A report on New York State's Health Care Bureau Helpline reveals consumers are monetarily benefitting from the effort.
Here are four report findings about the helpline, which is offered through New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's office.
1. A total of 5,565 consumers contacted the helpline for assistance last year. The helpline investigated and resolved 2,515 consumer complaints. The remaining consumers received information or referrals to the most appropriate agency for their complaint, according to the report.
2. The helpline secured nearly $2 million in restitution and savings for consumers last year for complaints related to "incorrect medical billing"; "wrongful rejection of health insurance claims"; and "health plans' failure to process insurance claims properly."
3. Thirty-nine percent of consumer complaints in 2017 were related to concerns about provider billing. This compares to health plan claim processing/payment complaints (19 percent) and health plan denials (12 percent).
4. The New York City region saw the most consumer complaints last year (29 percent) compared to other parts of the state.
Read the full report, including details on individual helpline cases, here.
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