dentist bill

[coralfang]

My wife and I are trying to figure out how to handle a dental bill we received, and would like some suggestions. We went back in january to the dentist, we paid our expected co-pays of approx 300. Now, we are getting another bill for uncovered amounts by the insurance for another 650. My wife would like to continue going to this office. I don't see a reason to pay this bill, we plan to file in the next 2 weeks. Do we have to include it? If we set a payment plan to stay under the 600 preferential payment llimit, wouldn't that be another debt I'd HAVE to list? any thoughts?

[JRScott]

Legally you have to list all debts, including that dentist bill.

However although they can't contact you, you could contact them and inform them that you will pay the bill.

If you pay them more than 600 dollars in the period before filing you have to list that. If you currently have money in savings/checking that you cannot exempt then paying some on this dental bill makes sense. Also as it is considered medical it most likely will not be viewed in an unfavorable light.

[Help!]

One more thought - if you're above median and concerned about cutting it close on the means test, you could pay it and include it as a medical expense (assuming you pay it by the last day of this month and file after May 1).

[lrprn]

Now, we are getting another bill for uncovered amounts by the insurance for another 650. My wife would like to continue going to this office. I don't see a reason to pay this bill, we plan to file in the next 2 weeks. Do we have to include it?

As others have said, yes, you have to list it as a debt if you file and haven't paid it.

If we set a payment plan to stay under the 600 preferential payment llimit, wouldn't that be another debt I'd HAVE to list? any thoughts?

A payment plan would still need to be listed, and the debt would still be unsecured. You'll be out of the frying pan into the fire

Realistically you have four options to deal with this debt:

1. If you pay the $650 you owe to the dentist (even in several payments) within 90 days of filing, then it will be over the $600 total allowed to non-secured creditors. Your trustee could interpret that as a preferential payment and force the dentist to give back the entire $650 you paid him/her.

2. However, if you aren't going to file within the next 90 days, you could pay part of the $650 now outside the 90 days, then pay the remaining amount to the dentist before within the 90 days you file. That way the amount you pay the dentist won't be over the $600 allowed and prevents any possibility of paying more then $600 total within 90 days of filing.

3. Let's say you don't pay the dentist at all before filing - a definite possibility. If you explain to the dentist how sorry you are this happened, many will just write off the debt and still allow you to continue seeing them (although chances are you will be asked to pay up front in full before any treatment is given).

4. What some members have done with some success is tell the dentist that you intend to pay the bill in full after your bk case is closed. Then do so as quickly as possible as soon as your case does close. (And for those thinking 'Just reaffirm the debt", unsecured debts cannot be reaffirmed - the courts won't allow it.

It's up to you (and your lawyer if you intend to file with one) to decide which of these options is going to work best for you and your wife.

[Recessionist]

Contact your dental insurance company to make sure the bill is correct before you do anything. They may have a contracted rate they are supposed to charge. When a dentist or doctor tries to charge the patient back for the difference between the contracted rate and their normal rate, this is called "balance billing" and it may be in violation of their contract with the insurance company.

[Kkole425]

My husband is a dentist getting ready to file for bankruptcy. Many of our patients have filed for bankruptcy and listed us and we have never went to court.
1st call your insurance company. Find out why the bill was not paid more if that is part of the problem.
2nd call the dentist. Tell them what you are going thru. Ask them to reduce the bill to their cost. Or pay them $5.00 a month. I would have thought someone at the office should have seen this cost coming your way and told you about it ahead of time.
Dentists DO NOT get to write off bills not paid. We have alot of outstanding bills out there and it is just a loss. We can go to collections but then we loose 1/2 right off the bat and we also loose good people who are good patients just having a hard time, just like us.. Good luck and a good doctor will continue to see patients if the just are honest.

[jktrading]

Contact your dental insurance company to make sure the bill is correct before you do anything. They may have a contracted rate they are supposed to charge. When a dentist or doctor tries to charge the patient back for the difference between the contracted rate and their normal rate, this is called "balance billing" and it may be in violation of their contract with the insurance company.

Bingo, my Mom was going to a dentist for over 30 years, and he told her if she still wanted to see him, she has to pay $XX amount over what the insurance didn't cover. There is a contracted rate through the insurance and he is in violation. She decided to cut her losses and got another dentist.