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--- Doctor wants money after health co. takes payment back. HELP!
You doctors provided your care with the intention of getting paid, and they choose to accept your insurance as payment. Since your insurance has decided (for nonpayment of premium?) that you were not covered, the doctors are coming after you for this payment. In most juridictions, a debt of the type your speaking of will last for 2-3 years after your last contact, assuming no fraud (such as presenting an insurance card which is invalid) takes place. The doctor's will bill, and have the right to send you to collections or court for payment. Coppertrax wrote: > Ok. Here it is. 2-3 years ago I had health insurance, went to a few doctors > that were within the plan, always called my insurance company to make sure > everything was OK before each visit, and they paid the claims for the most part > with no problems. But now, 2-3 years later, they have sent letters out to the > doctors saying I wasn't covered at that point in time. The insurance company is > going to take the money out of future payments to the doctors to make up for > the money they paid them on my claims. And now the doctors are coming after me > for payment and threatening to take me to collections. Can the insurance > company really do this? Can the doctors really come after me? I was covered, > but it's my word against the insurance company. And they (The company) are > basically useless in answering questions. Is my only recourse a lawyer? Thanks.
BUT I DID PAY MY PREMIUMS. THEY (INSURANCE COMPANY) HAVE DECIDED IN ERROR THAT I WAS NOT COVERED. SO EVEN IF THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS WRONG IN TAKING THE MONEY BACK, I AM STILL LIABLE FOR THEIR SHORTCOMINGS, AND I OWE THE MONEY TO THE DOCTOR? HOW CAN THIS BE? IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN THE INSURANCE COMPANIES CAN TAKE BACK PAYMENTS ALL DAY LONG FOR NO GOOD REASON, AND THE PATIENT WOULD ALWAYS HAVE TO PAY THE BILL. rubindj@ponymail.com WRITES: << You doctors provided your care with the intention of getting paid, and they choose to accept your insurance as payment. Since your insurance has decided (for nonpayment of premium?) that you were not covered, the doctors are coming after you for this payment. In most juridictions, a debt of the type your speaking of will last for 2-3 years after your last contact, assuming no fraud (such as presenting an insurance card which is invalid) takes place. The doctor's will bill, and have the right to send you to collections or court for payment. Coppertrax wrote: > Ok. Here it is. 2-3 years ago I had health insurance, went to a few doctors > that were within the plan, always called my insurance company to make sure > everything was OK before each visit, and they paid the claims for the most part > with no problems. But now, 2-3 years later, they have sent letters out to the > doctors saying I wasn't covered at that point in time. The insurance company is > going to take the money out of future payments to the doctors to make up for > the money they paid them on my claims. And now the doctors are coming after me > for payment and threatening to take me to collections. Can the insurance > company really do this? Can the doctors really come after me? I was covered, > but it's my word against the insurance company. And they (The company) are > basically useless in answering questions. Is my only recourse a lawyer? Thanks. >>
Daniel Rubin wrote: > You doctors provided your care with the intention of getting paid, and > they choose to accept your insurance as payment. Since your insurance > has decided (for nonpayment of premium?) that you were not covered, the > doctors are coming after you for this payment. > > In most juridictions, a debt of the type your speaking of will last for > 2-3 years after your last contact, assuming no fraud (such as presenting > an insurance card which is invalid) takes place. The doctor's will > bill, and have the right to send you to collections or court for payment. > > Coppertrax wrote: > >> Ok. Here it is. 2-3 years ago I had health insurance, went to a few >> doctors >> that were within the plan, always called my insurance company to make >> sure >> everything was OK before each visit, and they paid the claims for the >> most part >> with no problems. But now, 2-3 years later, they have sent letters out >> to the >> doctors saying I wasn't covered at that point in time. The insurance >> company is >> going to take the money out of future payments to the doctors to make >> up for >> the money they paid them on my claims. And now the doctors are coming >> after me >> for payment and threatening to take me to collections. Can the insurance >> company really do this? Can the doctors really come after me? I was >> covered, >> but it's my word against the insurance company. And they (The company) >> are >> basically useless in answering questions. Is my only recourse a >> lawyer? Thanks. The insurance companies, according to your message, have canceled your claims because you had no insurance in effect (for whatever reason) at the time you saw those doctors. This is a problem between you and the insurance company -- they will be happy to be paid by either one, but one of you owes the doctor. If you had paid your insurance premium, and your policy should have been in effect, then I would challenge your insurers reclamation from the provider. If neccissary, I would take this to your state insurance board. From the provider's perspective (and a legal perspective): 1) You asked for treatment. 2) You provided the physician with a valid medical card, instead of cash, to pay for services. They agreed to this. 3) Your insurance card has been found to be invalid. 4) The physician wants the cash. If you can change #3 above, and get your insurance reinstated, then the physician won't come after you.
I paid my premiums, and DID have insurance in effect at times of service. This is a big mistake on the Insurance companies part. Now in the mean time, the doctors are coming after me and sending me to collections before I can sort this mess out. I mean why is the Insurance companies word golden here and why do they take the insurance companies word for it instead of mine? The insurance company paid, and then renegged years later. Are the doctors coming after me because it is easier? I am taking this to the Insurance board, but again, in the mean time, the doctors are taking me to collections. Doesn't seem right. >The insurance companies, according to your message, have canceled your >claims because you had no insurance in effect (for whatever reason) at >the time you saw those doctors. This is a problem between you and the >insurance company -- they will be happy to be paid by either one, but >one of you owes the doctor. > >If you had paid your insurance premium, and your policy should have been >in effect, then I would challenge your insurers reclamation from the >provider. If neccissary, I would take this to your state insurance board. > > From the provider's perspective (and a legal perspective): > >1) You asked for treatment. >2) You provided the physician with a valid medical card, instead of >cash, to pay for services. They agreed to this. >3) Your insurance card has been found to be invalid. >4) The physician wants the cash. > >If you can change #3 above, and get your insurance reinstated, then the >physician won't come after you. > Related Discussion: Diabetes and oral health (1 posts) Health Benefits Slashed (1 posts) The Greatest Vitamin in the World (1 posts) Cervical osteoarthritis (1 posts) Top Discussions From Our Archives Osteo "Bubbling" on end knuckles THIS WORKS FOR SOMEBODY - WHY NOT YOU? 5oA0C Other Discussion Categories Diabetes Symptoms Health Care Policy Health Care Providers HMO Arthritis Symptoms
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