to stop by our office anytime, we would be happy to assist you.