Hosp doc's billing practice-Something is not right

[mf15]

Ok have medigap Plan F-HD so I get bills.
Just had emergency gut surgery on 11/11/21 at 1 AM,in hosp 16 days,saw
a million docs. Was a sick puppy,almost did not make it.

Bils roll in I pay them as they arrive. Now on latest bill I look at the status,
most of the record #s say Final Notice, for like $7.58,or some small balance. I call the billing office
and ask what is going on,I pay the bills as soon as I get them. They say well the 120 day clock starts when service rendered,you will start to get calls from collection agency. I say you did not send the first bill for 2 months, they say well thats the way the system works.
I think to myself this is crazy,I get one call from collection agency or somehow my credit gets downgraded,will contact state attorney general office,if thats the right place,or file a medicare complaint.
I asked for a supervisor twice,can't find one. To boot I see 2 charges that have not gone through medicare payment adjustment yet,or they did not get it yet.

Something is not quite right with this blling practice,getting a bit
P O'ed. $179,000 later the fun starts. Medicare plus the supplement does work.
Oldmike

 

[PaunchyPirate]

That's the way some hospitals/companies do business, unfortunately. I had an MRI done plus a specialist doctor office visit at our local mega-hospital system. I closely monitored my insurance claims for both. The claims accurately represented my coverage and were processed very quickly. Within a week or two. I owed $269 for the MRI and $19 for a test done at the specialist office. Total due = $288. I signed into my account at the hospital and about a week after each insurance claim was processed saw the amount due to the hospital show up. I COULD choose to pay it, but I had not been sent a bill/statement yet. I had also not been notified that the charges had even posted. If I wasn't the meticulous type, I would not have ever signed into my account to know the charges had been posted.

I wanted a printed statement with all the details for my records. That detail was not yet available on the website. A couple weeks later, on March 7th, a statement was generated and I was finally notified by email of the charges/statement. Upon looking at the statement, they had the nerve to put "Past Due" on the top of the statement. I paid the bill one day after getting notified of the charges.

I'm sure it's all part of their push to actually get paid. There are many, many people who can't or don't pay their bills.

 

[OldShooter]

If anybody tries to hassle you, try the ideas here: https://www.consumerreports.org/consumerist/sample-letter-for-disputing-a-debt-collection-notice/

 

[Gumby]

Several years ago, my dentist would not send me a bill until after the claim had been submitted to the insurance company and paid (partially, you almost never get 100% coverage on dental plans). And, since the insurance company usually took a couple months to process the claim, the dentist's bill to me for the balance would include a late charge on it. It was a minimal amount, but it annoyed me.

So I wrote the dentist a letter. I told him that I loved having him as a dentist, but that waiting for claims processing was part and parcel of accepting insurance in the first instance. I suggested that, since my insurance generally covered 80%, he could send me a bill for 20% right away, I would pay it immediately and we could settle up later if necessary, but told him that I was not paying late charges for any period when he hadn't sent me a bill. It took a few more visits and bills, during which I dutifully scratched out the late charge and wrote a check for the balance, but eventually he saw the light and stopped putting late charges on the bills.

 

[Luvdogs]

About 15+ years ago my husband was in the hospital, major bills. We paid the balances, no problem.

About a year later I pulled our credit reports which were identical except he had a charge off for $40 and his score was 100 points less than mine. Tracked down the "provider" but it was literally something like ABC Company, PO Box 123 in a city 1000 miles away from us.

It did not mention, dr, radiology, etc. We called and they said since it was such a small balance, they didn't send us a bill... So they just reported it to the credit bureaus.

 

[mn54]

Several years ago, my dentist would not send me a bill until after the claim had been submitted to the insurance company and paid (partially, you almost never get 100% coverage on dental plans). And, since the insurance company usually took a couple months to process the claim, the dentist's bill to me for the balance would include a late charge on it. It was a minimal amount, but it annoyed me.

So I wrote the dentist a letter. I told him that I loved having him as a dentist, but that waiting for claims processing was part and parcel of accepting insurance in the first instance. I suggested that, since my insurance generally covered 80%, he could send me a bill for 20% right away, I would pay it immediately and we could settle up later if necessary, but told him that I was not paying late charges for any period when he hadn't sent me a bill. It took a few more visits and bills, during which I dutifully scratched out the late charge and wrote a check for the balance, but eventually he saw the light and stopped putting late charges on the bills.

my guess is it wasn't the dentist deliberately putting the late charge on the bill but rather the software the dentist was using for billing that put the late charge on it. the dentist needed to modify the software.

 

[sengsational]

I got a "past due" on the first bill the other day. It didn't phase me in the least. They're not going to sell the debt to collections for 120 days more, in my experience. And it's not going to affect your credit report unless it goes to collections in my experience.

 

[Turbo29]

Some medical offices' billing is just a mess. When I was on an high deductible/HSA plan I would never get a bill even though my share was 100%. When I called to make an appointment they would tell me that I had an unpaid balance to which I replied, "I know, you never billed me. I"ll pay it when I come in." Finally I just started requesting a copy of my bill on their online portal if it had been >30 days since my visit and I hadn't received one.

 

[aja8888]

Had a chest xray last June (6/9/2021) and was billed $10.55 for my portion of the insurance. I wrote a check and they cashed in on July 12th. I got another bill for the $10.55 on 2/12/2022. Funny that I have not received a bill since the original June bill? These people are so screwed up.

 

[Bamaman]

Doctors' bills are only as good as the person filling in the codes and submitting them to insurance companies or Medicare.

Doctors charge a fortune knowing they'll receive a pittance. Then they charge off the difference minus what the deductible or copay is supposed to be. And that's when they should send the patient the bill.

What gets me is ghost bills from some obscure doctor that we don't remember. It is most often an anesthesiologist, emergency room doctor or radiologist that doesn't participate in a program. I do know of one huge hospital chain where the anesthesiologists are hospital employees--so it's not an issue there. But the rest of the hospital chains have some specialists working as slave labor for whatever they can suck out of insurance companies and what they can collect from the patient in cash. It's bad business.

We have Medicare Plan G--the Cadillac of all plans where there is no co-pay on Plan B. And we've not had to pay but a few dollars on any procedure the last few years. My wife's knee replacement hospital bill alone was $92K, and it was covered.

And I'm so thankful for Plan G because we couldn't be turned down (after moving from Plan F.) Note: You don't have to wait until October of any year to change plans.

My wife is facing a 4 disc back fusion that's so difficult that half is done on a Tuesday and the other half of the surgery is on a Thursday. Maximum they can do, and the recovery period is 6 mos. to a year. I'll continue to be the bus driver to the doctors and PT for the near future--but that's what I'm here for.

 

[aja8888]

Full Plan F is really the Cadillac of Medicare sup plans. With full F you pay no deductibles at all. I believe F is not available anymore though. DW still has it and over the last 12 years we have not paid a cent for three major operations, her ongoing O2 supply and many, many, doctors visits and hospital stays.

 

[RetMD21]

Ok have medigap Plan F-HD so I get bills.
Just had emergency gut surgery on 11/11/21 at 1 AM,in hosp 16 days,saw
a million docs. Was a sick puppy,almost did not make it.

Bils roll in I pay them as they arrive. Now on latest bill I look at the status,
most of the record #s say Final Notice, for like $7.58,or some small balance. I call the billing office
and ask what is going on,I pay the bills as soon as I get them. They say well the 120 day clock starts when service rendered,you will start to get calls from collection agency. I say you did not send the first bill for 2 months, they say well thats the way the system works.
I think to myself this is crazy,I get one call from collection agency or somehow my credit gets downgraded,will contact state attorney general office,if thats the right place,or file a medicare complaint.
I asked for a supervisor twice,can't find one. To boot I see 2 charges that have not gone through medicare payment adjustment yet,or they did not get it yet.

Something is not quite right with this blling practice,getting a bit
P O'ed. $179,000 later the fun starts. Medicare plus the supplement does work.
Oldmike

Glad you made it. You want to be conscientious, but it doesn't pay with medical bills. Just pay them when they come and don't worry.

 

[EastWest Gal]

My local hospital system seems to print their bills on a form with Past Due” on the letterhead.

 

[sengsational]

Glad you made it. You want to be conscientious, but it doesn't pay with medical bills. Just pay them when they come and don't worry.

I ignore them when they come, and don't worry. Then, when the EOB eventually comes, I pay the next bill that comes, if it agrees with the EOB.

Finally NC got a law that says if you go to an in-network place, the contractors they use are to get compensated as if they were in-network, whether they are or not. No more of this surprise billing BS that they've gotten away with for all this time.

 

[teej1985]

Full Plan F is really the Cadillac of Medicare sup plans. With full F you pay no deductibles at all. I believe F is not available anymore though. DW still has it and over the last 12 years we have not paid a cent for three major operations, her ongoing O2 supply and many, many, doctors visits and hospital stays.

The B deductible is negligible, and the savings on premiums for G vs F tends to be more than the amount of the deductible.

 

[aja8888]

The B deductible is negligible, and the savings on premiums for G vs F tends to be more than the amount of the deductible.

I wasn't discussing the difference in premium, which may vary from seller to what state you are in, and also age of insured.

 

[Texas Proud]

I got a "past due" on the first bill the other day. It didn't phase me in the least. They're not going to sell the debt to collections for 120 days more, in my experience. And it's not going to affect your credit report unless it goes to collections in my experience.

Same with me... a lot of bills come the first time as 'past due' or even 'final notice'...


NOW, the flip side is that a hospital will NOT go out of their way to pay you back if you paid too much...


Wife had foot surgery and the hospital said our share was $XXXX.... had to pay or no operation.... many months later I get the SOB and I had paid a few $100 too much... call the hospital and am told that the lady who handles refunds just went on maternity leave... SAY WHAT If I owed YOU money I bet you would have that job filled when she was out...


I could do nothing so had to wait months to get my money back...

 

[mf15]

Seems there is a problem that needs to be corrected for medical bills and your credit rating.
Oldmike
https://www.wsj.com/articles/most-m...-credit-reports-11647604803?mod=djemalertNEWS

 

[Bamaman]

I read online yesterday that the Big 3 credit bureaus are going to remove medical bills and chargeoffs from their FICO scores in the future.

Something like 2/3 of records have affected scores negatively and there are so many mistakes and mischarges. Taking away FICO points costs customers dearly in higher interest rates on loans and even homeowners and car insurance being more expensive.

At least someone's seen the light. Now if we could get hospitals to be more transparent on Emergency Room Physicians, Radiologists, Pathologists and Hospitalists that are contract employees working for whatever they can squeeze out of insurance companies (out of plan) and unsuspecting patients. If a hospital takes a specific insurance, all doctors working at that hospital should also accept the same insurance plans.

 

[mf15]

Well due to the incompetence of their billing department they actually put a collection agency on me for $30.02. Talked to them 3 times to get a bill. Yes we are sending one out again. Never got one, and not lost in the mail. Will send in a check via certified mail. Highly P Off. Oldmike

 

[pb4uski]

Seems there is a problem that needs to be corrected for medical bills and your credit rating.
Oldmike
https://www.wsj.com/articles/most-m...-credit-reports-11647604803?mod=djemalertNEWS

I think this is changing because so much medical billing is so screwed up.

• Beginning July 1, 2022, consumer credit-reporting agencies Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion will wait 1 year before including unpaid medical debt on your credit report.
  
• Credit agencies also will stop including paid medical debt on credit reports starting July 1, 2022. Previously, even paid medical debt could appear on a report and negatively impact a credit score for up to 7 years.
  
• Starting January 1, 2023, medical debt less than $500 will not appear on credit reports. Amounts at $500 or more may still show up and impact credit scores.

 

[Car-Guy]

Recently, I was in the doctors office and they said my cost for the visit would be $200... I knew it should be zero since I had already hit my OOP max for the year, so I refused to pay. I told them they can either bill me (once they get it straight with the Ins company) or cancel my appointment. It took them about 5 minutes of phone calls and they were able to confirm that I'd owe nothing for the visit. If I had paid them I'm sure I'd eventually get my money back,,,, maybe in 6 to 8 months. Hopefully their practice in medicine is a lot better than their practice in billing.

Good to keep up with your basic plans rules and balances.

 

[swakyaby]

The lab that does my blood work similarly asked for payment upfront, by saying to me my charge for today would be $___, and am I paying by credit card, debit, or cash? I said I wanted to wait until I saw my EOB from my insurance company. The receptionist said, well ok, but in future visits they will ask for payment in full upfront. She said that they are having trouble collecting payments afterwards.

Later, I called my insurance Blue Shield and asked them about this practice of payment in full before services are rendered by the lab. She said no copayment is required for lab services and I was right to wait until the EOB (Explanation of Benefits) letter.

 

[Car-Guy]

The lab that does my blood work similarly asked for payment upfront, by saying to me my charge for today would be $___, and am I paying by credit card, debit, or cash? I said I wanted to wait until I saw my EOB from my insurance company. The receptionist said, well ok, but in future visits they will ask for payment in full upfront. She said that they are having trouble collecting payments afterwards.

Later, I called my insurance Blue Shield and asked them about this practice of payment in full before services are rendered by the lab. She said no copayment is required for lab services and I was right to wait until the EOB (Explanation of Benefits) letter.

Same here, no charge for routine lab work, even before I had paid my deductibles and/or reached my OOP max for the year.

 

[mf15]

Well finally got some action from main billing office. What it took to get a phone call back, was telling them filing a formal medicare complaint,and state attorney general office complaint. I usually don't do this kind of stuff,but I was livid. I can see how screw ups can happen. Get one bill with 20 doc's on it,pay it. Then get another bill with 7 extra from one doc 5.50 from another 3.5 from another. Pay that, then more charges come in. Oldmike