How do y'all file your medical papers? Do you file EOBs by doctor or in a separate EOB file or some other way? How about doctor bills, statements, etc.?
Have you changed your filing method now that you are using QMEM?
How do y'all file your medical papers? Do you file
EOBs by doctor or in a separate EOB file or some
other way? How about doctor bills, statements,
etc.?
Unfortunately BC/BS of IL puts multiple claims on a single EOB and prints on both sides of the page, so I just put them all into the same file ordered by the first Date of Service listed on a given EOB. After this Christmas season, I'm hoping to have enough money for a scanner so that I can print copies of the EOB when there are different dates on each side of a single sheet of paper and keep them all in chronological order by Date of Service.
Once I get that far, I'll be looking at rearranging them, but probably by family member since that is how my wife kept all of our pre-MEM medical history. I still plan on ordering all of the records by Date of Service.
In all cases, I keep all of the financial documents from the service provider with the EOB that covers it; either paper clipped or stapled <depending on whether or not I can find the paper clip box under the mess on my desk>.
Have you changed your filing method now that you are
using QMEM?
If you count that fact that I went from no method <for the billing records> to the one described above, then yes. ;-)
Aetna's doing the same thing (combining EOB's for different claims & people). As a result, I'm finding that I'm making copies of the claims since I've always maintained my files by person & DOS (date of service) with the exception of my older daughter who has the bulk of claims.
In the past, I'd have individual files each of us, one dental for my husband & me combined & one for the kids & then separate folders for our daughter's pediatrician, each individual therapist, home health, GI, Neurologist, Orthopedist, hospital, cardiologist, & primary care specialist in NYC, etc. And some of those files got pretty thick in those early years.
Now, after "perfecting" my system (hah!!! - if my husband could only tell you about the piles of crap on the desk!) I only have a few files -- one for each person & the dog (our "son":) ) We have several files just for her stuff: A file for each therapist (3), home health and one for all other medical.
Now...getting the claims into the files & QMEM in a timely manner....that's another posting for another day; when I get to be queen & I don't have to work a gazillion hours (sigh). ;-)
I file my paperwork by date of service. I keep my documents (bills, EOBs) stapled together. I also end up making copies of EOBs (or FSA reimbursements) when they cover multiple bills so that I can keep a specific copy with the specific bill.
I also use 4 folders for all of this paperwork which I use for:
I've just started keeping track for my 85yo Mother. I got a 6 pocket Pendaflex folder with a flap and strap to close it up. Sorted everything down according to type of EOB and date printed:
Pocket 1: 'Medicare Summary Notices' for Part A Hospital and Part B Outpatient Facility Claims.
Pocket 2: MSN's for Part B Assigned Claims.
Pocket 3: Insurance Co. EOB's.
Pocket 4: Provider Bills.
Pocket 5: Paid Bills w/checks attached.
Pocket 6: Junk drawer or 'I haven't a clue what to do with this'.
In the 'Billing notes' I make a note of the the date printed, the Part A date range and the Part A benefit days used and remaning, if applicable. Part B's and Insurance Co. EOB's only have the MSN/printed date.
For example:
MSN of 10-24-05.
9-27-05 - 9-30-05
Skilled Nursing 4 days, r=96
In the reference field of the detail lines I put the claim id or the check number.
The billing notes allows me to go to the spcific MSN or EOB for that service date. The claim id allows me to tell the provider the insurers claim number and date paid or processed.
No copies are required and all the info is on the Expense details print out of QMEM. The pendaflex goes into my firesafe. However a dupicate of the pendaflex in a safety deposit box or offsite storage would probably be a good idea. (note to self: Do that.)
EDITED: Shortly after I wrote this I revised how I keep track of EOB's. I now put the 'print date' in the 'Paid on' field of the insurance payments screen and the claime number in the reference field. -jw
