Medical Billing Forum

Payments => Patient Billing => : Abstract4 March 29, 2009, 01:43:39 AM

: Asked to Pay Bill after January 2007 Surgery
: Abstract4 March 29, 2009, 01:43:39 AM
I had surgery in a hospital in Illinois back in January 2007. At the time, I was insured, while working for a contract company. After the surgery, I received more than a thousand dollars in bills from the doctor, the hospital, and the anesthesiologist service. Yesterday, March 27, 2009, I received a phone call from an anesthesiologist office saying that they had pursued the insurance company, but failed to receive a payment from them. That they had found "my" bill when they were going through cleanup. The bill is almost a thousand dollars. I am no longer insured and I no longer work with the same company that I worked for back in April 2007. I don't have that kind of money.  I have never received anything in the mail or a phone call stating that I owed anyone more than what I had paid originally for the surgery. What are my rights for paying a bill that I honestly did not know existed?

Please help. Is there anything I can do to avoid paying and to keep any of this off my credit report?
: Re: Asked to Pay Bill after January 2007 Surgery
: Pay_My_Claims March 29, 2009, 09:24:28 PM
If they didn't file the claim timely, then its on them. If they try to bill you, ask for the insurance denial from them. If the denial was for lack of coverage, or applicable to your deductible that would then be your responsibility. If they haven't filed then kindly tell them either they file, or adjust it or you are going to court.
: Re: Asked to Pay Bill after January 2007 Surgery
: Michele March 30, 2009, 11:05:36 PM
Another thing you need to ask them is if they were participating providers with the insurance carrier at the time of the surgery.  If they were par, it would be against there contract to bill you for the services.  You may also want to call the old insurance carrier and ask them what happened with the anesthesia bill.  It is important that you know if they ever even billed your insurance, and if the claim was denied, why.

Good luck
Michele
: Re: Asked to Pay Bill after January 2007 Surgery
: Abstract4 April 01, 2009, 04:06:25 PM
Thank you both! I really appreciate the help. I will take your advice and follow through.