we have a medical bill from 3 years ago that I didn't know insurance never paid. In the meantime, we do not have that insurance company anymore. What happened is the doctors office had filed it, and recently found it and now what us to pay, and said will send it to collection if we don't --I am so pissed off about this. The bill is for $1300.00, but insurance probably would have paid some of it years ago,it probably was never evn filed. So how much will the doctors loose on sending it out to collection, becasue I am willling to let that happen.
2006-10-06 08:29:11 · 5 answers · asked by molly w 1 in Health ➔ Other - Health
Legitimately, your doctor should first submit this claim to the insurer you had when you had the coverage. If it was during the period you were covered, it was a legitimate claim and they should pay it. That said, 3 years is a bit long, and the insurance company may reject the claim because it was not submitted in a timely manner.
If your doctor failed to submit the claim, then they should work out a payment plan with you prior to submitting it to collection. (And you should negotiate a discounted rate with them, since they will be getting something, versus nothing at all)
If the claim goes to collection, it will appear on your credit report, and this could affect your future ability to get a mortgage, or loan.
You received the service, and even though the doctor was an idiot, you are still obligated to pay.
Sorry.
2006-10-06 08:36:11 · answer #1 · answered by phantomlimb7 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The thing that is really stupid is that after a year the doctors office can write it off in their taxes... the office its self wont really loose out on a lot of money because they actually sell your case to the collections agencies... Its them that you don't wanna deal with. They just make things more difficult. Even though you don't have that insurance any more, if you still remember what it was then, they should be able to re bill them for that time since you were covered then.
2006-10-06 15:41:57 · answer #2 · answered by Tory 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to ask the physicians office for a detailed bill from them, showing what insurance paid and what they adjusted off after insurance. Not true that insurance pays half of a bill, insurance companies have an allowable amount for each procedure that physicians perform and they pay that, physcians have to adjust off a portion of the bill and a portion (usually 20% can be then billed to the patient.) If you had an HMO 3 years ago and this procedure was covered, then insurance should pay 100%. I would definitly get an intemized bill from the doctor.
2006-10-06 15:38:35 · answer #3 · answered by georganne 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Be careful! I let a $75.00 dental bill go and ended up having to pay $500.00. They took it to collections and then to some sort of lawyer, eeeekkkk, I had no idea they could do that but they did!!! I wish I would have just paid the $75.00!
2006-10-06 15:38:07 · answer #4 · answered by someoneoutthere 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
About half the bill, but when it goes to collections it screws up your credit.
2006-10-06 15:33:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋