What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? CA
Insurance Company: BlueCross / BlueShield of Florida - paid via COBRA benefits after layoff
I find myself in a situation that a combination of red tape, my procrastination, and LOTS of back and forth created and I'm looking for some advice.
Timeline:
1. I was laid off Oct, 2008 (health ins ended Oct 31st, 2008)
2. I went to emergency room Nov 19th 2008
3. I opted in to COBRA policy Dec 21st 2008 (I had 60 days to make decision)
4. I went to pay bill but my company had changed benefit adminstrators - so I contacted my old company and via back and forth calls, etc it took until May, 2009 to pay the bill and then 2 months after that to get BlueCross / Blue Shield to accept the fact that I was covered
4a) In that time from Nov, 2008 to May 2009 the hospital (St. Joseph's in Burbank, CA) sent me various bills and it went to collections ($10K)
4b) FINALLY - when I got my payment for my insurance paid and BC/BS accepting that I was covered I contacted the collection company to submit bills to BC/BS - this was in late-June 2009
4c) Called BC/BS and wanted to know how long I could submit a claim - they told me 1 year
5) Got a letter from BC/BS saying they weren't going to pay St. Joseph's because it took them too long for them to file the claim. They said they wouldn't allow St. Joseph's to bill me either
A) I would like to know if I could be liable for these charges?
B) I feel bad for St. Joseph's since they gave me great care and I feel like it's not their fault, but obviously I don't want to pay the 10K since this was a comedy of errors and delays.
Any info would be GREATLY appreciated.
Thanks,
Al in SoCal
Insurance Company: BlueCross / BlueShield of Florida - paid via COBRA benefits after layoff
I find myself in a situation that a combination of red tape, my procrastination, and LOTS of back and forth created and I'm looking for some advice.
Timeline:
1. I was laid off Oct, 2008 (health ins ended Oct 31st, 2008)
2. I went to emergency room Nov 19th 2008
3. I opted in to COBRA policy Dec 21st 2008 (I had 60 days to make decision)
4. I went to pay bill but my company had changed benefit adminstrators - so I contacted my old company and via back and forth calls, etc it took until May, 2009 to pay the bill and then 2 months after that to get BlueCross / Blue Shield to accept the fact that I was covered
4a) In that time from Nov, 2008 to May 2009 the hospital (St. Joseph's in Burbank, CA) sent me various bills and it went to collections ($10K)
4b) FINALLY - when I got my payment for my insurance paid and BC/BS accepting that I was covered I contacted the collection company to submit bills to BC/BS - this was in late-June 2009
4c) Called BC/BS and wanted to know how long I could submit a claim - they told me 1 year
5) Got a letter from BC/BS saying they weren't going to pay St. Joseph's because it took them too long for them to file the claim. They said they wouldn't allow St. Joseph's to bill me either
A) I would like to know if I could be liable for these charges?
B) I feel bad for St. Joseph's since they gave me great care and I feel like it's not their fault, but obviously I don't want to pay the 10K since this was a comedy of errors and delays.
Any info would be GREATLY appreciated.
Thanks,
Al in SoCal
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