I was turned over to a collection agency
By reinydawn
@reinydawn (11642)
United States
June 18, 2009 9:18am CST
Now, this has happened to me before, when it was my fault. Money was tight and I couldn't pay something so it was turned over to a collection agency.
Well, the other day I got a collection notice for something that I was never billed for in the first place. I thought it was from my mamogram this past spring, but when I called them about it to get a bill so my insurance would pay it, they told me it was from LAST August! Almost a year ago. Now, last August when I was having trouble breathing, I went to the hospital and they ran some tests. For some unknown reason, they never changed my address and the bills went to my mother (I lived there about 12 years ago). She kept forgetting to tell me and when I finally did pick up the bills they were very late. I submitted them all to my insurance company and everything was fine.
Or so I thought... Somehow, this bill got stuck in the middle. My street address got changed, but not the city and zip code. So I never got a bill. I don't know if my insurance is going to cover this because it's almost a year old. If they don't cover it, I'm surely not paying it because of their mistake!
I've been trying to get them to fix my address for the past 12 years and they can't seem to do it. When I give blood, it's all connected to the hospital records and they've changed it a few times there. When I went in last summer, I changed it then. When I was there this past spring for my mamogram they had the right street but old city and zip. They also had MY address as my mother's address - she's my relative not living with me on the forms. It's so messed up!
Hopefully this will get straightened out soon!
3 people like this
3 responses
@moondancer (7431)
• United States
18 Jun 09
I had a simular problem, the hospital did not bill the right insurance, I was working and had insurance that I was paying for through work and that as my primary insurance they knew they should bill it but they did not they billed my other insurance that I have had for many years.
My supervisor from work was with me and sh etold them all of the information on our insurance as I did not know it. So I know they were told to bill the certain insurance. They did not.
Now many people do not know this but if you have an insurance and then you go to work and get insurance there then your new insurance becomes your primary insurance and the one that you are suppose to use, then anything that insurance does not pay then your older insurance will pick up.
I called all around when I started getting bills for this hospital ER treatment. I got a bill from the over a year after I was seen for the entire bill. Nothing had been paid. I called my first insurance and asked what was going on, why my bill was not paid. They told me that the hospital billed them and since they were not responsible they did not pay it.
They also told me that it as a mistake from the billing department of the hospital not mine and for me not to pay it. Okay.
But I still called the other insurance and told them they needed to pay this, well Blue cross and blue shield will not pay a bill if it is over 6 months old. Also my other insurance Tricare did not pay it either as the bill was over a year old.
I did as Tricare told me I told the hospital that it was their mistake not mine and I was not paying it.
The bill got turned over to a collection agent and my credit was ruined.
Don't listen to anyone at a company about not paying a bill. And trust me if the insurance does not pay you are responsible no matter the reason.
I had to pay that bill.
2 people like this
@reinydawn (11642)
• United States
19 Jun 09
I've had to deal with insurance companies and medical services in the past with situations where it was their fault and they messed up. If you write enough letters to the right person - like the states attorney, better business bureau or whatever - then it gets taken care of. I'm not going to let them take advantage of me because of their mistake. It's going to take a while and a couple stamps from me, but I'm not paying for this.
@moondancer (7431)
• United States
19 Jun 09
I'll remember that if it happens again. I have already paid that huge bill. Although they did not get it all at one time. I paid monthly until it was paid in full.
1 person likes this
@kingparker (9673)
• United States
24 Dec 11
Sorry to hear that, and I hope that your insurance will pay for the past due bill that incur on your record. Now, would you want to work with this collection agency, because he might screw up your credit score since your bill is overdue. you might want to talk to your insurance when you knew the bill didn't get pay. It is the right thing to do though.
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
21 Dec 09
Make sure they submit it to your insurance. Call their billing department up and advice them about the address. You might as well update all your contact information with the hospital as it seems they have put the wrong address in their system. Your insurance should be able to cover the bill as it was only a year ago.
Do let us know what is happening. Thank you!
