This has happened to me TWICE now!! I am so PO'd!! I think I have all my ducks in a row and then they send me $1500 in new bills TWO YEARS LATER!!!!
This is the FIRST time they have sent them.. but they have done this to me twice now.
I hope that makes sense!!!
Anyone have this happen or is it only my hospital that does stupid things!!??
Posted by kidsgotlyme (Member # 23691) on :
I had this happen to me one time, and I called them up and told them that I shouldn't have to pay it because it had been too long.
The lady reluctantly agreed with me. She almost acted embarrassed and told me that I was right.
An insurance company will not pay anything after one year. We shouldn't be forced to either. I don't think you will have to pay it.
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
no-not from hosp but from doc...
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Well, then I'm going to stomp my feet and tell them no way!! I tried that last time and they said I still had to pay.
I know someone who works in that dept ( I think she does. ) .. and I'm going to call her tonight after I call another person there who helps with my account.
Posted by 2roads (Member # 4409) on :
I seem to recall a situation like that years ago. But, this might help distract you:
I had a D&C last year for a full molar pregnancy (no baby, just placenta). It was out of state and therefore out of network. The hospital said they would accept what ever the insurance would pay and write the rest off. Should've gotten it in writing.
First off, they lied.
Second off, it was an outpatient procedure in the am. I left by noon. There were minimal genetic tests on the placenta done totalling about $1500.00. For only the hospital charge (not the Gynecologist or the Anestesiologist) it was $21,000. The insurance paid $9,000.00 and they billed me for $12,000.
Can you believe it! I didn't even spend the night. My insurance was beyond generous.
Needless to say, they sent me a batch plot bill like some wide rear sat on a keyboard and farted it out in my direction. Nothing legal. I refused to pay it. The hospital (Capital Health Systems) lined up their lawyers.
I was gonna go to court but not pay that ridiculous sum.
Feelin' a little better TuTu?
Needless to say, the Gyn was a family friend and he intervened on a variety of levels. Saved us all from going to court.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
That really S****!!! So you didn't have to pay, right?
I'm off to make a phone call.
Posted by 2roads (Member # 4409) on :
The doctor discussed charges and how patients that spent several days in the hospital with complications might pay up to $9,000. He had never heard of a $21,000 abortion. He also expressed frustration that his patients we're being overcharged and therefore negatively affecting his practice at that hospital.
My insurance paid, and we pay for that. But no, the remainder of the money, the 12,000, I was released from. But, the stress of a bill like that (totally unexpected amount) was quite draining. I mean, who are these people?????
Make that call.
Posted by farraday (Member # 21494) on :
Try SEVEN years. We got a bill for $14,000 from the hospital....I was in for 6 weeks and insurance paid every cent of the hundreds of thousands it cost. They even came in to my room smiling and telling me I had great insurance that would pay everything.
My husband had to sue them, work with an ombudsman, and he eventually won, including legal costs. I should have gotten payment for all the time it cost him!!!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I called and they told me that the computer accidentally generated some of the bills. Upon examining them more closely, I saw that some were from 2006 and 2007!! Three were from 2008.
Ridiculous!
Some of them are ALREADY on my payment plan, so supposedly those are OK. Others they claim I still owe. I seriously doubt it. Now I have to go back and cross-reference everything.
farraday.. that is HORRIBLE!
Posted by 2roads (Member # 4409) on :
Oh, I am not that organized to successfully cross reference something from five years ago.
It's a lesson to me though. Almost smells like an intentional glitch to cop a return. I have gotten so paranoid and cynical in my older age, maybe.
Sorry you have to deal with all this Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I only have to look up the ones from 2008, thank goodness. I really think I need to go down there.
Posted by sometimesdilly (Member # 9982) on :
Toots- find a copy of what you signed at the time of the medical visit/procedure. See below...
Q- Statute of limitation on hospital sending bill?
A. " There is a statute of limitations on how long a hospital can take to bill a patient for services rendered.
The length of time depends on the state, and ranges from two to six years from the date that the hospital admission agreement or outpatient treatment agreement was signed by the patient.
ADDING--
Example- staute of limitations in California:
"for Written agreements: 4 years, calculated from the date of breach.
Oral agreements: 2 years.
I think medical bills fall under written agreements.
Thanks, dilly. This is what I found. Please interpret as far as my hospital goes...??
+++++
Missouri Statutes of Limitation
Written agreement that contemplates the payment of money or property: 10 Years, (Mo.Rev. Stat. �5l6.ll 0). NOTE: Under certain circumstances, the contractual statute of limitations may be reduced to five years.
Open accounts: 5 years, (Mo. Rev. Stat. �5l6.l20).
Sale of goods under the UCC: 4 years. NOTE: The statute begins to run from the date when the breach occurred for contracts and from the time of the last item in the account on the debtor's side for actions on accounts.
+++++
10 years??? You've got to be kidding!!
or is it 5 yrs since I have an account with them?
Posted by Sophie1234 (Member # 26412) on :
I am pretty sure that if the hospital never bills your insurance, and then after that year is up they try to get you to pay, you are not obligated. (does that make sense?) Don't know if you had insurance or not...
![[group hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)