Aetna insurance coverage denied 20k$

Hello,

I'm an international student with Aetna OA Elect Choice EPO insurance. Recently, I experienced severe chest pain, coughing up blood, and a headache, which prompted me to visit a hospital that turned out to be out of Aetna's network. The doctors suggested admission due to concerns about potential emergencies like TB or other serious conditions. I ended up staying for a day to undergo tests and observation.

The hospital has billed me $18,000 for these services, which Aetna has denied, citing that it was not an emergency. I want to clarify that my admission was not solely due to chest pain but also because of the blood I was coughing up and the headache I experienced.

Unfortunately, I don't have concrete evidence to support my claim that it was an emergency. I'm now faced with this hefty bill, and I'm feeling quite lost about what to do next. I've already reached out to Aetna, and they advised me to appeal.

I'm turning to this community for advice. Have any of you faced a similar situation, and if so, how did you navigate it? Do you have any suggestions on how to approach the appeal process effectively? Any guidance or insights would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your help!"

submitted by /u/Ornery-Plantain4775
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