Untitled from Jennifer Bartley on Vimeo.
Untitled from Jennifer Bartley on Vimeo.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
31 Reasons Why
1. As adorably handsome as the day I met him.
2. The Best father in the world to the luckiest two kids.
3. A dreamer, he is my life's version of Zach Morris and one day his scheming will succeed beyond even his imagination.
4. Funny, the irritating yet convenient ability to make me laugh even when I'm mad.
5. Romantic- he still surprises me with roses when I least expect it.
6. A bargain hunter- can't help but desperately drawn towards "huge deals" that often end up saving us money.
7. Shared passions- for the people around us, he truly cares about all people regardless of their position, income, or popular acceptance. Especially for the ones left out.
8. Generous giver- He doesn't give half way or withhold whether its from a gift for me or to the church or to someone in need.
9. Humble faith- cares about the Truths in life and seeks out God in his everyday routine and allows the God's standards to guide his life.
10. Family oriented- has made huge career sacrifices and financial decisions for the sake of being able to spend holidays and special times at home with his family.
11. Famous preschool storyteller at church. You wouldn't get this one unless you were there, but those kids have one cool guy for a storyteller once a month.
12. Trusts God with his life and leads his family in that way.
13. Has a lot of Star Wars toys. (I consider them my dowry)
14. Loves to kick balls really really loves to kick balls.
15. Plays the best games with the kids. Tower. Monster. Basketball. and more.
16. Always good at directions and helps me know where to go.
17. Delicious chocolate chip cookie baker.
18. Fantastic cleaner and organizer that would put even the best of them to shame.
19. Going along with 18, also a really good folder. Thank you training at The Gap.
20. Hard hard worker who has worked since high school to support himself.
21. Never hiding or secretive about emotions, in fact he is one of the most sincere people I know.
22. Trustworthy beyond what I could have dreamed for a spouse.
23. Bionic man of steel literally and very tough to go through two foot surgeries this year.
24. Fashionably genius and actually a snazzier dresser than me, although that isn't necessarily saying all that much...
25. Lover of camping inside our house.
26. Championship fantasy sport player.
27. Champion at March Madness, I'm actually expecting some supplemental income this year. No pressure. :)
28. A wonderful partner in raising our family with love and tons of fun and instilling Godly principles in the hearts of our kids.
29. Great baby maker. You can take that however you want.
30. A few years older than me so I get to feel like I'm still young since hes in his 30's and I'm in my 20's. Ha, didn't ever fully appreciate the full value of that when dating!
31. Because he is just the most wonderful, amazing man that God blessed me with and each day with him and the beautiful family we have together is a blessing from God beyond my ability to truly say in words.
And those are just 31 reasons why I love him today. Happy Birthday Sweetheart!
And my apologies to everyone else who just threw up in their mouths a little from mushiness, but it needed to be said!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Word to the Wise!!!
Ok, I almost wrote a blog about his a few months ago the THIRD TIME it happened to me, but now that it has happened a FOURTH TIME and concerns HUNDREDS of DOLLARS I am fired up enough about it to take the time!
Last time you had a medical procedure (childbirth, surgery, etc) and the doctor collected money from you upfront in what they call "ESTIMATED PATIENT RESPONSIBILITY" they collect your deductible and any estimated co-insurance. Then after your procedure, the insurance company negotiates a rate with them for the services (usually drastically less than their original charge), pays them their portion of the insurance and probably sends you a letter in the mail stating your "EXPLANATION OF BENEFITS" that includes your "ACTUAL PATIENT RESPONSIBILITY". Most of the time you've already had to pay the doctor so you assume its all taken care of, right? NOPE NOPE NOPE
Many times your ACTUAL PATIENT RESPONSIBILITY is less than the doctor collected from you originally because their rates and the contracted rates are different. Guess what? THE DOCTORS OFFICE IS NOT GOING TO CONTACT YOU AND LET YOU KNOW THAT THEY OVERCHARGED! NOR ARE THEY GOING TO SEND A RANDOM REFUND CHECK TO YOU IN THE MAIL!!!!
Ok, for example, here is how it has worked for us:
Collin had foot surgery. The doctor charged us $689.95 as our 20% portion of co-insurance. (this didn't even include a deductible b/c Collin had paid it elsewhere). After his first surgery the negotiated rate changed and our 20% portion was actually $209.79 as stated in our explanation of benefits from our insurance company. So where has our $480.00 been all this time? Sitting in the doctor's bank account waiting for us to call them and request a refund check be cut.
Why didn't we notice you wonder? Well I kept getting bills from anesthesia saying we had a balance due but I knew we'd paid everything already so I finally had to get out all the paperwork today and figure out the discrepancy...
The THIRD & SECOND time this happened was when we had Caleb:
My OB collected too much co-insurance also and we had to call them and ask for our refund that time too. At this point I got curious and started going back from all our expenses and noticed that our co-insurance on one of our sonograms was greater as collected by the doctor than our insurance said it should be in our EXPLANATION OF BENEFITS. Sure enough I called their office and they kindly said "Oh yes, you have a $40 credit, would you like us to send you a check?" Um, yes! Thats like half a week's groceries!
The FIRST time is happened (that I'm aware of) was when we had Caden:
Our OB collected our co-insurance and our deductible which I think was $500. After Caden was born, the hospital was the first to file a claim so the deductible was owed to them. So I had to call our OB's billing people and have the $500 refund check cut so that I could pay the hospitial. Once again they had no intention of letting me know I had a refund due and I'm quite sure that I would have paid additional out of my pocket without a word from anyone.
SO- do I have refund money floating around you might be wondering? Here's the easiest way to find out- logon to the webpage of your health insurance company and your can probably pull up a report stating all your medical benefits used and remaining for the year which will list out what your insurance company has paid and what you owe for each claim. Then compare what you paid to what your insurance company says you owe..
Or, even easier, if you have a particular doctor's office in mind, just call their billing department and ask what your balance is. In my experience, when you ask they are honest if you have a credit and will refund your money, but YOU HAVE TO CALL!
In conclusion, I understand that doctors often have a hard time collecting payment and I even understand why they collect upfront, But if they are going to do that, then I think it is their ethical obligation to refund money that was overcharged. Don't you? There is no telling how much money is floating around in the realm of underinformed who simply take bills at their word and pay whatever is claimed to be due on statements. Its too bad. It shouldn't take a stay at home mom with a Masters Degree and hours of time researching to get back what is rightfully money that belongs to me and my family. (and that we need to live on I might add)
I'm done, thanks for listening, if you get money back please let me know! Happy hunting!
Last time you had a medical procedure (childbirth, surgery, etc) and the doctor collected money from you upfront in what they call "ESTIMATED PATIENT RESPONSIBILITY" they collect your deductible and any estimated co-insurance. Then after your procedure, the insurance company negotiates a rate with them for the services (usually drastically less than their original charge), pays them their portion of the insurance and probably sends you a letter in the mail stating your "EXPLANATION OF BENEFITS" that includes your "ACTUAL PATIENT RESPONSIBILITY". Most of the time you've already had to pay the doctor so you assume its all taken care of, right? NOPE NOPE NOPE
Many times your ACTUAL PATIENT RESPONSIBILITY is less than the doctor collected from you originally because their rates and the contracted rates are different. Guess what? THE DOCTORS OFFICE IS NOT GOING TO CONTACT YOU AND LET YOU KNOW THAT THEY OVERCHARGED! NOR ARE THEY GOING TO SEND A RANDOM REFUND CHECK TO YOU IN THE MAIL!!!!
Ok, for example, here is how it has worked for us:
Collin had foot surgery. The doctor charged us $689.95 as our 20% portion of co-insurance. (this didn't even include a deductible b/c Collin had paid it elsewhere). After his first surgery the negotiated rate changed and our 20% portion was actually $209.79 as stated in our explanation of benefits from our insurance company. So where has our $480.00 been all this time? Sitting in the doctor's bank account waiting for us to call them and request a refund check be cut.
Why didn't we notice you wonder? Well I kept getting bills from anesthesia saying we had a balance due but I knew we'd paid everything already so I finally had to get out all the paperwork today and figure out the discrepancy...
The THIRD & SECOND time this happened was when we had Caleb:
My OB collected too much co-insurance also and we had to call them and ask for our refund that time too. At this point I got curious and started going back from all our expenses and noticed that our co-insurance on one of our sonograms was greater as collected by the doctor than our insurance said it should be in our EXPLANATION OF BENEFITS. Sure enough I called their office and they kindly said "Oh yes, you have a $40 credit, would you like us to send you a check?" Um, yes! Thats like half a week's groceries!
The FIRST time is happened (that I'm aware of) was when we had Caden:
Our OB collected our co-insurance and our deductible which I think was $500. After Caden was born, the hospital was the first to file a claim so the deductible was owed to them. So I had to call our OB's billing people and have the $500 refund check cut so that I could pay the hospitial. Once again they had no intention of letting me know I had a refund due and I'm quite sure that I would have paid additional out of my pocket without a word from anyone.
SO- do I have refund money floating around you might be wondering? Here's the easiest way to find out- logon to the webpage of your health insurance company and your can probably pull up a report stating all your medical benefits used and remaining for the year which will list out what your insurance company has paid and what you owe for each claim. Then compare what you paid to what your insurance company says you owe..
Or, even easier, if you have a particular doctor's office in mind, just call their billing department and ask what your balance is. In my experience, when you ask they are honest if you have a credit and will refund your money, but YOU HAVE TO CALL!
In conclusion, I understand that doctors often have a hard time collecting payment and I even understand why they collect upfront, But if they are going to do that, then I think it is their ethical obligation to refund money that was overcharged. Don't you? There is no telling how much money is floating around in the realm of underinformed who simply take bills at their word and pay whatever is claimed to be due on statements. Its too bad. It shouldn't take a stay at home mom with a Masters Degree and hours of time researching to get back what is rightfully money that belongs to me and my family. (and that we need to live on I might add)
I'm done, thanks for listening, if you get money back please let me know! Happy hunting!
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