r/HospitalBills • u/2coniglietti • 13d ago

$10.18 medical bill sent to collections unknowingly

/r/CRedit/comments/1mu69n7/1018_medical_bill_sent_to_collections_unknowingly/
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4

u/Environmental-Top-60 13d ago

Why are they sending a bill that low to collections in the first place? Lol

1

u/BookNapa 12d ago

It's a write off that's why!

-2

u/2coniglietti 13d ago

Because they are ridiculous…but I’m guessing what happens is they turn over a bunch of accounts in bulk.

1

u/Environmental-Top-60 13d ago

I did update my answer for you somewhere. Get the EOB from the insurance and place of service directly via a HIPAA request for records.

2

u/Difficult_Object4921 12d ago

I had a $23 dental bill I refused to pay. Long story but it was part of a larger bill ($800+) that I was ready to pay immediately, and that part was for something ridiculous. I thought it was done. Then later I got the $23 bill. I ignored it for a year, then the collections notice came in. “Fine. Here is my check.”

1

u/DoritosDewItRight 13d ago

Direct message your insurer and get that EOB. When did they file it? It's illegal for doctors and hospitals to bill insurance more than 11 months after the service date in Texas: https://guides.sll.texas.gov/debt-collection/medical-debt

0

u/Low-Car-6331 13d ago

Heck, their insurance company might require it sooner as well.

1

u/BostonDogMom 11d ago

They are supposed to notify you in writing when it goes to collections. You can tell the debt collector that it is not a valid debt because it went to collections within 30 days of the first bill/ before the due date. Send that first bill in as proof. Write a letter. Offer to pay the original amount and have them waive attentional fees to mark it as paid in full. If they don't discharge the debt or take your offer, fight it on your credit report as not a valid debt due to the reasons above.

-1

u/Environmental-Top-60 13d ago

Ok so I read into it a bit more. Change healthcare happened around that time. Idk if you moved. 3-4 statements is usually what they give.

I'd go back to the hospital and file hospital charity care. 240 days from the date of the first bill is the federal deadline. If that was done at a private imaging center, I would call your insurance and get them to give you access to that EOB. It should go back 2 years but sometimes it doesn't. I'd also make sure your filters are set to date of service instead of processing date.

Anyway, you can do a hipaa request from both the facility and the insurance for the remit/EOB. Was this with contrast by chance? Sometimes they'll pay for the contrast dye but deny the imaging as no PA or something and they have to appeal with medical records showing necessity

1

u/2coniglietti 12d ago

Thanks! Yes, was with contrast.