To the 2011 Indiana General Assembly: As a convenience to patients, most doctors file insurance claims on behalf of their patients. Patients, in turn, assign their insurance benefits to the doctor’s office. Patients are then able to leave the office without making full payment for services, assured that the doctor will bill them for any balance not paid by the insurance company. Some insurance companies are now refusing to honor patients' requests for benefits to be assigned to the doctor's office. This means that doctor offices may have to begin requiring patients to pay for all services at the time of treatment, even if the patient is covered by insurance. The Indiana legislature is considering a bill that would require insurance companies to honor the patient's request to have benefits assigned to his/her health care provider. To express your support for “Assignment of Benefits” legislation, join us by signing this online petition. We encourage you to contact your local media by writing a letter to the editor. Please also let your community know how you feel about Assignment of Benefits legislation, before it's too late. Sincerely, The Undersigned