Doctor's bill received 2 yrs later - what do I do?

[tevia5]

What is the name of your state? Texas
I received a letter from a collection agency a few months ago. However, I had never received this bill before. I immediately contacted the doctor concerned and he confirmed that I owed this money to him. I then contacted my insurance and they even sent proof to me that this bill was NEVER sent to them. By the time I received this collection notification, the statute of limitation had run out and I am being hounded by the debt collector.

I have tried numerous times to speak to this doctor. He has not returned my calls nor my emails. I have sent him a letter just asking for him to try and help me in any way possible.
Although I know that I should be responsible for this bill, I feel that the fact that he never submitted this to the insurance company and that I never received a bill is out of my control. How was I to know that anything was owed to this doctor if neither I nor the insurance received a bill?

I must have called this doctor at least 20 times by now. I have spoken to his nurses, his receptionist, his billing department. They have all stated that they have given him all my messages, letters and emails. What rights do I have and what can I do to stop the debt collector from taking action against me?

Thank you to whoever can give me some advise.

 

[lealea1005]

What is the name of your state? Texas
I received a letter from a collection agency a few months ago. However, I had never received this bill before. I immediately contacted the doctor concerned and he confirmed that I owed this money to him. I then contacted my insurance and they even sent proof to me that this bill was NEVER sent to them. By the time I received this collection notification, the statute of limitation had run out and I am being hounded by the debt collector.

I have tried numerous times to speak to this doctor. He has not returned my calls nor my emails. I have sent him a letter just asking for him to try and help me in any way possible.
Although I know that I should be responsible for this bill, I feel that the fact that he never submitted this to the insurance company and that I never received a bill is out of my control. How was I to know that anything was owed to this doctor if neither I nor the insurance received a bill?

I must have called this doctor at least 20 times by now. I have spoken to his nurses, his receptionist, his billing department. They have all stated that they have given him all my messages, letters and emails. What rights do I have and what can I do to stop the debt collector from taking action against me?

Thank you to whoever can give me some advise.

I know they could send you proof that the claim was sent to them, or that the claim was paid/denied, but they sent "proof" that the claim was never sent? What kind of proof?

Was the Doctor a participating provider for your insurance plan? Are you sure you NEVER received a bill for services?

 

[ecmst12]

Send the bill to your insurance company and let them deny it. If the doctor is contracted with your insurance plan, then they cannot legally bill you once your insurance denies for late filing. If the doctor is NOT contracted, you will have to pay.

 

[tevia5]

The way that I received 'proof' that it was never submitted, was that they sent me a copy of their computerized claims and payments for a period of about 4 years. It showed everything that was denied and paid. My doctor has not denied that it was never sent to them, as he was having a lot of problems with his billing department. The employee who was responsible for submitting all the claims at that time was fired a few months after my treatment, so the employee that I have been speaking to in the interim told me that they had many problems with that employee and therefore had to let her go. Apparently she was not doing a very reliable job and I was not the only one who had this same problem.

My biggest problem is that this doctor will not respond to any communication at all. He knows that she probably did not submit this to the insurance company. I do not have the money to get a lawyer, but I also do not want to make payments on a very large bill that I should not have to pay had it been submitted on time.

 

[tevia5]

In reply to the one post, I did get the doctor's office to submit it and it was denied because it was too late. He was contracted with this insurance company.
Thanks.

 

[tevia5]

One more thing

Sorry, I forgot to let you know that I NEVER received this bill. I am OCD with my bills and even if I arrange to make payments of just $10 for each bill per month, I never let them just go unattended.

 

[ecmst12]

Ok, then get a copy of the denial letter from your insurance company to the doctor's office. Send a copy to the collection agency and tell them you are not legally responsible for this bill as the doctor is contractually obligated to write off those charges.

 

[tevia5]

Thank you so much! I am going to try that.
Stephanie