At the end of my options, bill being sent to collections from hospital, what do?

[LordJezo]

Here is the story in a short Cliffsnotes version, but it seems long now that I have typed it all out:

My wife went to the doctor.

The doctor said to wife "While you are here lets run a test"

Test got submitted to a lab that was not in our insurance. Wife was never told anything about this, doctors office just sent it out.

A month later I gt a $265 lab bill.

Insurance says its not their problem.

Doctors office says it was supposed to be an agreement with their office and the lab that the lab would take anything that they sent them and not bill the customer. They did not know I would be billed, it was never supposed to happen. The lab was supposed to take whatever insurance companies sent them and never send out a bill. If my wife was told anything about the test needing lab work she would have told them the lab that is in our plan as she has done before when needing blood work, or the doctor would have asked which lab is under our insurance. None of that happened. Test was done, sample sent out, bill given to us weeks later.

I go to their office several times and meet with the office manager. She tells me she is working on it. I call the hospital several times and get the case escalated to a supervisor, or so they tell me. I have talked to my insurance company and as far as they are concerned it was sent to a lab not under my plan and the most they can do is apply it to my deductible.

My wife calls several times, eventually we are told by the doctors office manager (not in writing which was a mistake now that I look back on it) that they got in touch with the hospital and the bill will be wiped out because it was never supposed to be sent.

Flash forward a few weeks.

I get another bill from the hospital. The whole mess starts again. Yesterday I get another letter from the hospital saying they will be sending the bill to collections / a lawyer due to my lack of payment. The hospital has no record of the bill being wiped out. The doctors office just tells me that it should have never been sent to collections.

Tomorrow I plan on calling the doctors office and going home early to be there in person. I plan on calling the hospital again and demanding to speak with a supervisor. I am going to call the number on the collections threat letter and set up an appointment with someone there. I am going to try to find out who is in charge of the doctors office group (there are several practices under one umbrella) and try to get a meeting or a phone call with them.

But what else can I do? I can call and meet with people all I want, be told anything they want to tell me, but if I get sued over this bill what other option do I have other than to be stomped on by the man and pay the bill?

My wife is ready to just pay the bill and never go back to that doctor's office again. I want to fight it but it's been months now with no end in sight. I know that's how they play this, they wear you down until you pay. But is that the only thing I can do? Pay the $265 to be rid of it? I don't want to and I am holding out as long as possible but this is really stressing me out.

I am appealing to the internets because I have run out of other ideas.

[dino_electropolis]

I would tell doctors office that if the bill is not taken care of by them you will be finding a new doctor. It would be worth them paying the 275 to keep ur business (it is, after all a business)

as for the collections people, they usually buy these debts for pennies on the dollar. This means if they bought the debt for $100, anything they collect over that amount is a profit. You could probably offer them as low as 30% as payment in full and work up to about 40-50% of the bill as payment in full. I do this all the time for my clients.

First try thr doctors office....if no help, just offer the collections people a real low number. I would not get into much detail with debt collectors.....simply tell them u don't have the money (blood from a stone routine) and tell the most you could pay is $75, up it to $100-125, and put it to bed.

[Serpico1103]

Here is the story in a short Cliffsnotes (would hate to the read unabridged.) version, but it seems long now that I have typed it all out:

My wife went to the doctor.

But what else can I do? I can call and meet with people all I want, be told anything they want to tell me, but if I get sued over this bill what other option do I have other than to be stomped on by the man and pay the bill?

My wife is ready to just pay the bill and never go back to that doctor's office again. I want to fight it but it's been months now with no end in sight. I know that's how they play this, they wear you down until you pay. But is that the only thing I can do? Pay the $265 to be rid of it? I don't want to and I am holding out as long as possible but this is really stressing me out.

I am appealing to the internets because I have run out of other ideas.

Do you have a small plane pilot license?

[ChimneyFish]

I laugh at your bill, and raise you my $10,000 worth of debt for one ER/one night stay in hospital.

[Barnaby Jones]

Why are schmucks like Serpico making jokes about this guy's very serious problems in this forum? Can you not read?!?!?!? BAN HIM!!!

[ryno1974]

Just pay your bill and move to a civilized country where they don't charge you to stay alive.

Savages.

[Fillmore Slim]

No way they sue for $256, not happening.

[epo]

Write the check, make sure it's applied to your deductible and move on with your life.

[Death Metal Moe]

No way they sue for $256, not happening.

I don't think they have to sue to get it put on your credit report do they?

[DonInNC]

Write the check, make sure it's applied to your deductible and move on with your life.

This. I would also let the doctor know that I was taking my business elsewhere because of it.

[Serpico1103]

Why are schmucks like Serpico making jokes about this guy's very serious problems in this forum? Can you not read?!?!?!? BAN HIM!!!

I expected better of you. Wait. No, I didn't.

Jokes, jokes, jokes.

A $250 bill, a very serious problem?

We got a black guy running the country, that is a very serious problem.

[Dude!]

what disease
was your wife tested for?

[Tenbatsuzen]

what disease
was your wife tested for?

I'm guessing to be married to Jezo, the GHB in her bloodstream must be astonishingly high

[sailor]

lay off the jokes in this forum. there's plenty other places to make them.

[tanless1]

I've recently had a similar problem, went to a walk in clinic (avg cost across the nation $80). These knuckle heads had the gaul to charge me $190 for the room that I sat in for 10min. I don't blame my insurance for not paying that bullshit.....to keep it short. Id much rather pay the collection agencie instead of those fuckers.......california doesn't even pull that shit.

Pay the bill, slowly if you need to....and contact the bbb.....explain it to the collection agent and don't sweat it....you are small potatoes.

[tanless1]

Remember, the nation is in a world of hurt, bankruptcys are more common than normal.....they'l be happy to get their money slowly... and if the agent wants to play the pressure game, just ask for another agent. Some tactics are uncalled for.....save the bullshit for sombody other than you.

[Fillmore Slim]

I don't think they have to sue to get it put on your credit report do they?

No, but one negative at $256 isn't going to mean much either. I would offer them half ($128) and see what they say.

[Death Metal Moe]

you are small potatoes.

Mmmmm, delicious.

http://www.melaniecooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/small-potatoes-in-bag.jpg

[tanless1]

... bankruptcys are more common than normal.....

How did you miss this gem ?

[LordJezo]

Well I got a hold of the hospital and they are telling me that it is a form letter that is being sent out automatically and that the account is still in special review. They cant give me any more information than that. No collections yet but I don't trust them.

Just got off the phone with the managing office of the doctors office. They gave me a few names and numbers to call directly at the hospital so I am going to go try those now. Also the name of the head of VP of administration, so I'll go compose some letters to them and see what happens. Might just get thrown in the trash but it's worth a try.

[tanless1]

Good luck

[LordJezo]

I just got off the phone with the office of the vice president of administration of the hospital. Got to that office eventually after being just about hung up on by one person and then trying again a second time and going through the hospital operator.

I dont know how much higher I can go other than straight to the board of directors or whatever entity sits at the top of the hospital power structure. I am going around the doctors office at this point and straight up the chain of command.

[angrymissy]

I don't think they have to sue to get it put on your credit report do they?

Nope, they can just put it on there. I had a $2k ding on mine from when I had to go to the ER, fully 100% insured. My insurance asked for an ER report from the hospital before they would pay, the ER didn't send it after 3 requests, insurance didn't pay, hospital IMMEDIATELY sent it to collections without even contacting me. In fact, neither my insurance nor the hospital contacted me.

I noticed it on my report and found out why, at that time, it was a year later and insurance said it was too late to pay, and the hospital said tough shit, we want our money.

FULLY INSURED.

I gathered all the paperwork I had, a copy of the ER report, and sent it to the collection agency saying I was disputing it and wouldn't pay a dime... then disputed the shit out of it every month on my credit report, it finally dropped off about a year ago.

[angrymissy]

No, but one negative at $256 isn't going to mean much either. I would offer them half ($128) and see what they say.

A collection is a collection, credit score wise. It will drop a score like 75 points.

And a PAID collection is still almost as bad as an unpaid one, unless you can convince them to remove it upon payment. It will sit there listed as PAID - SETTLED FOR LESS THAN AMOUNT DUE, which still keeps your score tanked.

[Fillmore Slim]

A collection is a collection, credit score wise. It will drop a score like 75 points.

And a PAID collection is still almost as bad as an unpaid one, unless you can convince them to remove it upon payment. It will sit there listed as PAID - SETTLED FOR LESS THAN AMOUNT DUE, which still keeps your score tanked.

One negative isn't enough to worry about. Unless you plan to make a major purchase over the next couple years it's irrelevant anyway.

[Death Metal Moe]

I think the point is any negative is one too many for some people, and it should have been covered in the 1st place.

[Fillmore Slim]

I think the point is any negative is one too many for some people, and it should have been covered in the 1st place.

I'm aware. Point is if you let it goes to collections it's going to have a negative effect regardless if you pay if off or not.

If that's an issue for the OP then that person better handle it before the bill goes to collections.

[Suspect Chin]

No way they sue for $256, not happening.

Maybe not, but the collections agency will likely harass him over the phone non stop.

[spoon]

Well I got a hold of the hospital and they are telling me that it is a form letter that is being sent out automatically and that the account is still in special review. They cant give me any more information than that. No collections yet but I don't trust them.

Just got off the phone with the managing office of the doctors office. They gave me a few names and numbers to call directly at the hospital so I am going to go try those now. Also the name of the head of VP of administration, so I'll go compose some letters to them and see what happens. Might just get thrown in the trash but it's worth a try.

I'm sorry, but I'd be ALL OVER this office and it's on THEM to make it right. Tell them you've been in touch with whatever board certification they are a part of (internal medicine), the bbb and the hmo's they work with to tell them how badly you were screwed and they shouldn't be in good standing. Also, I'd do the same with the hospitals he works and the staff should be written up as well. You simply don't go to the easy route for the office and hence lay a big charge on the patient that is clearly covered in other areas or other labs. This is a con job of sorts, and the simple fact you have to do the leg work to make it right, with your credit rating on the fucking line, is nothing short of a joke. I'd start cracking some skulls at this point based on principle, not the sum.

[Death Metal Moe]

Maybe not, but the collections agency will likely harass him over the phone non stop.

I just wanted to add that collection agency people are the lowest form of life on the fucking planet.

Ignorant, lying, threatening piece of fucking low class garbage. I'm certain that you must present a failing grade in English in order to be considered for the job.

They are fucking human waste.

[epo]

I just got off the phone with the office of the vice president of administration of the hospital. Got to that office eventually after being just about hung up on by one person and then trying again a second time and going through the hospital operator.

I dont know how much higher I can go other than straight to the board of directors or whatever entity sits at the top of the hospital power structure. I am going around the doctors office at this point and straight up the chain of command.

Hospital administration doesn't care about you and their board of directors care even less.

[spoon]

I just wanted to add that collection agency people are the lowest form of life on the fucking planet.

Ignorant, lying, threatening piece of fucking low class garbage. I'm certain that you must present a failing grade in English in order to be considered for the job.

They are fucking human waste.

And I'm sure a lot of the people who never pay their own true bills jacking up prices for all of us middle class chumps are great people as well? Sorry, but they have a job to do and it's not their fault in this case in any way. Don't blame the worker bees for the system, others' mistakes and of course scums that don't pay up and knowingly overspend. I understand there are many cases in which hardships come into play, but you have to realize a whole lot of collection cases aren't even close.

[spoon]

Hospital administration doesn't care about you and their board of directors care even less.

However, they do care about very loud, very vocal people making a huge stink out of a small amount of money in their world. Still, it's really not their fault either in this case, it's all on your personal doctor and their staff. Bottom line, they didn't even look into the rundown (lied to u in the end) or got lied to and just rolled over fucking you in the end. I hate to say this, but be glad it was only some simple blood testing versus something bigger (almost any other procedure, test or ref).

[Death Metal Moe]

And I'm sure a lot of the people who never pay their own true bills jacking up prices for all of us middle class chumps are great people as well? Sorry, but they have a job to do and it's not their fault in this case in any way. Don't blame the worker bees for the system, others' mistakes and of course scums that don't pay up and knowingly overspend. I understand there are many cases in which hardships come into play, but you have to realize a whole lot of collection cases aren't even close.

I've seen what they do, they're scum. They're all "supervisors" magically when you ask for one, they threaten you with clearly illegal threats and things that when you know they law, you know they can't do. They write down whatever notes they want.

We don't even need to go into the fact that Ebonix isn't admissible in court.

I understand they deal with deadbeats but I don't care, don't treat every person the same. I'm not even talking about me, I saw what they did to a friend who had a mortgage problem. They're scum.

[LordJezo]

I'm sorry, but I'd be ALL OVER this office and it's on THEM to make it right. Tell them you've been in touch with whatever board certification they are a part of (internal medicine), the bbb and the hmo's they work with to tell them how badly you were screwed and they shouldn't be in good standing. Also, I'd do the same with the hospitals he works and the staff should be written up as well. You simply don't go to the easy route for the office and hence lay a big charge on the patient that is clearly covered in other areas or other labs. This is a con job of sorts, and the simple fact you have to do the leg work to make it right, with your credit rating on the fucking line, is nothing short of a joke. I'd start cracking some skulls at this point based on principle, not the sum.

I ended up calling the administration office after being hung up by one person at the hospital and then finding my way to an operator and then being transfered to the VPs office. Told them what was going on and how the hospital has become a black hole of information no one is getting anything out of.

Immediately after that my doctors office calls back with more information and I start getting people's names. I call the administration people back and they give me more information and tell me they just got off the phone with the doctors office and explain the whole screw up and tell me I am not responsible for the bill. I am sending the bill along with a letter today to the address on it listing everyone's name and who told me what. I'll be sending a copy as well to the people I talked to on the phone yesterday.

I thought this was over with a month ago when I was told I wouldn't be responsible for the bill but the letters kept coming so I wont believe anything until I get something in writing that this is all over with.

[jennysmurf]

I ended up calling the administration office after being hung up by one person at the hospital and then finding my way to an operator and then being transfered to the VPs office. Told them what was going on and how the hospital has become a black hole of information no one is getting anything out of.

Immediately after that my doctors office calls back with more information and I start getting people's names. I call the administration people back and they give me more information and tell me they just got off the phone with the doctors office and explain the whole screw up and tell me I am not responsible for the bill. I am sending the bill along with a letter today to the address on it listing everyone's name and who told me what. I'll be sending a copy as well to the people I talked to on the phone yesterday.

I thought this was over with a month ago when I was told I wouldn't be responsible for the bill but the letters kept coming so I wont believe anything until I get something in writing that this is all over with.

Good work! It may not be over, and it's been a huge headache for you, but maybe it will make the dr's office think twice before they do it again to someone else. Are you going to get a new doctor? I think I would.

[Death Metal Moe]

Yea, don't trust anything anyone says. Don't stop until you have an official piece of paper from them that shows a zero balance with a date on it.

Fucking scumbag assholes.

[LordJezo]

Yea, don't trust anything anyone says. Don't stop until you have an official piece of paper from them that shows a zero balance with a date on it.

Fucking scumbag assholes.

Pretty good suggestion. Finally got it all worked out and made sure to request this from the hospital. They sent me a print out of my statement showing a $0 balance for our account.

Looks like it's finally over.

[CYYYFYYY]

Tell them you won;t pay it and maybe they will charge you less. Then you decide if it is worth it. If you can;t afford it, then don;t pay for it.

[Dude!]

yeah...don't pay it
(rolling eyes)