3 Year Old Medical Bill

[Guest Muggle]

I have searched this topic a few times but I can't seem to find a situation exactly like mine. Maybe I'm not using the right search words or something. Anyway, I received a medical bill yesterday for services rendered on 02/21/2006!! The printout indicates the office billed the insurance, got a payment, wrote off some of the balance and there was a balance remaining of $21. Now, I know it's only $21...that's not a big deal. But shouldn't they have billed me sometime before now? I am very anal retentive about paying bills, so I know I have never seen this bill before. I can't even pull up the EOB online because it's so old. What makes me so mad is the bill came with past due stamped all over it and 90+ days late highlighted at the bottom. I mean, come on. I had no idea I owed them freaking $21. It's not showing up on any CR's, or I WOULD hit the roof. I was going to call the office Monday to straighten this out. I guess what I'm asking is is there any law that says you have to be billed for services within a certain time frame. I'm in NC, if that matters. Thanks in advance for any insight.

[Why Chat]

I have searched this topic a few times but I can't seem to find a situation exactly like mine. Maybe I'm not using the right search words or something. Anyway, I received a medical bill yesterday for services rendered on 02/21/2006!! The printout indicates the office billed the insurance, got a payment, wrote off some of the balance and there was a balance remaining of $21. Now, I know it's only $21...that's not a big deal. But shouldn't they have billed me sometime before now? I am very anal retentive about paying bills, so I know I have never seen this bill before. I can't even pull up the EOB online because it's so old. What makes me so mad is the bill came with past due stamped all over it and 90+ days late highlighted at the bottom. I mean, come on. I had no idea I owed them freaking $21. It's not showing up on any CR's, or I WOULD hit the roof. I was going to call the office Monday to straighten this out. I guess what I'm asking is is there any law that says you have to be billed for services within a certain time frame. I'm in NC, if that matters. Thanks in advance for any insight.

Who actually sent you the "bill" ?? It may be from a garbage CA and not from the OC.

[Guest Muggle]

It's from the OC. It was mailed from my town and the return address is the OC. The phone number dials up the doctor's office and the lady listed as the contact person is the insurance clerk.

[Why Chat]

It's from the OC. It was mailed from my town and the return address is the OC. The phone number dials up the doctor's office and the lady listed as the contact person is the insurance clerk.

Many small medical offices have poor billing and bookkeeping services. This is likely either an error, or your bill got lost or mixed up with someone elses.

 

Call them to make sure that it IS your account and send them the $$.

 

There is really no time limit that I know of for a Dr.'s office to bill, as there IS for a hospital and they would not ( the Dr.'s office) have any right to turn it over to a CA if you didn't pay. However that happens quite frequently, especially if the Dr. has sold his practice and an audit discovers left over accounts receivable.

[Guest Muggle]

Okay. Thanks for the help. I'll call them Monday. I don't mind paying it...it's just the way it was worded and highlighted kinda set me off a little. Thanks again.