What can be done legally to hospital connected services from billing twice for same services?

Question

Especially what happens when that person dies with those debts. Who do we report this to?

Answer 1

If they've billed an insurer, then it is a fraudulent transaction and should be reported to the state's insurance fraud department. (not all states have one, though).

When a person dies with those debts, the debt is usually written off unless a claim is made against the estate (if there is one).

But, first, you should always make certain it wasn't just a simple correctable error that the hospital overlooked and is willing to remedy.

Answer 2

Report it to the insurance company. They will investigate the charges and the hospital. If the hospital has a history of double billing patients they can be reported and charges filed against them. If the charges are not exactly the same (for example x-rays look alike but one charge is for taking the xray and the other charge is for reading the xray). Also if the patient has died check to see if the hospital has an indigent fund. Most hospitals will write-off bills of people who have died and/or don't have the money to pay. You will have to fill out a form.

hope this helps

Answer 3

Same thing happened to me once; I simply went to the billing office at the hospital and had them bring my account up on their computer and lo and behold the woman said "oh, it looks like we posted that amount twice" and then "sorry you don't owe that much". People make mistakes but you have to bring it to their attention. It would also be a good idea to bring it to the insurance provider's attention before letting it go too far. They might not catch it on their own. Good luck!

Answer 4

If it is going through an insurance company they will catch it. If the hospital is trying to bill for something that insurance already paid. You would need to talk to some one in the billing office. And show proof that it has already been paid.