Outstanding Doctor Bill 2.5 years later??

[pixxels]

State: New Jersey.

I just called my OB/GYN office to make an appointment and to my suprise they asked me if I was still a patient. I was put on hold and when the receptionist came back on, she told me that I had an outstanding bill for $609.00 from when my son was born. That was 2.5 years ago!!! And I never received any sort of bill or anything! The only documentation I received was from my health insurance stating that all bills were paid in full (that I received about 1 year after my son' birth). She confirmed that they have my correct address on file while we were on the phone. She then told me that their billing agency would be in contact with me. What gets me is that I have been to my OB/GYN's office a few times since my son's birth and no one ever mentioned anything to me!! I can't believe this.

Can they really hit me with a bill now after all this time and after they failed to notify me for so long?? Also, has this already affected my credit without me knowing? Also, my insurance company (which now is no longer my insurance company) was supposed to, and to my knowledge, did pay for both mother and baby care in full. I there anything I can do to help this situation? I don't know whether to call my old health insurance for documentation or to have the doctor's office give certain proof of outstanding bills... what would the procedure be here.

I am a stay-at-home mother who can not afford $609! (I would have been able to afford to pay the bill when my son was born if they had sent it to me!) Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Ladynred]

Can they really hit me with a bill now after all this time and after they failed to notify me for so long??

Yes, they can. The bill is still unpaid and there are no time limits for billing you - stupid though it may be.

Also, has this already affected my credit without me knowing?

Possibly. Have they sent it to collections ?? DO they report to the bureaus ? If they haven't sent it to an outside collection agency, then it may not be on your reports, but it would behoove you to pull your reports to find out. Everyone should pull their reports at LEAST once a year with all the ID theft and inaccuracies that are prevalent ! Oh.. and they are NOT obligated to 'warn' you that any negatives are being reported to the bureaus.

Also, my insurance company (which now is no longer my insurance company) was supposed to, and to my knowledge, did pay for both mother and baby care in full. I there anything I can do to help this situation?

I suggest you dig up the EOB's (explanation of benefits form) you got from the insurance company. If you don't have them any more, then call them and ask for them. If this is something that should have been submitted to the insurance company and the Dr's office didn't do it or timely file, then you may not have to pay it at all.

I would also also for a complete itemization of the charges the dr's office says are due.

Bottom line - medical services are due in full at the time that those services are rendered. I doubt you'll find a dr's office or facility that doesn't have that notice displayed prominently. YOU are ultimately responsible for all charges, the dr's office or facility files the claims with your insurance AS A COURTESY.. and usually for expediency because they get paid directly.