What is the name of your state? GA
The following is an e-mail I sent to my doctor regarding the medical bill problem I was having.
Dear Dr. Matthew:
There's some inusrance issue with my last physical checkup. It turns out that my Aetna insurance didn't cover physical checkup last year (it's added this year). So I ended up owing the entire bill at premium rate (instead of the Aetna contract rate) for a totle of $400 ($300 from you and $100 from lab). even worse is: you've performed a complete physical check up for me in September, 2004, just one year earlier. The recommeded frequency for my age group is once every 2 years. This recommendation is also posted on the front page of your website. When I made the appointment last December, it was for papsmear. But when I walked in, you just went ahead did the complete physical. I went along with you because I thought it was covered by the insurance and it wouldn't hurt to do physical more frequently than the recommendation. Now I ended up holding the bag of $300 (I already paid $100 to the lab and they accepted the Aetna contract rate) for a completely unneccesary checkup. I wonder whether you can help me get the Aetna contract rate instead of the self-paying rate. If you can, I would pay the reduced rate in full immediately and my family will remain your loyal customers for a long time to come as we have been for the past 8 years. I would really appreciate your attention and help on this matter.
After I sent the email, I also walked in the clinic talked to the billing department and they plainly refused to make any compromise at all. I stormed out and told them that they will not get a single penny from me. But if they were willing to accept the Aeta contract rate, I would pay them in full right there. They ignored me. A few days later I received a letter from their collecting agency. The letter demanded me to pay in full within 30 days. Otherwise, they will take legal action. A couple of days later, I received a phone call from the collecting agent asking me whether I've eceived the letter, I said yes and informed him that I was in dispute with the clinic and explained the reason to him. Then he stopped pressing me and ended the call. It's been two weeks since that call and I haven't heard anything from them. As the 30 day limit getting closer, I'm getting uneasy about their silence. I think I will receive a court note. What should I do now? Am I reasonable for asking for the Aetna contract rate? Should I bite the bullet and pay the bill in full to avoid more financial damage from any legal expense?
The following is an e-mail I sent to my doctor regarding the medical bill problem I was having.
Dear Dr. Matthew:
There's some inusrance issue with my last physical checkup. It turns out that my Aetna insurance didn't cover physical checkup last year (it's added this year). So I ended up owing the entire bill at premium rate (instead of the Aetna contract rate) for a totle of $400 ($300 from you and $100 from lab). even worse is: you've performed a complete physical check up for me in September, 2004, just one year earlier. The recommeded frequency for my age group is once every 2 years. This recommendation is also posted on the front page of your website. When I made the appointment last December, it was for papsmear. But when I walked in, you just went ahead did the complete physical. I went along with you because I thought it was covered by the insurance and it wouldn't hurt to do physical more frequently than the recommendation. Now I ended up holding the bag of $300 (I already paid $100 to the lab and they accepted the Aetna contract rate) for a completely unneccesary checkup. I wonder whether you can help me get the Aetna contract rate instead of the self-paying rate. If you can, I would pay the reduced rate in full immediately and my family will remain your loyal customers for a long time to come as we have been for the past 8 years. I would really appreciate your attention and help on this matter.
After I sent the email, I also walked in the clinic talked to the billing department and they plainly refused to make any compromise at all. I stormed out and told them that they will not get a single penny from me. But if they were willing to accept the Aeta contract rate, I would pay them in full right there. They ignored me. A few days later I received a letter from their collecting agency. The letter demanded me to pay in full within 30 days. Otherwise, they will take legal action. A couple of days later, I received a phone call from the collecting agent asking me whether I've eceived the letter, I said yes and informed him that I was in dispute with the clinic and explained the reason to him. Then he stopped pressing me and ended the call. It's been two weeks since that call and I haven't heard anything from them. As the 30 day limit getting closer, I'm getting uneasy about their silence. I think I will receive a court note. What should I do now? Am I reasonable for asking for the Aetna contract rate? Should I bite the bullet and pay the bill in full to avoid more financial damage from any legal expense?
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