Windshield Repair Forum

I am glad this topic came up. There are so many different ways to bill insurance companies it can be very confusing. First of, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BILL THROUGH THE NETWORK! Ok, now that I have that off my chest let me explain. I personaly go through the network because it makes my life simpler and it actualy helps me sell the job. However I didn't always do it this way. I only started dealing with the network 2 years ago. In Dallas they pretty much have all the agents in the area trained to be die hard network flunkies.

How do you bill if you are not on the network and do you still call the network for the referral? Well first off let me say that if you are not on the network I really, really don't recommend that you call the network for any type of approval. Call the agent, and just verify that they have coverage. If the agent then says to call the network just say thank you and get off the phone. Then do the job!!! Notice I said do the job!!!! Then send in the bill to the claims office for that insurance company, they can not refuse payment because you didn't go through the network. Yes you can bill a little more, not a lot but a little. What may happen is they still might try to send the job through the network and one day you might walk out to your mail box and their is a check from safelite or lynx.

Also beware that the customer may get a letter from the insurance company after the job is done telling them that in the future they would prefer them to use an aproved vendor. No big deal, as long as the customer was happy with your work. Let me again state that I do not like the networks however I personaly have chosen to avoid the problem of fighting them. Also I don't personaly think you should bill the agent, you can if you want, I prefer to bill the company direct. When you do this make sure that you keep track of your invoices and watch the recievable dates on them. My old biggest problem with them was loosing my invoices, so I spent a lot of time on the phone asking them when I was going to get paid, and they would tell me that I needed to resend them the invoice. Anyway I hope this helps out for you guys have arn't billing through the networks. I did it this way for 10 years.
David
Coitster

Quite good, Coitster.

I ALWAYS verify coverage and then assume the job by asking whether to send the invoice to the agent or to the national glass desk.

Also, make sure the check isn't sent to the insured. I send two letters when I direct bill.

One signed by the insured authorizing payment directly to Desert Stars.

Another explaining to the Glass Desk or agent why we refuse to deal with the networks directly. (And, I give the customer a copy of the second. It heads off that possible letter from the insurance company at the pass.)

The point made of agent loss/ratio shouldn't be discounted or over-looked.

Unless you get greedy, it is to the advantage of the agent when the network is circumvented. You are doing THEM a favor rather than the other way around. ESPECIALLY when you point out to them the difference between a repair and a STEERED replacement.

All of us have insurance agents or know someone who is an agent. Take a bit of time to swap information with them when you get a chance. You might make it easier for the next tech to receive cooperation from that agent when they recognize what's in it for them.