After medicaid said they would cover my girlfriend (who is pregnant) and gave us temporary paperwork, medicaid lost her in the system. Now when we called them to ask the status of our actual card, they said we never applied. It has been 3 months since we first applied, and now the medical services that was supposed to be covered by medicaid, are now starting to send bill collecters after us. This is ruining my girlfriends perfect credit rating. Is there any leagal recourse that we can make if medicaid continues to have us "run through the red tape" and further ruins her credit?
2006-06-20 07:13:23 · 9 answers · asked by Richard A. 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Not everyone with good credit is trying to just get over on the system. Sometimes a person can't work during pregnancy due to health issues, and HAS to go on Medicaid. Rather than messing with the local peons, call the state office (usually in the city of the state capital) and report the name of the person you applied to. It should be a 1-800 number. Then, call LEGAL AID, which is free. They can help you. In the meantime, reapply. Call for a follow up to make sure everything got processed. Probably, it won't pay for medical care now, since you have received the care PRIOR to being covered. So to keep the creditors at bay, send them EACH $5. I know it may be hard to do that, but they can't report you as long as you are making some kind of attempt to pay. Also, keep records of any payments you have paid. Once the bill is paid in full (pay it to the care giver, not the credit collector), send a letter stating the bill was paid in full, and tell them the date and amount of all payments. They HAVE to remove you. Make CERTAIN they remove you from collection status and remove any adverse remarks from the credit bureaus. In the meantime, you can send copies of payments (keep your originals, you may need them in the future) to the credit bureaus along with a letter disputing the claim by the Credit Collection Agency. Get your phone number changed, and any bills coming to your residence, mark "Refused. Return to Sender." and put them back in the mail box. They will get tired of sending them to you, and will leave you alone. But make SOME SORT of payment to the care giver to show good faith, and to keep the hounds at bay. If it gets bad, you can always file a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy which will allow you to make payments monthly until the bills are paid, and they cannot charge any interest, but this is a last resort. If you decide to do this, let me know, and I'll tell you how to re-establish good credit after the Bankruptcy.
2006-06-20 07:23:35 · answer #1 · answered by godslovelyrose 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If your girlfriend has a perfect credit rating does she work? Why do you need medicaid? Why would you take legal action? Do you realize it come out of our pockets? Just call them and try to resolve it.... unnecessary!
Oh and PS Im not sure that Medicaid needs an overhaul...maybe the people "abusing" it do!
2006-06-20 08:05:17 · answer #2 · answered by Lindsey M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Seems to me that if you simply show them the "temporary paperwork" with the temporary benefits and ID that entails, they will see that you DID file the papers. They should have given you some sort of receipt for it.
Just as a sidenote: How does one have "perfect" credit when they must use medicaid to pay? Just curious, not judging!
Oh yeah, and now I am judging... if you married her and simply put her AND YOUR child on your medical insurance, this wouldn't be an issue. Step up and do right by the woman and the child.
2006-06-20 07:32:16 · answer #3 · answered by Goose&Tonic 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ruins HER credit??
How about YOU?? Be a man and Marry her and take the responsibility of YOUR BILLS!!
Sheesh! Everyone wants the Government to pay for everything when you have all the "fun" and expect to contribute nothing...
Her Credit shouldnt be the problem, your credibility is the problem...
Since your not the "man" for her, then have her reapply for the Medicaid and have her installed in it...
I wish you well..
Jesse
2006-06-20 07:21:20 · answer #4 · answered by x 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Four months my wife and I reapplied for medicaid we have not heard from them as of now. I belive the whole medicaid system needs to be overhauled at the federal level.
2006-06-20 07:24:43 · answer #5 · answered by eaglesflywallop 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not a lawyer, but this has happened to me. They will do anything to keep people off benefits. And they do make alot of mistakes. In California when you get a notice there is a form on the back to fill out and ask for a hearing. When you get your hearing you can bring all of the paperwork that proves your case. They can back date the payment of all bills to your original application date. If you aren't in California, your state should have a similar process. Ask them what it is.
2006-06-20 07:19:04 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my experience Medicaid will pay for medical expenses up to 90 days prior to their approval.
2006-06-23 19:56:12 · answer #7 · answered by SupaStar 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If she has perfect credit, why can't she pay her own way instead of using Medicaid?
2006-06-20 07:23:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
BE A MAN AND PAY FOR YOUR OWN STUFF! WHO CARES IF YOUR GIRLFRIEND HAS PERFECT CREDIT...START USING THOSE CREDIT CARDS. I DON'T WORK FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY-- YOU MUST OF STARTED TOO EARLY IF YOU CAN'T FINANCIALLY AFFORD A KID.
2006-06-20 07:38:16 · answer #9 · answered by boohoo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋