80 to 90% of the medical bills in the United States have mistakes, and it’s not in favor of the patient. It wasn’t until Dr. Virgie Bright Ellington, an internal medicine physician, and a health insurance executive, witnessed how her hospital roommate was taken advantage of financially that she knew, more than helping insurance companies, it is the patients that need her help the most. With the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), insurance companies now enjoy a system that is significantly skewed in their favor, a system driven by profits, not by the health and well-being of their customers. Dr. Virgie agrees that we are trapped in this system, but can anything be done? As the founder of Crush Medical Debt, she advocates medical financial literacy and emphasizes the need to understand medical bills and insurance policies. Listen as she talks about the control insurance companies have over prices and costs, the importance of understanding CPT codes, and why you need to be aware of your healthcare rights to avoid being stuck in debt.Quick Guide01:21 Introduction07:28 What happens at the back office15:33 Not getting the full amount from insurance companies22:00 From working for insurance providers to helping the patients35:48 Balanced billing48:40 The No Surprise Bill Act52:25 Insurance companies win in the end56:00 Closing and contactsGet to know our guestDr. Virgie Bright Ellington is an internal medicine physician and medical billing expert. A dedicated patient advocate, Dr. Virgie practiced for more than 20 years in primary care and psychiatric settings and as a health insurance executive. Dr. Virgie now helps patients understand complex medical procedures, communicate effectively with their healthcare providers, and avoid financial devastation from crushing medical bills through her "What Your Doctor Wants You to Know" series.She is the author of "What Your Doctor Wants You to Know to CRUSH MEDICAL DEBT" and the host of the weekly "HEALTH, WELLNESS & MEDICAL BILLS" show on the VoiceAmerica radio network.“The point is, if you don't have medical, financial literacy, you don't have any financial stability. Period. We got to learn this stuff. So, we can fight against, arm ourselves against the 800-pound gorilla, that publicly traded health insurance companies in this country.” - Dr. Virgie Bright EllingtonConnect with herTwitter: https://twitter.com/therealdrvirgieInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealdrvirgieFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/therealdrvirgieWebsite: https://crushmedicaldebt.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drvirgie Contact Stay Off My Operating TableTweet with us: Dr. Ovadia: @iFixHearts Jack Heald: @JackHeald5 Learn more: Get Dr. Ovadia's book Stay Off My Operating Table on Amazon. Take Dr. Ovadia's metabolic health quiz: iFixHearts visit Dr. Ovadia's website: Ovadia Heart Health visit Jack Heald's website: CultYourBrand.com Theme Song : Rage AgainstWritten & Performed by Logan Gritton & Colin Gailey(c) 2016 Mercury Retro Recordings