Romy Kaminski did what she was supposed to do. After she was laid off, she purchased insurance. And not just some insurance, but more than enough.

“I did the right thing and I insured myself in case of an emergency, and there was an emergency,” she told the Chicago Tribune, recently. “I’m smart. I made sure I was covered.”

But after Kaminksi suffered an unexpected brain aneurysm which resulted in tests, treatment and several hospital stays, her insurance company didn’t pay. Two months after her procedure, Kaminski got a call from the hospital saying her insurance company had yet to pay.

Their reason? Well, they really didn’t give a reason. They were busy looking for reasons not to cover her medical bills. According to the Tribune, they were looking through her medical records for pre-existing conditions or anything else that might disqualify her from coverage.

In other words, they were looking for any excuse not to pay her more than $250,000 in bills. Out of work and with the steep bills, Kaminski said she considered filing medical bankruptcy.

With a little help from the newspaper, it seems that the insurance company is finally coming around and will fully cover Kaminski, just as the coverage she bought said it would.

But we can all take away some valuable lessons from this experience. The tactics Kaminski faced are common, and everyone should know what to do when dealing with an uncooperative insurance company.

What to expect when insurance is slow to pay medical bills

1. They don’t pay, they just delay. A major tactic of insurance companies is to simply wait. They won’t pay in the hopes that you’ll start forking over cash for the bills, even if your bills should be covered.
2. Creditors may come after you. When an insurance company won’t pay, hospitals will often turn straight to the patient and demand payment – they may even file a complaint with the credit bureaus and send harassing bill collectors your way.
3. Be consistent and persistent. To get the insurance to come around you’ll need to stay on track. One phone call may not clear this up. The insurance company will try to delay as they look for reasons not to pay, so you’ve got to be just as diligent in staying on top of them. Call, write letters, email – stay in contact. Demand answers.
4. Get real help if you need it. Sometimes, you may need a little extra muscle to justice. If you are covered and your insurance company won’t pay, you may consider speaking with a lawyer. If you end up on the hook for overwhelming medical bills, then filing chapter 7 bankruptcy may clear your debt and let you get on with your life.