Hospital attempt to collect

[wonderingrov]

Well, I got a nice little suprise in the mail this morning. One of the hospitals that was included in my bankruptcy sent me another bill. I guess the good thing here is that now they are saying medicaid covered most of this particular $5,000 bill, but they are still billing me $21 for the visit. Still, the fact that the bill was included in the bankruptcy and they are now trying to collect on the balance due (albeit small) still irritates me a little.

I've e-mailed the information to my bk lawyer for advice. On the one hand, I'm tempted to go ahead and pay the $21 so I don't have to worry about them not seeing me in the future (and, being the skeptical person that I am, I have to wonder if this is truly going to be the end of it with them). On the other hand, their action does violate the stay. I did at least want to check with my lawyer to see if any action could be taken against them for this. We'll see what she says.

[gmk]

For $21 I'd pay the bill. Not saying it will help, but if you can maintain even a pay as you go relationship with a medical provider, do it. No one will likely raise an eyebrow at a $21 fee. But as always, run it by your attorney, no surprises.

[ccsjoe]

Out of principle I'd wouldn't pay, however out of practicality I probably would. But agree with previous poster, check with your attorney.

[wonderingrov]

Yeah, I think I am probably going to pay it just to prevent hassles later on if I ever need to be admitted again. My attorney did have me fax over all the paperwork to her - so waiting to hear back her opinion on the matter. Just want to make sure I've got myself covered.

[tcreegan]

Medical bills

Hi all,

I filed with tons of medical bills. My experience is that medical billing outfits continue to send bills, but that my brother Ed's rule applies: Never attribute to malice anything adequately explained by incompetence.

When I contact them and inform them about the BK, they usually are very apologetic and confused. Reason? Many Dr's and medical outfits use an outside billing agency to handle their bills. So you named Dr X in the petition, and the BK notice went to Dr X's address, but the bills are handled by person Y in an office somewhere else.

To add more confusion, some medical outfits use a separate account # for each time you were seen. So they stopped billing for account 1 but are still billing for account 2

To add more confusion, medical outfits have separate divisions within themselves. Go to the ER and have an Xray, the hospital bills you, but the radiology dept has a separate bill...get this...included on the hospital bill. So the BK notice goes to the hospital, and they stop the billing for the hospital, but the hospital keeps billing you for the radiology dept.

Confused yet? I could go on but I think you get the picture.

Bottom line: when I get a post-petition medical bill, I send the BK notice w/ the bill in the nice handy little envelope they give you.

Remember Ed's rule: never attribute to malice anything adequately explained by incompetence.

Tom in Colo

[bigtim6656]

I went to my doctor a few weeks ago. When I signed in the nurse said I could not see him and I asked why. she said there was a note on my account for none payment with a bill more then 90 days past due. So I went to the billing dept and the woman said i owed a $7.00 bill ERRRR. I laughed and told her I would pay it on the 1st and she wiped it off. I guess the 140 bucks they got from medicare was enough. LOL

[justfiveofus]

If it's a hospital, and it's not a private hospital(which most hospitals aren't) then they can't refuse you services for unpaid bills. I learned this working at a hospital for 3+ years.

If it's a providers office, then they may refuse to see you but chances are they'd put you on a 'cash only' basis meaning they would take your copays up front and sometimes a deposit at time of service.

[bigtim6656]

True, I was at a hospital in the next town for a severe ear infection. They never asked for my medicare card or asked if I was covered. When theyg ot done treating me a guy come in and asked do you have health insurance. I told him yes and gave him my card. I asked why they waited so long to ask. he told me indiana law says that a ER has to treat you before asking. Out of the 10 times I have bee at the local ER in 3 1/2 years it is the first thing they do. he also told me the hospital had a fund to pay for bills and meds for homeless and uninsured patients. When he asked if medicare would pay for meds they gave me I said no but if you give me a prescription they would and I could fill it the next day. The doc came back in ten minutes handed me some antibiotics and ear drops and told me to take them now not tomorrow and I would not be charged

When my local ER gave me a vicodon for a hurt back I had a $50.00 bill in the mail for two pills. The bottle I get for my knee cost me 2.40 cents for a 30 day supply

If it's a hospital, and it's not a private hospital(which most hospitals aren't) then they can't refuse you services for unpaid bills. I learned this working at a hospital for 3+ years.

If it's a providers office, then they may refuse to see you but chances are they'd put you on a 'cash only' basis meaning they would take your copays up front and sometimes a deposit at time of service.

[justfiveofus]

True, I was at a hospital in the next town for a severe ear infection. They never asked for my medicare card or asked if I was covered. When theyg ot done treating me a guy come in and asked do you have health insurance. I told him yes and gave him my card. I asked why they waited so long to ask. he told me indiana law says that a ER has to treat you before asking. Out of the 10 times I have bee at the local ER in 3 1/2 years it is the first thing they do. he also told me the hospital had a fund to pay for bills and meds for homeless and uninsured patients. When he asked if medicare would pay for meds they gave me I said no but if you give me a prescription they would and I could fill it the next day. The doc came back in ten minutes handed me some antibiotics and ear drops and told me to take them now not tomorrow and I would not be charged

When my local ER gave me a vicodon for a hurt back I had a $50.00 bill in the mail for two pills. The bottle I get for my knee cost me 2.40 cents for a 30 day supply

It has to do with the grant funding they receive. The government gives some hospitals grants every year and in return they are required to treat people regardless of their ability to pay.