Can I sue the clinic for their mistakes? I got hurt at work, and the clinic sent ME the entire bill!?

Question

I cut my finger at work. (I'm a chef). And after getting stitches the clinic sent me the bill for everything. I have health insurance, and this was a work related injury. How can I force the clinic to charge my employer like they should? Does anyone know a good lawyer to refer me to? Thanks.

I'm on my moms insurance, how do I find out what my insurance is? I tried asking my mom but she just doesn't return my phone calls? So one of you who answered said to get my insurance to reimburse me. Well how do I do that after I somehow find out who my insurance is? Thanks.

btw my boss doesnt want to deal with it, she just wants me to take care of it. so what do I do when I find out who my insurance is? And what do I say to them?

Answer 1

Not sure which state has jurisdiction over your claim. In the vast majority of states, workers comp is responsible to pay bills connected to a work-related injury. ALSO NOT clear about the following -
1 - Did you file a formal workers comp claim? If you do not file a claim, you may lose your entitlement to be getting workers comp benefits.
2 - At the time you sought medical treatment with the clinic, did you specifically TELL THEM THAT IT WAS A WORKERS COMP INJURY?
3 - If you did NOT tell the clinic that your injury is a workers comp injury, then they would have been correct to bill you.
4 - HOWEVER - if you DID tell them your injury IS a workers comp injury, then they should NOT have billed you.

The best way to correct the situation ((if you have filed a workers comp claim)) is to
1 - Ask your employer if your claim has been properly filed.
2 - Ask your employer WHO their workers comp carrier is.
3 - Tell your employer that the clinic had billed you directly and that the clinic should send the medical bill DIRECTLY to the workers comp insurance company.
4 - Call the clinic and advise them that they need to bill the workers comp insurance company directly.
5 - I would ALSO send the clinic a CERTIFIED letter to document your above conversations, to protect your rights, so you can be getting workers comp benefits.
6 - In SOME states, the workers comp law imposes PENALTIES AGAINST medical providers who bill the injured workers.
7 - Call the clinic & tell them that they need to send the bill DIRECTLY to the workers comp insurance company.
8 - IF they do not answer your questions, and you get the run-around, then you may want to request a formal Hearing via the Workers Comp Board / Division of Workers Comp. That way, the Workers Comp Law Judge can impose any necessary penalties against the medical provider who improperly billed you.

If you need to chat with a lawyer for free in a forum setting try www.Prairielaw.com

For additional workers comp resources this site is growing - http://www.GettingWorkersComp.com

IF you are a New York injured worker, then also visit http://www.NYSWorkerComp.gettingworkerscomp.com
Also visit this Blog to see the answer:
http://www.workerscompinsidesecrets.wordpress.com

Answer 2

1. You might be able to sue somebody. NEVER listen to people who tell you that you do not have a case--even if that person is a lawyer. Many lawyers do not know that area of law, and have no idea whether you have a case or not but they like to think that they are know-it-alls and answer anyway. Also many lawyers will say that you don't have a case when what they are doing is saying how they think the case would come out in the end--but they have just the very limited info you gave them for conversation purposes--they have no law or evidence in front of them.

2. It is ABSOLUTELY NOT THE CASE that you are always responsible for a medical bill. There are many many instances when you would not be responsible. WHO insisted that you go to the hospital? Who took you there? Did you go during the time when you were supposed to be at work or did you wait till then end of your shift? Did anyone (your boss, the restauant, etc.?) promise to you that they would pay the bill? Did you rely on that promise when you agreed to go to the hospital? Did anyone force you to go-by saying you have to go or you cannot come back to work?

3. If you do not know what your insuranc eis, you probably do not have any. BUT still check it out with your mom. If she won't help, then you're going to have a tough time. But if you are a minor or if you are an adult and are covered on her policy, you may have a legal right to that information--you relied on that when you chose not to get your own insurance.

4. Most of the time you cannnot sue your employer because of the workman's comp laws. You need to talk to a lawyer to find out more.

5. You need to get your life in order, and stop thinking about who you can sue (I saw your other question, too). Anybody can sue anybody for anything if you can pay the filing fee. But most of the time, petty lawsuits for small amounts of money are not worth it. If you think you are entitled to money from somebody, you should be able to identify that person. If you just vaguely think somebody else should pay, you are not in a good position.

Answer 3

Call the clinic and tell them it's a workers comp claim. Workers Comp is state law, so unless you live in the same state I do, I can't really help you. If it is workers comp the clinic should call and get the WC insurance from your employer. Otherwise, why don't you ask your boss? It is not illegal for the clinic to bill you in error or otherwise. In most states you cannot sue for workers comp, so the lawyer is a waste of time.

Answer 4

You don't make sense here. Why a lawyer? You have to discuss this with the employer because OSHA needs to get involved. In the mean time, you are responsible for the bill. You receive health insurance from your place of work? Or do you have that on your own?

Answer 5

When you go to the doctor, it is always, (always) your responsiblity to pay the bill, If this is to be covered by workers comp or health insurance some doctors will allow a direct bill and not bill you till they hear back from insurance, but if for some reason they don't pay you are obligated to pay.

You need to ask at work how to file a claim to have this bill paid.

I see no grounds at all for any law suit, they billed you correctly since you recieved the treatment.

Answer 6

This kind of thing happens all the time (the last time it happened to me, the clinic got one number wrong on my insurance policy number so my insurance company denied payment). You call up the number for accounting on the bill you received, and then you ask them why they billed you for it all. Usually its an error on their part and they'll tell you to disregard the bill, fix the problem and re-bill you for a copay if you are required to pay it.

Also, workman's comp works differently than insurance, so you may want to check with your benefits department as well. Your workman's comp policy may require that you send the bill to them or something to get paid, hence why your office sent the bill to you.

Good luck!

Answer 7

I'd get with your insurance company. If you show them the bill they'll reimburse you. We used to see a doctor that wouldn't file the insurance, so we had to deal with it, which meant paying out of pocket, and then having our insurance company pay us back. Yes, it was a pain. But get a hold of your insurance company, and they should pay you back.

Answer 8

First, start will a phone call to the billing department at your clinic. This should be covered under your workman's comp.

It may just be an error, try to straighten it out "nicely" before you sic the dogs on them, and incur the expense of an attorney.

Answer 9

You DO comprehend that a doctor billing your coverage is an insignificant courtesy, precise? they have definitely no criminal accountability to bill and the perfect to charge you up front for amenities and enable you to duke it out with the coverage enterprise. in case you do no longer understand which you're no longer on my own yet it incredibly is the actuality. SOOOOOO what did the coverage enterprise say once you referred to as them immediately with the perfect records? became this a technique the place you mandatory previous approval? you are able to desire to now paintings with the coverage enterprise and comprehend that that's as much as YOU to pay your surgeon now. BNCU is definitely incorrect you haven't any longer have been given any complaint with the sanatorium and remember as quickly as I mentioned human beings do no longer understand they owe you no longer something to this point as billing it incredibly is the case right here.

Answer 10

What are you going to sue them for ??
Do you think that sending you the bill is illegal ?
Just take the bill to your employer...
Don't make a mountain out of a molehill...