I would like to know how they get information that someone in my house has been in the hospital since medical records are not public knowledge. They are asking for you to call back regarding a recent hospital stay and saying the whole bill can be covered if we qualify.
Woman called to speak to my husband to see if he had government eligibility in relation to a hospital admission he had 1-1/2 years ago. He was not available. I told her I knew about his hospitalization. She said the information was confidential and she could not speak to me. She gave me an 800 number for him to return her call. She said her company name was ECI. On the phone caller ID, it listed Eligibility Con, 972-705-5291.
Called, didn't leave a message. If it's the ECI outfit from the 2011 post above, then good luck to you, folks! I haven't been to a hospital in over 10 years, and it was covered by the insurance I had at the time, sans the deductible I paid long ago. Getting money *back* from a hospital or insurance company long after-the-fact is virtually impossible.
This company is NOT a fraud! If in doubt, you can call the hospital's Financial Counselor Office to verify that the hospital contracts ECI to screen patients ON BEHALF OF THE HOSPITALS. There are on-site workers at many area hospitals, and also screeners off-site in their main office. Many patients aren't aware that hospitals provide this service.
When a patient is Self Pay, the hospital refers the ER or Inpatient account to ECI. ECI calls/mails to see if maybe there was insurance that maybe wasn't obtained while at the hospital, or maybe there is other funding the patients are eligible for, and will assist to pursue the options.
The hospital is trying to find ways to help get the bill paid, either thru programs, or in some cases, an additional hospital discount if eligible. Many patients never obtain any assistance because they don't follow through with returning the call, or following through with the application process, so the bills go thru normal billing process.