Today's insurance question

**Jack** · 03-27-2005, 10:08 AM

Recently I got a bill from LAST JULY from the psychologist I was refered to for that part of my evaluation....

Item: THEY insisted I go...

Item: the psch. conducted a pleasant-enuff 1 hr interview...and asked if I wanted to take a written test....

Item: I thought it was part of the required process...

Item: They NOW (8 months later) bill me for $180 for the test...

Item: I actually scratched out the 'accept responsibility' part of the original sign-in sheet....

Item: I have never seen the results of the test (took me about 1/2 hour to finish), nor it even referred to by ANYONE....

NOW WHAT? Pay the bill ? I have already complained to the local ins rep, who resubmitted it to "the committee" who denied paying for it....

Besides the annoyance and tardiness of billing (8 months???) this simply is not setting well with my notion of professionalism...

Ideas/comments solicited.....

**Alexandra** · 03-27-2005, 10:45 AM

First, is this the first you're hearing about the disposition of this procedure? Did you ever hear from your insurer as to whether the claim was paid? If it was submitted and denied you should have been informed and done something about it then. If it was submitted and paid then this just becomes part of that original claim and should be considered as such.

I'll agree that it's not very professional to bill you for this test if it's being done separately from the whole evaluation--that really does seem unreasonable. But if it was part of the process and your insurer covered the rest of it they should be willing to reconsider the entire claim and adjust it accordingly.

I don't know what the terms of your coverage are, but if this was all an in-network procedure you shouldn't be responsible for any new fees if the whole claim had been settled last year. If it's out-of-network, well, there's no protection for additional fees. But they can't bill you 8 months later for a visit/testing/evaluation whatever if you thought it was all settled months before. I'd definitely argue that, if that's what's happening.

It really is our own responsibility to see these bills through. Whether you are ultimately resposible for paying it or not depends on various things, but you are the one who sought out service and therefore the responsible party. Scratching that off a piece of paper doesn't change the fact.

jqpublic · 03-27-2005, 10:59 AM

Wow! that really stink's you better pay it if you value your credit rating!

My friend was taken to collection for $10.00 doller's over cell phone dispute.

Good luck God bless!

princess_n_thep · 03-27-2005, 12:11 PM

All 3 major credit dispute centers will erase any charges under $50 at the person's request.

As for the $180, have you talked with the psychologist office for any kind of resolution? Maybe they can reduce the cost for the misunderstanding? Or maybe they will just erase it all together?

HarleyNana · 03-27-2005, 12:28 PM

Maybe I missed it in your post, but did you ask your doctors insurance person to get involved? I kept getting bills for reading the xrays and anesth, finally sent a letter to doctors office and she got it straight.

Good Luck.