Doctor Visit

[amberlea434]

I understand that in your husband's case, it was many months ago...however, I don't understand how 30 days is reasonably enough time to submit, or then you don't have to pay. It seems to me the judge was trying to get Mom to be more aware that she needs to sends bills to Dad promptly, that is why the time limit...however, I just got a bill from my children's pediatrician from 3 months ago, after back and forth with insurance and such. Yes, in your husband's case, it was 6 months ago, but as another poster pointed out, does it actually say that dad has no financial responsibility if it is more than 30 days? Mom can claim she never got the bill from the doc, and then when she did, she paid it and sent it to dad. Who is to say that the bills didn't get lost in the mail? Maybe her argument will be she sent it to dad within 30 days of her receipt.

Is this worth going back to court over?

Also, isn't it better if the doctors just send his half due to him? That way, you know his half is paid? Some parents are worried that the other parent just pockets the money, or whatever...wouldn't the doc mailing to your husband directly be easier for all involved, and cut out Mom's role in his portion of the bills altogether? If he knows he pays half, who cares if it comes from Mom or the doc? Or does he just not want to pay for it and thinks he doesn't have to if the 30 days rule goes over?

I understand what everyone is saying about paying the bill. Thank ya'll for that. But, like I said in the previous post, the bigger issue is Mom putting Dad's name on documents without his consent. Any advice on how to deal with this?

 

[escape2paradise]

Most doctors offices allow you to name the responsible party(ies). I don't think mom stating dad's name is going to get her into trouble. He is, afterall, legally responsible for half the bill. The fact that she has her address listed is not good, but it seems that is an easy fix. Contact the Dr.'s office and have them correct dad's address.

As far as the 30 days goes. You are nit picking. I just got bills from DD's March visit to the emergency room. I don't think a judge would look kindly on dad for trying to skirt paying the bill.

 

[jbowman]

I understand what everyone is saying about paying the bill. Thank ya'll for that. But, like I said in the previous post, the bigger issue is Mom putting Dad's name on documents without his consent. Any advice on how to deal with this?

Well MOM didnt put the name on the actual bill. The doctor's office did that. I can imagine a conversation between mom and doctors office where she explained that by court order she is responsible for half of the bill and dad was responsible for the other half. That IS what your court order says... correct? IMO, you are being petty. Pay the bill.

 

[amberlea434]

Thank you.

 

[wnbama]

Well MOM didnt put the name on the actual bill. The doctor's office did that. I can imagine a conversation between mom and doctors office where she explained that by court order she is responsible for half of the bill and dad was responsible for the other half. That IS what your court order says... correct? IMO, you are being petty. Pay the bill.

I understand and I'm not gonna disagree with anyone, However, I just had this samething happen to me. Dr.'s office told me they could only bill one party. The party that carries the insurance and they would be the responsible one. I told them to send me a copy of the statement, therefore I could make sure it gets paid. They told me they couldn't even though we are to 1/2 the cost of medicalper child support CO. I think sometimes it's up to the Dr.'s office and how they handle things in that office..IMO.

 

[Luckiecatt]

I understand that in your husband's case, it was many months ago...however, I don't understand how 30 days is reasonably enough time to submit, or then you don't have to pay. It seems to me the judge was trying to get Mom to be more aware that she needs to sends bills to Dad promptly, that is why the time limit...however, I just got a bill from my children's pediatrician from 3 months ago, after back and forth with insurance and such. Yes, in your husband's case, it was 6 months ago, but as another poster pointed out, does it actually say that dad has no financial responsibility if it is more than 30 days? Mom can claim she never got the bill from the doc, and then when she did, she paid it and sent it to dad. Who is to say that the bills didn't get lost in the mail? Maybe her argument will be she sent it to dad within 30 days of her receipt.

Is this worth going back to court over?

Also, isn't it better if the doctors just send his half due to him? That way, you know his half is paid? Some parents are worried that the other parent just pockets the money, or whatever...wouldn't the doc mailing to your husband directly be easier for all involved, and cut out Mom's role in his portion of the bills altogether? If he knows he pays half, who cares if it comes from Mom or the doc? Or does he just not want to pay for it and thinks he doesn't have to if the 30 days rule goes over?

I think her concern here is the fact that its in dads name going to MOM's home. What if next time the mother doesnt forward it to the father at all? It will then go against father and he never even knew about it. Not legal advise here, but I think mother should either leave it in her name, and forward it to father OR put the fathers address if she wants it in the fathers name. Better yet, give the drs both names and correct addresses and they BOTH receive copies right away from now on...

 

[wileybunch]

I think her concern here is the fact that its in dads name going to MOM's home.

My children (disclaimer: I say MY CHILDREN here vs. OP's CHILDREN ) are on their dad's insurance so the way the doctor's office had things set up, Dad was the responsible party even though he lives in another state and I'm the one that takes them to the doctor and pay all the deductibles and copays and he only pays if I submit bills to him (which I usually don't). One time I overpaid and they made a check out to him and sent to my address. So they straightened things out, I think they somehow made him secondary even though its his insurance, but I know they never send him notices for bills, those come to me. So can be a little screwy, but Dad in OP's case wouldn't totally never know what's going on b/c it's his insurance and he has access to claim information all day every day with his own insurance company and so can see what the subscriber's responsibility is for any given claim and he can be in contact with doctor's office periodicically to make sure the bills are being paid and he can pay his share, if he's responsible, directly to them.

 

[Mommy Of 3]

Me too...

Regarding the name on the bill...
My ex carried the insurance for the kids, so every bill had his name on it, even though I never gave his name as the payor. The bills still came to my address, I suppose because that's the address on file at the doctor's office.

My ex husband would provide my insurance information as I was the carrier but with his address and they sent every bill to his address in my name. He accused me of using his mailing address which I not once ever did and had no reason to.

 

[proud_parent]

My ex husband would provide my insurance information as I was the carrier but with his address and they sent every bill to his address in my name. He accused me of using his mailing address which I not once ever did and had no reason to.

Just jumping on the bandwagon.

My husband's ex used to engage in doctor shopping for their daughter when she was the CP. I was listed as the responsible party with each new provider. This was because I added the child under my employer's family plan when we married; my coverage was both more complete and more affordable than the individual plan husband carried for child in Illinois, and way more affordable than adding child to husband's individual plan (provided free to him as an employee of the state of Iowa). He notified his ex that his previous insurance for their daughter had been cancelled, and immediately provided her with a new card each time my insurer issued one. All medical bills for their daughter went to his ex.

Although they shared joint legal custody, ex often did not inform him of appointments as she didn't want him to know which or what type of clinician was treating their daughter until she had moved on to another. In some cases, we did not learn about treatment for months because she would first supply creditors with an old card (bearing a defunct policy number) for my insurance, and then when billing discovered the error supply an even older card for the cancelled policy. I would eventually discover all this when the billing office would call or write me regarding some past due bill that had never been submitted under valid insurance.