Forum
|
|
Forum
|
     | Tuesday, October 24, 2000 - 05:35 am  In Jan/97, my son was treated at a hospital in IA, and incurring a bill for approx. $3000. My son lives with his mother in MO, and I in Okla. We have been divorced since 1996, and she has custody, but I am responsible for medical bills. At the time of this incident, my insurance company did not cover this, and to the best of my knowledge, was covered by medicare or medicaid....not sure which, if any. Now, in October 2000, I recieved a letter from a IA collection agency, demanding the full $3000+. I am not capable of paying this debt outright, and am wondering if this was already taken care of by Medicare/Medicaid, why attempting to collect twice? What is the most this hospital/collection agency can do to me here in Okla? Garnishment? Report me to a credit bureau? Jail? Any help, as I am searching for answers here... Thanks, Steve sosborn@webzone.net
|
| | Tuesday, October 24, 2000 - 08:46 am I suggest trying to use the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to determine if Medicare/Medicaid already paid for this and if not then why.
|
| | Tuesday, October 24, 2000 - 09:31 am I would never think of the FOIA to find out whether my kid's medical bills were paid through Medicare or Medicaid. I've never requested any info through the FOIA, it might be easier than I think. How exactly does one go about that? I would dispute the collection as PAID by Medicare/Medicaid, and I would request copies of all invoices. Why doesn't Steve know whether his son had coverage? It seems Dad *should* know. Did the hospital not bill Steve and just send it to collection? What's Mom say? What billing info did she give to the hospital? I got more questions than answers.
|
| | Tuesday, October 24, 2000 - 10:40 am Christine, At the time this occurred, my ex-wife had (and still does) custody of my son. The things he was treated for, were questionable (according to my insurance carrier) as to whether or not they would consider payment. No, the hospital never invoiced me, although I did speak with someone in accounting, and advised them of my insurance carrier. They also advised that coverage was doubtful, and I never heard from them again. Several weeks later, my ex-wife contacted me and said that she was attempting to get Medicare/Medicaid to cover this, at least partially. My ex and I do not communicate regularly because of the distance, and her unwillingness to cooperate in the least. Again, what is the most this collection agency do to me down here in Okla?
|
| | Tuesday, October 24, 2000 - 02:00 pm I'm not a lawyer and really know nothing about Oklahoma. They obviously can ruin your credit, probably can sue you and then garnish your wages and attach liens to your assets. It sounds like you don't want to question the legitimacy of the bill and in that case you can either pay it or if you got nothing to lose and you want to put up with the collection efforts, wait it out.
|
| | Tuesday, October 24, 2000 - 02:04 pm I'm pretty sure you can't go to jail for it. Have you checked you credit reports lately? I would think it would be on at least one of them already. As for garnishment of wages for a debt from another state. I have no idea about that.
|
| | Tuesday, October 24, 2000 - 02:19 pm Oh, and they can't put you in jail, there are no debtors prisons in the US.
|
| | Tuesday, October 24, 2000 - 05:13 pm Had another thought. If the obligation to pay for the kid's medical expenses is anything like child support, some States get really tough, I think they even take away driver's licenses. I don't think it applies, it's "only" a collection agency requesting payment, but just in case ...
|
| | Wednesday, October 25, 2000 - 11:13 am If you had "other" insurance for your kid, he would not have medicaid. And if he did and they found out that you have the kid insured, they would not pay the bill. Even if your ins carrier denied payment, medicaid would not pay. It's medicaid fraud if you apply already having insurance. Of course that's not your concern but your ex's since I'm sure she would have been the one to apply for medicaid. And, the collection agency doesn't care what your divorce decree says. If your ex has more assets or a better job than you, they will sue her and it will be her place to inforce her decree. But I question the reason for the insurance co's refusal to pay. If you know how to fight them, and I do, depending on the carrier, it's usually a reason that can be disputed with them and 7 times out of ten they will pay. Good Luck!
|
| | Wednesday, October 25, 2000 - 03:36 pm June, what do you do? Where are you at and what do you charge? Do you have a web site? I don't know anyone who knows how to fight insurance companies. Appreciate some more info!
|
| | Wednesday, October 25, 2000 - 05:37 pm I was a medical debt collector for over 6 years. Now I'm in real estate. Over the years I have collected a ton of insurance claims that were initially denied. I, of course, would need to know specifics in any case in order to make and assessment. Steve, if you would like more help reply and I would be happy to give you more info. Oh, by the way Christine, I don't have a website and I just came across this one today. If you want to correspond further, email me @ logan_june@hotmail.com.
|
| | Wednesday, October 25, 2000 - 07:29 pm Was hoping you'd be a professional consumer insurance negotiator or something like that. You'd sure have the right experience. If you ever get tired of real estate, consider that career move. With your background you'd do better than most attorneys.
|
| | Thursday, October 26, 2000 - 05:27 am I was an insurance specialist at a collection agency. Consumers expect that their medical providers have expertise in dealing with the insurance companies and this is completely not true. Hospitals and doctors offices will submit claims to insurance usually once, and if denied, they will immediately send them to collections. These collection agencies will pursue the consumer and use whatever scare tactics necessary. In my collection days, I helped consumers by negotiating with insurance companies first. I collected a lot more money (than my coworkers) for our clients and helped consumers. One more thing consumers don't know; It's their responsibility to force the insurance company to pay, not the medical provider.
|
Credit Forum CreditCourt Forum 2003 Credit Suit CreditFactors Order Credit Reports |