Insurance/doctor bill problem

[anp1215]

Hi, I would like you all to please pray for an issue I’m having. Saturday I got two doctor bills in the mail, for five appointments dating back two years, totaling $500. They said that we are responsible for the payment because we did not have insurance coverage at the time (we did, I am 100% positive, we had coverage from December 2010 to August 2012 with the same company). I think maybe there was an issue because in August 2012 we switched insurance companies. Maybe the doctor looked and saw our current company and billed them instead of the one we had back then?

What I don’t understand is why the heck this is happening now, two years later. Did it really take two years for them to try to bill the insurance company?

I’m sure it’s just a screw up like I said, but I’m on edge and worried until I can call the insurance company tomorrow.

 

[Bonnie]

I know exactly how you feel! We’ve had a couple of similar problems - one because of a computer glitch. It’s scary - especially when you don’t have the money.

We’ll be praying for you.

 

[George_Stegmeir]

A long delay by Doctors Offices and Hospitals in billing patients is quite common. I think that they do this on purpose in order to take advantage of peoples poor memories.
The week I turned 65, I had a case of mild bronchitus (sp?). I went to a clinic in my neighborhood affiliated with a Catholic hospital (Cabrini in NYC). As soon as they found out I was elegible for MEDICARE, they acted like they found money in the street.
They sent me to their hospital and did every test known to man. I didn’t question them because I knew I could afford the 20%. Anyway despite me calling their business offices at least once a month as to “Where is my bill/”, I received nothing from them for 8 months. Then I got hit with bills from Doctors I never saw, Use of facility charges for the offices they did the tests in , etc. When I called the hospital offices, I got told these charges were for services, etc. MEDICARE didn’t cover, and it was my fault for not having medical insurance on my own. When I threatened them with an attorney, I was told to pay up or have my credit ruined. When I complained to both their Chaplains office and the Mother Superior of the Nuns who nominally were attached to the Hospital, I was told they have nothing to do with the business side of the hospital.
As for the Doctors I never saw, I was told that they were called in to review the test results, and I had to pay for that even I I han not requested it. I was also told to pay or face legal action! The one visit to that clinic and hospital and one return visit to get the test results cost me almost $1,000 out of pocket. Needless to say, I never expected such shady business dealings from a Catholic institution. Thankfully, within a year this hospital went out of business and could no longer rip people off.
From that point on, I availed myself of my GI benefits from the VA for all my medical needs. I am a Navy vet from both the Korean war era and Viet Nam war…

 

[LisaA]

Hi, I would like you all to please pray for an issue I’m having. Saturday I got two doctor bills in the mail, for five appointments dating back two years, totaling $500. They said that we are responsible for the payment because we did not have insurance coverage at the time (we did, I am 100% positive, we had coverage from December 2010 to August 2012 with the same company). I think maybe there was an issue because in August 2012 we switched insurance companies. Maybe the doctor looked and saw our current company and billed them instead of the one we had back then?

What I don’t understand is why the heck this is happening now, two years later. Did it really take two years for them to try to bill the insurance company?

I’m sure it’s just a screw up like I said, but I’m on edge and worried until I can call the insurance company tomorrow.

Chances are it IS a mistake and the wrong company was billed. You should be able to straighten this up. Frankly I’m surprised they even try to collect a bill a couple years late. I work for a doctor’s clinic and there are reasons for a delayed bill but if it’s over a year, then the office usually just writes off the charges.

It is possible but not likely to they can collect a bill a couple years after the fact. What can happen is that the doctor’s office gets information that the patient has X insurance company, bills them, gets paid. Then a year later X insurance says oh we made a mistake, Patient really has Y insurance, you must refund the money we paid. The doctor’s clinic refunds the original payment and then bills the other insurance. At that point the insurance will deny for non-timely filing. MOST companies have a limit on the time you can bill. After a year, forget it.

They might be just mistaken but quite honestly as someone who works in this field, you should be able to get them to back off because of the non-timely bill even if the bill is correct.

Lisa

 

[anp1215]

Chances are it IS a mistake and the wrong company was billed. You should be able to straighten this up. Frankly I’m surprised they even try to collect a bill a couple years late. I work for a doctor’s clinic and there are reasons for a delayed bill but if it’s over a year, then the office usually just writes off the charges.

It is possible but not likely to they can collect a bill a couple years after the fact. What can happen is that the doctor’s office gets information that the patient has X insurance company, bills them, gets paid. Then a year later X insurance says oh we made a mistake, Patient really has Y insurance, you must refund the money we paid. The doctor’s clinic refunds the original payment and then bills the other insurance. At that point the insurance will deny for non-timely filing. MOST companies have a limit on the time you can bill. After a year, forget it.

They might be just mistaken but quite honestly as someone who works in this field, you should be able to get them to back off because of the non-timely bill even if the bill is correct.

Lisa

This is exactly what happened. She said it would most likely be denied for timely filing, but that I wouldn’t be responsible. Thank God and thanks for your prayers everyone!

 

[LisaA]

This is exactly what happened. She said it would most likely be denied for timely filing, but that I wouldn’t be responsible. Thank God and thanks for your prayers everyone!

Excellent! I’m happy this was resolved!
Lisa

 

[Bonnie]

WOW! That was a fast answer to prayers!

 

[ready]

This is exactly what happened. She said it would most likely be denied for timely filing, but that I wouldn’t be responsible. Thank God and thanks for your prayers everyone!

Deo gratias!