Insurance co. issues check to contract holder (father), for services rendered to his son, ?

Question

can father cash check and keep the $ and not pay the son's service provider?, which was the insurance company's satisfaction to the son's claim.

Answer 1

If a check needs to be issued to the patient, its pretty standard to issue it to the name of the cardholder.  (Generally happens if a patient sees a non-network/non-contracted provider.)

The father can cash the check, as it is in his name.  If he doesn't pay the provider for the services, the provider can go after him for payment.  Unfortunately, the provider can also go after the mom or son for payment too.  (Unless there was paperwork signed with the doctor's office stating otherwise.)

My doctor's office indicates in their paperwork that the person who brings the child for an appointment is the one responsible for payment - if another parent is responsible, it is between the 2 parents to exchange payment.  This is becoming more common, since many providers in the past have been left holding the bag while the 2 parents pointed fingers at each other.

So, your provider may go after the father for payment.  Or, they may go after the mother (assuming she took the son to the appointment) and leave it up to her to collect from the dad.

To help keep this problem from happening in the future, make sure to always use participating/network providers - the insurance company will almost always send the check to a contracted provider.

Answer 2

The insurance contract is between the policy holder and them. If the father is the named insured - then his name has to be on the check.

If the son is a minor-- check can't be made out to him.

How old is the son?

What type of claim is it?

Not enough info for me to tell you any more.

Answer 3

Yes, he can.  By contract law, the policyholder is the person who has to be paid - not you, not the son.  Maybe the provider.

The provider is going to come after either parent, for payment for services rendered.  And it's due.

Answer 4

Yes and then the service provider can sue the father for non-payment.