Should the physicians practice pay?

Question

In 2006 I had a physical with my family health doctor upon signing in I gave them my new insurance card. A few weeks later I get a bill stating I'm responsible for 100% I call and tell them to file my insurance which they hadn't even put into their computer system yet, long story short they did and it payed. FF to now I'm lookin at my credit report and have a collection from were they sent the pap specimen to the lab WITHOUT the insurance information. Timely filing is out the window now two years later. should I have to pay this bill? Because the office didn't do what they were supposed to. Or should they be responsible for payment to the pathologist?

Answer 1

It's a little hard to follow, but if they had your insurance information and you called to make sure but they didn't bill that's their problem.  If they sent you a bill and you ignored it I'd say it's yours.

re: new info....If they never billed you and they had the information and you went out of you way to call to make sure I'd say the problem is theirs.

I would nicely call and explain to them that it was their obligation to bill the insurance company and you'd be happy to pay whatever portion you WOULD have been responsible for if they actually billed the insurance company.  I never pay a bill that hasn't been submitted to the insurance company first.  If the Drs.' office sends me a bill I write "bill insurance first" on the bill and mail it back.  And, then I never pay it until it matches the explanation of benefits from the insurance company.

Anyway, if it's their error they should eat it.  I had a doctor send lab work to an out of network lab and they ate it.  I didn't pay a dime because that was just laziness on their part for not paying attention.  I didn't have to ask...they just did it.

and....be nice it'll get you further when you call...

Answer 2

This is a common error--the lab gets your info from the doctor at the time services are rendered. If the doctor's info is inaccurate or incomplete, this often occurs. The lab should have also been billing you directly. Unfortunately, you are responsible for this bill because you did receive the service. You could contact the collection agency and explain the situation-you may be able to negotiate a lesser rate if you pay it all at once...

Answer 3

Ultimately, legally, the bill is your responsibility.  You can talk to the office manager, see if they will pay it for you, or waive it - but if they won't, you are on the hook for this.