HIPAA Proccess on already paid medical bill?

[tylerrr-27]

I have read for the last few hours about hte HIPAA process here, but most seem to have not paid the OC yet, so here I am askign what my next step is!

 

Long story short, I had a unpaid medical bill I was unaware of that I found out about when I bought a house. The bill was only for $75 and I called the Doctors office and paid in full. I then saw a change on my Credit Report and it was marked by the Collection Agency as paid in full.

 

Stupidly I did not negotiate for deletion as I was unaware at the time.

 

Now that it is already paid in full, I have been reading about ways to get it removed and came accross the HIPAA process.

 

What I have done already-

Paid in full to OC

Emailed CA asking to remove from Credit Report as oppsoed to being marked paid in full

Filed a complaint with the BBB (Panic'd and wasnt sure what else to do at the time)

 

What should I begin to do to intiate HIPAA proccess?

 

Thanks so much in advance.

 

 

[tylerrr-27]

Forgot to mention, I have done the 5 year opt out.

[tylerrr-27]

Man, I forgot one more thing and I cannot edit previous post.

 

I did file a dispute with Equifax, they were the first I saw the CA on. Once again I did this right away before opting out because I was in panic LOL.

[tylerrr-27]

Also I paid the OC on 7/25/2012. The date it was originally reported by CA was May/2012

Then the CA marked it as PAID the day after I paid the OC.

 

Also I may be able to cancel BBB complaint if it will help me since I just filed it 2 days ago.

 

Waiting for Why Chat's response to everything here

Edited July 28, 2012 by tylerrr-27

[Why Chat]

I have read for the last few hours about hte HIPAA process here, but most seem to have not paid the OC yet, so here I am askign what my next step is!

 

Long story short, I had a unpaid medical bill I was unaware of that I found out about when I bought a house. The bill was only for $75 and I called the Doctors office and paid in full. I then saw a change on my Credit Report and it was marked by the Collection Agency as paid in full.

 

Stupidly I did not negotiate for deletion as I was unaware at the time.

 

Now that it is already paid in full, I have been reading about ways to get it removed and came accross the HIPAA process.

 

What I have done already-

Paid in full to OC

Emailed CA asking to remove from Credit Report as oppsoed to being marked paid in full

Filed a complaint with the BBB (Panic'd and wasnt sure what else to do at the time)

 

What should I begin to do to intiate HIPAA proccess?

 

Thanks so much in advance.

Well, you can TRY to do some things.

 

First OPT OUT

http://www.whychat.5u.com/OPTOUTINST.HTML

 

Next get your REAL credit reports,To order, visit annualcreditreport.com,or call 1-877-322-8228

 

Next send this to each CRA ( Credit Reporting Agency) where the account ( or ANY medical account) is appearing.

http://www.whychat.5u.com/hipaadisp.html

 

Come back to this post with your results

[tylerrr-27]

I have read for the last few hours about hte HIPAA process here, but most seem to have not paid the OC yet, so here I am askign what my next step is!

 

Long story short, I had a unpaid medical bill I was unaware of that I found out about when I bought a house. The bill was only for $75 and I called the Doctors office and paid in full. I then saw a change on my Credit Report and it was marked by the Collection Agency as paid in full.

 

Stupidly I did not negotiate for deletion as I was unaware at the time.

 

Now that it is already paid in full, I have been reading about ways to get it removed and came accross the HIPAA process.

 

What I have done already-

Paid in full to OC

Emailed CA asking to remove from Credit Report as oppsoed to being marked paid in full

Filed a complaint with the BBB (Panic'd and wasnt sure what else to do at the time)

 

What should I begin to do to intiate HIPAA proccess?

 

Thanks so much in advance.

Well, you can TRY to do some things.

 

First OPT OUT

http://www.whychat.5...OPTOUTINST.HTML

 

Next get your REAL credit reports,To order, visit annualcreditreport.com,or call 1-877-322-8228

 

Next send this to each CRA ( Credit Reporting Agency) where the account ( or ANY medical account) is appearing.

http://www.whychat.5.../hipaadisp.html

 

Come back to this post with your results

 

Okay, will get the letters sent Monday.

Should I try and cancel the complaint I opened with the BBB?

 

Also I cant seem to find the report number of the Credit Reports I got from Annualcredit

Edited July 28, 2012 by tylerrr-27

[Why Chat]

I have read for the last few hours about hte HIPAA process here, but most seem to have not paid the OC yet, so here I am askign what my next step is!

 

Long story short, I had a unpaid medical bill I was unaware of that I found out about when I bought a house. The bill was only for $75 and I called the Doctors office and paid in full. I then saw a change on my Credit Report and it was marked by the Collection Agency as paid in full.

 

Stupidly I did not negotiate for deletion as I was unaware at the time.

 

Now that it is already paid in full, I have been reading about ways to get it removed and came accross the HIPAA process.

 

What I have done already-

Paid in full to OC

Emailed CA asking to remove from Credit Report as oppsoed to being marked paid in full

Filed a complaint with the BBB (Panic'd and wasnt sure what else to do at the time)

 

What should I begin to do to intiate HIPAA proccess?

 

Thanks so much in advance.

Well, you can TRY to do some things.

 

First OPT OUT

http://www.whychat.5...OPTOUTINST.HTML

 

Next get your REAL credit reports,To order, visit annualcreditreport.com,or call 1-877-322-8228

 

Next send this to each CRA ( Credit Reporting Agency) where the account ( or ANY medical account) is appearing.

http://www.whychat.5.../hipaadisp.html

 

Come back to this post with your results

 

Okay, will get the letters sent Monday.

Should I try and cancel the complaint I opened with the BBB? Don't bother, the BBB is useless anyway

 

Also I cant seem to find the report number of the Credit Reports I got from Annualcredit ?? I hope you meant annualcreditreport.com, and not some 3rd party "free credit report" service. The report # is usually on the first page

Edited July 28, 2012 by Why Chat

[tylerrr-27]

I have read for the last few hours about hte HIPAA process here, but most seem to have not paid the OC yet, so here I am askign what my next step is!

 

Long story short, I had a unpaid medical bill I was unaware of that I found out about when I bought a house. The bill was only for $75 and I called the Doctors office and paid in full. I then saw a change on my Credit Report and it was marked by the Collection Agency as paid in full.

 

Stupidly I did not negotiate for deletion as I was unaware at the time.

 

Now that it is already paid in full, I have been reading about ways to get it removed and came accross the HIPAA process.

 

What I have done already-

Paid in full to OC

Emailed CA asking to remove from Credit Report as oppsoed to being marked paid in full

Filed a complaint with the BBB (Panic'd and wasnt sure what else to do at the time)

 

What should I begin to do to intiate HIPAA proccess?

 

Thanks so much in advance.

Well, you can TRY to do some things.

 

First OPT OUT

http://www.whychat.5...OPTOUTINST.HTML

 

Next get your REAL credit reports,To order, visit annualcreditreport.com,or call 1-877-322-8228

 

Next send this to each CRA ( Credit Reporting Agency) where the account ( or ANY medical account) is appearing.

http://www.whychat.5.../hipaadisp.html

 

Come back to this post with your results

 

Okay, will get the letters sent Monday.

Should I try and cancel the complaint I opened with the BBB? Don't bother, the BBB is useless anyway

 

Also I cant seem to find the report number of the Credit Reports I got from Annualcredit ?? I hope you meant annualcreditreport.com, and not some 3rd party "free credit report" service. The report # is usually on the first page

 

The only one I cant find is my Equifax. I have the other 2.

I have searched the whole document and find no mention on the report number. I got the report from anuualcreditreport.com.

It was my free report if that helps.

Edited July 28, 2012 by tylerrr-27

[Why Chat]

I have read for the last few hours about hte HIPAA process here, but most seem to have not paid the OC yet, so here I am askign what my next step is!

 

Long story short, I had a unpaid medical bill I was unaware of that I found out about when I bought a house. The bill was only for $75 and I called the Doctors office and paid in full. I then saw a change on my Credit Report and it was marked by the Collection Agency as paid in full.

 

Stupidly I did not negotiate for deletion as I was unaware at the time.

 

Now that it is already paid in full, I have been reading about ways to get it removed and came accross the HIPAA process.

 

What I have done already-

Paid in full to OC

Emailed CA asking to remove from Credit Report as oppsoed to being marked paid in full

Filed a complaint with the BBB (Panic'd and wasnt sure what else to do at the time)

 

What should I begin to do to intiate HIPAA proccess?

 

Thanks so much in advance.

Well, you can TRY to do some things.

 

First OPT OUT

http://www.whychat.5...OPTOUTINST.HTML

 

Next get your REAL credit reports,To order, visit annualcreditreport.com,or call 1-877-322-8228

 

Next send this to each CRA ( Credit Reporting Agency) where the account ( or ANY medical account) is appearing.

http://www.whychat.5.../hipaadisp.html

 

Come back to this post with your results

 

Okay, will get the letters sent Monday.

Should I try and cancel the complaint I opened with the BBB? Don't bother, the BBB is useless anyway

 

Also I cant seem to find the report number of the Credit Reports I got from Annualcredit ?? I hope you meant annualcreditreport.com, and not some 3rd party "free credit report" service. The report # is usually on the first page

 

I have searched the whole document and find no mention on the report number. I got the report from anuualcreditreport.com.

It was my free report if that helps.

The first page where it says

" Experian Credit Report prepared for

YOUR NAME

should have the report # on the next line.

 

Your Trans Union Report on the first page in the upper right hand corner should have a "file Number"

 

Your Equifax Report on the first page should have a "confirmation # " on the upper left below your name.

[tylerrr-27]

I have read for the last few hours about hte HIPAA process here, but most seem to have not paid the OC yet, so here I am askign what my next step is!

 

Long story short, I had a unpaid medical bill I was unaware of that I found out about when I bought a house. The bill was only for $75 and I called the Doctors office and paid in full. I then saw a change on my Credit Report and it was marked by the Collection Agency as paid in full.

 

Stupidly I did not negotiate for deletion as I was unaware at the time.

 

Now that it is already paid in full, I have been reading about ways to get it removed and came accross the HIPAA process.

 

What I have done already-

Paid in full to OC

Emailed CA asking to remove from Credit Report as oppsoed to being marked paid in full

Filed a complaint with the BBB (Panic'd and wasnt sure what else to do at the time)

 

What should I begin to do to intiate HIPAA proccess?

 

Thanks so much in advance.

Well, you can TRY to do some things.

 

First OPT OUT

http://www.whychat.5...OPTOUTINST.HTML

 

Next get your REAL credit reports,To order, visit annualcreditreport.com,or call 1-877-322-8228

 

Next send this to each CRA ( Credit Reporting Agency) where the account ( or ANY medical account) is appearing.

http://www.whychat.5.../hipaadisp.html

 

Come back to this post with your results

 

Okay, will get the letters sent Monday.

Should I try and cancel the complaint I opened with the BBB? Don't bother, the BBB is useless anyway

 

Also I cant seem to find the report number of the Credit Reports I got from Annualcredit ?? I hope you meant annualcreditreport.com, and not some 3rd party "free credit report" service. The report # is usually on the first page

 

I have searched the whole document and find no mention on the report number. I got the report from anuualcreditreport.com.

It was my free report if that helps.

The first page where it says

" Experian Credit Report prepared for

YOUR NAME

should have the report # on the next line.

 

Your Trans Union Report on the first page in the upper right hand corner should have a "file Number"

 

Your Equifax Report on the first page should have a "confirmation # " on the upper left below your name.

 

I have the other 2 report numbers just not Equifax. This is what the top of my report shows

 

 

 

Ok looks like I found this on the Equifax website-

 

Some consumers may not receive a confirmation number. This indicates that your credit file is affiliate-owned by CSC Credit Services. CSC Credit Services owned credit files are included in the Equifax database. In instances where CSC Credit Services maintains ownership of your credit file, you should initiate any request to dispute information directly with the affiliate by contactin

 

So Now what Why Chat? I do I send Equifax the letter with no credit report number?

 

Thanks..

Edited July 29, 2012 by breeze

[Why Chat]

Ok looks like I found this on the Equifax website-

 

Some consumers may not receive a confirmation number. This indicates that your credit file is affiliate-owned by CSC Credit Services. CSC Credit Services owned credit files are included in the Equifax database. In instances where CSC Credit Services maintains ownership of your credit file, you should initiate any request to dispute information directly with the affiliate by contactin

 

So Now what Why Chat? I do I send Equifax the letter with no credit report number?

 

Thanks..

Send the dispute to CSC Credit Services and refer to the date of the report.

 

I also asked the mods to delete your copy of the report as it had your name on it.

[tylerrr-27]

Ok looks like I found this on the Equifax website-

 

Some consumers may not receive a confirmation number. This indicates that your credit file is affiliate-owned by CSC Credit Services. CSC Credit Services owned credit files are included in the Equifax database. In instances where CSC Credit Services maintains ownership of your credit file, you should initiate any request to dispute information directly with the affiliate by contactin

 

So Now what Why Chat? I do I send Equifax the letter with no credit report number?

 

Thanks..

Send the dispute to CSC Credit Services and refer to the date of the report.

 

I also asked the mods to delete your copy of the report as it had your name on it.

 

 

Alright thank you.

 

One more question. Once again thanks for the help..

 

In your initial post you said I could "TRY" these things. I was curious to what I have done cause this proccess to maybe not work?

 

Thanks!!

[Why Chat]

Alright thank you.

 

One more question. Once again thanks for the help..

 

In your initial post you said I could "TRY" these things. I was curious to what I have done cause this proccess to maybe not work?

 

Thanks!!

The bill was only for $75 and I called the Doctors office and paid in full. I then saw a change on my Credit Report and it was marked by the Collection Agency as paid in full.

 

You paid the Dr. probably by credit card WITHOUT the HIPAA letter insert "a". They turned the payment over to the CA who properly reported it as a "paid" collection.

[tylerrr-27]

Alright thank you.

 

One more question. Once again thanks for the help..

 

In your initial post you said I could "TRY" these things. I was curious to what I have done cause this proccess to maybe not work?

 

Thanks!!

The bill was only for $75 and I called the Doctors office and paid in full. I then saw a change on my Credit Report and it was marked by the Collection Agency as paid in full.

 

You paid the Dr. probably by credit card WITHOUT the HIPAA letter insert "a". They turned the payment over to the CA who properly reported it as a "paid" collection.

 

Not sure if this maters or not, but when I paid the Doctor they gave me a reciept of payment from them to my email. Then she said she called the CA and told them it was paid.

[Why Chat]

Alright thank you.

 

One more question. Once again thanks for the help..

 

In your initial post you said I could "TRY" these things. I was curious to what I have done cause this proccess to maybe not work?

 

Thanks!!

The bill was only for $75 and I called the Doctors office and paid in full. I then saw a change on my Credit Report and it was marked by the Collection Agency as paid in full.

 

You paid the Dr. probably by credit card WITHOUT the HIPAA letter insert "a". They turned the payment over to the CA who properly reported it as a "paid" collection.

 

Not sure if this maters or not, but when I paid the Doctor they gave me a reciept of payment from them to my email. Then she said she called the CA and told them it was paid.

EXACTLY!! If you had paid with the HIPAA letter insert "a" the Dr. would have been precluded from communicating the payment data to the CA "officially". If it had then been reported as a "paid" collection you could have used the follow up disputes to get it deleted. It is the same as any other type of enforcement of any law or statute, there has to be NOTICE given.

[tylerrr-27]

Alright I sent out the initial dispute to each CRA at the beggining of the week.

 

Already got a response from Equifax/CSC and they verified that it belonged to me.

[tylerrr-27]

Do i wait for response letter from all 3 before I send anything else out?

 

What's my next step WhyChat?

 

Thanks

[Why Chat]

Do i wait for response letter from all 3 before I send anything else out?

 

What's my next step WhyChat?

 

Thanks

If the other CRAs also verify and it is a fairly recent account, it is not worth the bother to get the "paid collection" off your reports as it will not affect your credit score. If it is more than 2 years old, then you should try to get it off as it is still a derogatory account, but 2 or more years more recent, which reduces your score.

 

If all 3 verify, and the account is more than 2 years old, send the reporting CA this:

http://www.whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html#PAID

 

and then follow up with this

http://www.whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html#DISPUTE

[tylerrr-27]

Do i wait for response letter from all 3 before I send anything else out?

 

What's my next step WhyChat?

 

Thanks

If the other CRAs also verify and it is a fairly recent account, it is not worth the bother to get the "paid collection" off your reports as it will not affect your credit score. If it is more than 2 years old, then you should try to get it off as it is still a derogatory account, but 2 or more years more recent, which reduces your score. ???

 

If all 3 verify, and the account is more than 2 years old, send the reporting CA this:

http://www.whychat.5...hipaa.html#PAID

 

and then follow up with this

http://www.whychat.5...aa.html#DISPUTE

 

I'm kind of confused...

 

It is less than 2 years olf, from May 2012. When it was put on my credit report in May, it dropped my score 40 points. Then when I seen it and paid the OC, it dropped my score another 40 points, I would assume because it refreshed it.

 

I would think removing the collection all together off my report would shoot my score up, but I deff could be wrong.

 

Could you explain your last sentance though?

[tylerrr-27]

bump..

[Why Chat]

Do i wait for response letter from all 3 before I send anything else out?

 

What's my next step WhyChat?

 

Thanks

If the other CRAs also verify and it is a fairly recent account, it is not worth the bother to get the "paid collection" off your reports as it will not affect your credit score. If it is more than 2 years old, then you should try to get it off as it is still a derogatory account, but 2 or more years more recent, which reduces your score. ???

 

If all 3 verify, and the account is more than 2 years old, send the reporting CA this:

http://www.whychat.5...hipaa.html#PAID

 

and then follow up with this

http://www.whychat.5...aa.html#DISPUTE

 

I'm kind of confused...

 

It is less than 2 years olf, from May 2012. When it was put on my credit report in May, it dropped my score 40 points. Then when I seen it and paid the OC, it dropped my score another 40 points, I would assume because it refreshed it.

 

I would think removing the collection all together off my report would shoot my score up, but I deff could be wrong.

 

Could you explain your last sentance though?

When you paid it, it was changed to a "paid" collection on your reports. Because the date of the "update" was much more recent it sank your score another 40 points. If you can get it deleted entirely, you should regain 80 points.

[tylerrr-27]

If the other CRAs also verify and it is a fairly recent account, it is not worth the bother to get the "paid collection" off your reports as it will not affect your credit score. If it is more than 2 years old, then you should try to get it off as it is still a derogatory account, but 2 or more years more recent, which reduces your score.

If all 3 verify, and the account is more than 2 years old, send the reporting CA this:

http://www.whychat.5...hipaa.html#PAID

 

and then follow up with this

http://www.whychat.5...aa.html#DISPUTE

 

When you paid it, it was changed to a "paid" collection on your reports. Because the date of the "update" was much more recent it sank your score another 40 points. If you can get it deleted entirely, you should regain 80 points.

 

 

 

????

 

Anyways,

 

So since the account is under 2 years, do I not follow the next steps if they all three verify?

 

Isn't it still a breach of HIPAA?

[Why Chat]

If the other CRAs also verify and it is a fairly recent account, it is not worth the bother to get the "paid collection" off your reports as it will not affect your credit score. If it is more than 2 years old, then you should try to get it off as it is still a derogatory account, but 2 or more years more recent, which reduces your score.

If all 3 verify, and the account is more than 2 years old, send the reporting CA this:

http://www.whychat.5...hipaa.html#PAID

 

and then follow up with this

http://www.whychat.5...aa.html#DISPUTE

 

When you paid it, it was changed to a "paid" collection on your reports. Because the date of the "update" was much more recent it sank your score another 40 points. If you can get it deleted entirely, you should regain 80 points.

 

 

 

????

 

Anyways,

 

So since the account is under 2 years, do I not follow the next steps if they all three verify?

 

Isn't it still a breach of HIPAA?

If you had paid it with the HIPAA letter insert "a" which FORBADE the notification to the CA which allowed them to report it as a paid collection you would have been able to get it deleted more easily. As it is you will have to try to dispute it off by sending the medical DV for accounts reporting as paid, and then send the CRAs the follow up dispute letter.

 

If it had been an older account, the "hit" to your score when it was updated to paid would have been worse. It must have been close to 2 years old.

 

There is no breach of HIPAA on the part of either the OC or the CA as regards the initial change to a "paid" account as you did not prevent it by forbidding the notification. There MIGHT be a violation of HIPAA by the CA if they continue to report it after you have disputed it and sent them the medical DV, but the OC is in the clear.

[Golfer2000]

You are in a very similar situation to me. I used to be a credit guru and fell out of it. I just checked mine by chance and I just found a medical collection that I never knew about (probably a worker's comp related injury). Good thing for me is I havent paid them anything as I wasnt aware of the bill, let alone a collection. Needless to say "why chat" you are a huge help and I'll follow this thread's advice.

[tylerrr-27]

Well some good news for me. Email from the Better Business Bureau today from my recent complaint to the CA.. The CA's response to my complaint is that they wrote all 3 CRA's to remove the paid collection. They sent me a letter in the mail as well that they said I can send to the CRA as well to speed up the deletion.

 

 

SAWEEEEET!!!