| What is the Third Party Collection Program? |
| A Congressionally mandated program which directs military treatment facilities to bill private health insurance plans when beneficiaries receive care in our facility.
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| I thought medical care was a right granted to me. Now you are trying to charge money for it?e |
| There are no charges to the patient and the billing of health insurance companies does not impact on the premiums paid or coverage provided under the insurance plan. The Third Party Insurance Program only allows us to recover some of the costs for the care we provide from commercial insurance policies for the services the plan covers.
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| Are there any advantages for me?
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| Yes! Most insurance plans have deductibles that must be met before the plan starts to pay. When we file claims, the amount billed will be applied toward the patient's deductible. Therefore, if the patient visits us a few times and the deductible is met, they will have less out-of-pocket expenditures should they have to visit a civilian health care provider or facility. They will actually spend less money out of pocket. |
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| Why should I have additional insurance coverage?
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| The fact remains most military treatment facilities cannot accommodate all beneficiaries who need medical care. Family members and retirees should consider purchasing supplemental insurance to cover the out-of-pocket expenses when civilian medical care is needed. Supplemental plans are available through many military associations. |
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| What effect will this have on my health insurance?
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| When claims are filed with your insurance company or group it DOES NOT increase the premium rate of your policy nor does it reduce the services covered under the plan. Premiums increase due to inflation and multiple other factors, not because of the claims being filed by military treatment facilities. |
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| Why should commercial insurance have to pay for services which are supposed to be supported by taxes? |
| Your tax dollars continue to support the present medical system of the military services but, as you are aware, budget cuts have become a way of life and the military health care systems have been dramatically affected by these cuts. Third Party Collections offer us a way to maintain and enhance the level of services we offer our beneficiaries without sacrificing other DoD programs. |
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| What happens to the insurance monies collected?
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| All proceeds from the Third Party Insurance Program go directly to Dunham and are used to purchase supplies and equipment and pay our personnel who provide care to our beneficiaries.
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| What services will be billed?
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| We bill outpatient clinic visits (to include lab, radiology and pharmacy). Please advise us if you have commercial third party health insurance. |
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| Record of Other Health Insurance: |
| DD Form 2569, Third Party Collection Program - Record of Other Health Insurance, which can be printed from here*.
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| If you have any questions... |
| Please contact our Third Party Collections Office at (717) 245-3431. |