4 year old medical bill

[byekryam]

I received a $400.00 bill in the mail for the supposed balance on a MRI from 4 years ago. This is supposedly what insurance did not cover. The company is no longer in business and this is the first notice I am receiving for the amount owed. I researched online and medical bills in NJ have a statue of limitations of six years. Where do I stand legally for the liability of this bill since the company is defunct and there was no previous billings sent to me?

Thanks,
Woody

 

[Zigner]

I received a $400.00 bill in the mail for the supposed balance on a MRI from 4 years ago. This is supposedly what insurance did not cover. The company is no longer in business and this is the first notice I am receiving for the amount owed. I researched online and medical bills in NJ have a statue of limitations of six years. Where do I stand legally for the liability of this bill since the company is defunct and there was no previous billings sent to me?

Thanks,
Woody

Legally, assuming they are correct that your insurance didn't cover that portion, you owe the bill. If you are sued, you may have a defense of laches which is, in essence, the "you snooze, you lose" defense. In other words, the unreasonable delay in their attempt to collect the bill has made it difficult, if not impossible, for you to defend against the claim.

 

[commentator]

Is this a collector, or the company to which you originally owed the bill? If it is a collector, you keep saying "supposed" amount you owe, and "supposedly" your insurance has not paid. Ask them to send you a detailed copy of the billing, not just a demand letter. Make sure you have gotten that. Do you have anything from your insurance company that you might've kept? Make sure you have good documentation that you really do owe this before you pay.

 

[Zigner]

Is this a collector, or the company to which you originally owed the bill? If it is a collector, you keep saying "supposed" amount you owe, and "supposedly" your insurance has not paid. Ask them to send you a detailed copy of the billing, not just a demand letter. Make sure you have gotten that. Do you have anything from your insurance company that you might've kept? Make sure you have good documentation that you really do owe this before you pay.

Unfortunately, if this is the bill collector, there is no legal requirement that they send a detailed copy of the bill. If this is a "good" collector, they may work with the OP, but it this is just one of the bottom-feeding scum collectors, it's very unlikely.

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

On even a 4 year old bill you should be able to get copies of the "Explanation of Benefits" for that period from the carrier.

 

[byekryam]

I don't know how to verify the type "collector" they are. I'm assuming that it's a collector who purchased the debt by the defunct business in some way. I have researched my past files and do not see anything pertaining to this bill, but also at the time we had just recovered from a major flood in our home so that time period was very unsettled.

 

[Zigner]

I don't know how to verify the type "collector" they are. I'm assuming that it's a collector who purchased the debt by the defunct business in some way. I have researched my past files and do not see anything pertaining to this bill, but also at the time we had just recovered from a major flood in our home so that time period was very unsettled.

As you were advised, contact the insurer you were covered by at that time and ask for a copy of the EOB (explanation of benefits.)

 

[byekryam]

Thank you!