Advice on medical bills

[mdw2006]

I was told it was a good idea to post this here too. I have tried to read some of whychat's HIPPA info and some I understand some I dont...sorry such a dummy here.

 

I have three medical bills that where turned over to a local CA here in town (Credit Bureau) they only do collections for our area.

 

I was making payments missed a couple and boom they sent me a summons, I have till the 25th before a judgement goes agaisnt me.

 

I know all three bills are mine. I have the org bills and the judgements also has all the info. Two of the bills I can pay in full before the 25th (the other one is the biggest one so dont know if I can do it)

 

Talked to one of the DR's today asking if I give them a money order/bankers check today for the full amount would they take it out of collections. They said they would love to but then the CA would cancel their contract with them (I would imagine they have alot of other collections) and then the CA comes after the DR for the interest.

 

Havent heard from the other doctor yet and need to go talk to the hospital tomorrow.

 

The CA also told me that I cannot say where or what doctor bill I want my payments to go too, first come first serve.

 

If the hospital will work with me then what about sending a money order/bankers check to the CA of course CMMR with a letter saying I want them applied to these bills, then I can at least let the courts know I tried to pay them.

 

What do you think?

[mdw2006]

ttt

[MIDCITY]

First of all, the CA can't dictate where the money is applied to.

 

I would ask for documentation from them before you send any more money.

 

You mention that you've sent a couple of payments already. Has insurance been applied ? Did the CA send documentation ? Is it compatible with what the Dr/hospital has.

 

I think there are some others in the chain of command that you can talk to, and not have to deal with the CA.

 

Maybe the contract needs to be terminated, between this CA and your Dr.

[mdw2006]

First of all, the CA can't dictate where the money is applied to.

 

I would ask for documentation from them before you send any more money. I have the bills from all three OC's and it gives details in the summons too, I did notice the hospital bills show different (it should be less) so I need to go talk to the hospital on that.

 

You mention that you've sent a couple of payments already. Has insurance been applied ? Did the CA send documentation ? Is it compatible with what the Dr/hospital has. Didnt have insurance at the time, yes they sent me an updated bill every month and the two bills are right (the CA's amout does match the Dr bill except the hospital it doesnt show my payemnts)

 

I think there are some others in the chain of command that you can talk to, and not have to deal with the CA.

 

Maybe the contract needs to be terminated, between this CA and your Dr. I doubt they will do that, all the Dr's around here use them, if the cancel mine they wont let them use them ever again for any patients.

[MIDCITY]

At the very least, your Dr needs to know that the CA is dictating how your money is applied.

 

I guess I understand this : Example you're paying $300 and YOU want $100 to go to the Dr visit $100 for the lab (blood work etc) and $100 rfor ambulance (ER or whatver; just an example).

 

The CA says "Sorry mdw, your $300 is going to the ambulance. You'll have to work out something else for the

Dr and the lab/blood work.

 

Do i have this kind of right ?

 

You may discreetly tell your Dr and have him or her ask other patients if they're hassled by the collection agency. If the collection agency is the only game in town and they get bad knocks from people, maybe they'll change their MO.

[mdw2006]

At the very least, your Dr needs to know that the CA is dictating how your money is applied.

 

I guess I understand this : Example you're paying $300 and YOU want $100 to go to the Dr visit $100 for the lab (blood work etc) and $100 rfor ambulance (ER or whatver; just an example).

 

The CA says "Sorry mdw, your $300 is going to the ambulance. You'll have to work out something else for the

Dr and the lab/blood work. Yes, pretty much, they say the ambulance was the first bill turned in so they will be paid off first then the second bill in will be paid off and so on. So its like first come first serve. So say its takes me over a year to pay off the ambulance bill then the other two bills turned over wont get any money for over a year but I get to pay all the fun interest charged on those.

Do i have this kind of right ?

 

You may discreetly tell your Dr and have him or her ask other patients if they're hassled by the collection agency. If the collection agency is the only game in town and they get bad knocks from people, maybe they'll change their MO.

 

The one Dr might listen to me, the other NO, I just a nice rude message from them when I called and asked if I would pay you in full by money order or bank check would you take it out of collections.

 

Their response

 

"We never do that, and if you would have paid your bill your credit wouldnt be ruined would it and dont try to send the money to us we will refuse it"

[MIDCITY]

Obviously, it's a rude employee and not the Dr himself.

 

I can't see a medical entity refusing money !!

 

Another question, is the ambulance and Dr affiliated with the hospital ? (i.e. is the Dr on staff and does the ambulance operate its base from the hospital) or are they 3 different bills coming from three different

directions that all happened to end up at the CA ?

[mdw2006]

Bill number one: From the hospital here in town

 

Bill number two: From a GP that took over for the doctor that left (saw him once didnt like him) that was the rude one

 

Bill number three: Chiroprator, they where nice but wouldnt take it out collections.

 

Where I live all the Dr's use this local CA they only do our town no where else. I guess they like the idea of it being local and they are the only CA here.

 

Say your bill is 100.00 you pay the 100 the dr only gets 60.00 bucks the CA gets the rest.

 

and they have been known to come after the Dr's if they get a payment from a patient. My boss like 5 years ago had turned over a patient to collections (and it takes alot for him to do that) as soon as the patient found out begged us to take it back they would pay, they paid we took it back the CA made my boss pay the 40 percent plus interest due to them.

[mdw2006]

I still need to hear from the hospital if I dont today I am going on my lunch hour tomorrow.

 

That is the only one I cant pay in full. The other two I can.

[Why Chat]

I was told it was a good idea to post this here too. I have tried to read some of whychat's HIPPA info and some I understand some I dont...sorry such a dummy here.

 

I have three medical bills that where turned over to a local CA here in town (Credit Bureau) they only do collections for our area.

 

I was making payments missed a couple and boom they sent me a summons, I have till the 25th before a judgement goes agaisnt me.

Have you actually been served?? Unless all 3 accounts are from one OC health care provider, the CA is NOT permitted to "aggregate" the accounts without a signed waiver from the 3 OC's AND YOU. You need to file an answer and notice of appearance and contest the judgment. Go to the "help I've been served " forum for additional assistance

I know all three bills are mine. I have the org bills and the judgements also has all the info. Two of the bills I can pay in full before the 25th (the other one is the biggest one so dont know if I can do it)

 

Talked to one of the DR's today asking if I give them a money order/bankers check today for the full amount would they take it out of collections. They said they would love to but then the CA would cancel their contract with them (I would imagine they have alot of other collections) and then the CA comes after the DR for the interest.

 

Havent heard from the other doctor yet and need to go talk to the hospital tomorrow.

 

The CA also told me that I cannot say where or what doctor bill I want my payments to go too, first come first serve.

 

If the hospital will work with me then what about sending a money order/bankers check to the CA of course CMMR with a letter saying I want them applied to these bills, then I can at least let the courts know I tried to pay them.

 

What do you think?

[mdw2006]

I was told it was a good idea to post this here too. I have tried to read some of whychat's HIPPA info and some I understand some I dont...sorry such a dummy here.

 

I have three medical bills that where turned over to a local CA here in town (Credit Bureau) they only do collections for our area.

 

I was making payments missed a couple and boom they sent me a summons, I have till the 25th before a judgement goes agaisnt me.

Have you actually been served?? Unless all 3 accounts are from one OC health care provider, the CA is NOT permitted to "aggregate" the accounts without a signed waiver from the 3 OC's AND YOU. You need to file an answer and notice of appearance and contest the judgment. Go to the "help I've been served " forum for additional assistance

I know all three bills are mine. I have the org bills and the judgements also has all the info. Two of the bills I can pay in full before the 25th (the other one is the biggest one so dont know if I can do it)

 

Talked to one of the DR's today asking if I give them a money order/bankers check today for the full amount would they take it out of collections. They said they would love to but then the CA would cancel their contract with them (I would imagine they have alot of other collections) and then the CA comes after the DR for the interest.

 

Havent heard from the other doctor yet and need to go talk to the hospital tomorrow.

 

The CA also told me that I cannot say where or what doctor bill I want my payments to go too, first come first serve.

 

If the hospital will work with me then what about sending a money order/bankers check to the CA of course CMMR with a letter saying I want them applied to these bills, then I can at least let the courts know I tried to pay them.

 

What do you think?

 

That CA has never got a signature from me, yes I have been served and its one summons for all three different Dr's. Oh and they charge me the 12 percent interest on each bill. So for example I have accured

 

25.00 interest on bill one

15.00 interest on bill two

10.00 interest on bill three

 

Evan though they are with the same CA.

 

I assume when the OC's sign the contract with the CA they probably have something in there to cover their butts on that area.

 

I did post in the "Served" section but was told to post here too.

Edited June 10, 2008 by mdw2006

[JohnP]

The one Dr might listen to me, the other NO, I just a nice rude message from them when I called and asked if I would pay you in full by money order or bank check would you take it out of collections.

 

Their response

 

"We never do that, and if you would have paid your bill your credit wouldnt be ruined would it and dont try to send the money to us we will refuse it"

 

WhyChat, I thought if one sent a Cashier's Check or Money Order (With the HIPAA letter and applicable insert) that they couldn't turn away the payment?

 

I mean, I paid two, 4 year old medical bills earlier this year.

[Why Chat]

The one Dr might listen to me, the other NO, I just a nice rude message from them when I called and asked if I would pay you in full by money order or bank check would you take it out of collections.

 

Their response

 

"We never do that, and if you would have paid your bill your credit wouldnt be ruined would it and dont try to send the money to us we will refuse it"

 

WhyChat, I thought if one sent a Cashier's Check or Money Order (With the HIPAA letter and applicable insert) that they couldn't turn away the payment?

 

I mean, I paid two, 4 year old medical bills earlier this year.

You are correct, however THIS OP has been SUED, which makes it a different ballgame.

If he had paid the OC Dr.'s BEFORE the suit was filed ( with the HIPAA letter insert "a") he wouldn't be in this mess.

[mdw2006]

The one Dr might listen to me, the other NO, I just a nice rude message from them when I called and asked if I would pay you in full by money order or bank check would you take it out of collections.

 

Their response

 

"We never do that, and if you would have paid your bill your credit wouldnt be ruined would it and dont try to send the money to us we will refuse it"

 

WhyChat, I thought if one sent a Cashier's Check or Money Order (With the HIPAA letter and applicable insert) that they couldn't turn away the payment?

 

I mean, I paid two, 4 year old medical bills earlier this year.

You are correct, however THIS OP has been SUED, which makes it a different ballgame.

If he had paid the OC Dr.'s BEFORE the suit was filed ( with the HIPAA letter insert "a") he wouldn't be in this mess.

 

"she"

 

I screwed up yes, so would it be worthwhile to pay the two at least? I will be talking to the hospital today.

 

If anything I can respond

 

"I have paid these two off"

 

and

 

"that the hospital bill and what CB shows is not the same"

[Why Chat]

You can pay anyone you wish to, and it MIGHT help you in Court, however you STILL have to answer the lawsuit.

Here is a guide for answering lawsuits where the original debt is over the legal SOL, in your case it would be 4 years, SOME of the material may help you.

http://whychat.5u.com/answer.html

You need to appear in the Court, preferably having filed an answer, which should include that you did NOT agree to any aggregation of claims.

[mdw2006]

Thanks WhyChat, I do plan on sending an answer and showing up. The 4 accounts (thought there was three) but they have two different amounts for the same hospital so its

 

1 Hospital

2 GP

3 Hopsital

4 Chiro

 

 

All are in the SOL, one isnt evan a year old.

Edited June 11, 2008 by mdw2006