by Guest » Tue Jun 01, 2010 08:05 pm
Hello. I visited a cardiologist about a year ago to have a couple of tests done. At the time, I was on Medicaid and Health Plus. I was told that they accepted my insurance at the time (I don't have evidence of this). About a month ago, I got a bill from them asking me to pay out of pocket for those visits. I now have Medicaid and Medicare, and they said that even though they accept Medicare, they can't bill Medicare for my visits because I wasn't on it at the time. I told them that I simply can not pay and that I'm on disability. Is there anything I can do? Aside from being taken to small claims court, what can they possibly do? Thanks in advance...
Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 11:53 pm Post Subject:
Is there anything I can do?
Sure there is..Ben, what state are you in? Is this bill for the doctor or the hospital where the tests were done? Who is billing you exactly? How much money are we talking here Ben? Have you talked with the 'financial aide office' of this buisness?..Aside from being taken to small claims court, what can they possibly do? Thanks in advance
Well Ben, they can't kill you and they got rid of debtors prision some time back..If they were successful in getting a judgement against you, they would then have to collect on that judgement. If your wages are subject to garnishment, and your jurisdiction allows that, then a garnishment could occur..and/or whatever other means are allowed to satisfy a judgement.Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 07:54 am Post Subject:
When it comes to Medicare/Medicaid, if the provider does not have "approved" status with those programs (meaning they accept payment from the program as payment in full in addition to any required patient copay), they will receive a different level of compensation, and you are responsible for the excess charges to a point. That it took a year for the billing to get to you is a bit excessive, and you could argue that if they had presented it on a timely basis, you could have pad for it then, or made payments which would have it paid by now.
You're in a relatively good position. You have no money, and they want it. So what are they going to get? They have an incentive to collect anything they can, so make them an offer that (1) makes sense to you, (2) makes sense to them, and (3) is too good for them to refuse. Like $50 per month until the account is paid in full, but no new interest or fees prior to then.
Your credit card company won't begin to discuss this kind of arrangement, but your doctor or the hospital will. Because they get stiffed otherwise on almost all Medicare/Medicaid claims. Someone who's willing to pay their actual balance is an anomaly. So go for it!
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