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Medical bill collection?

We live in Georgia, My mom have her back operation done in LA two years ago at the Back Institute, when I talked to them they said they only bill my insurance which is United healthcare, unfortunately the insurance didn't pay them due to error filling. We have never received any bill from the Back Institute, but about a week ago we received a collection letter in which we owed 80000 USD for the entired surgery. We con tact the collection agency, they are a jerk. Then we contact the back institute people, there's not really an answer either. What should we do? Can we try to resolve the bill with the Back Institute or ignore the bill? Can they take our house because my mom name is on the morgate, the house almost pay off. please give me some advise what should i do next, thank you

Public Comments

1. The first thing you should know is that the patient is reasonable for making sure his or her bills are paid. Filing insurance is a courtesy believe it or not, but however, medical entities make money by filing insurance claims so it's usually not a problem. The first thing you should do is call your insurance and see if they can just fix the error and refile the insurance. If that is the case, then that would be enough for the collection agency to back off. However, if your insurance says it is too late to file the claim, ask "Who is then responsibile?" On insurance invoices, they have something called patient responsibility. If your responsibility is zero, and you provide correct and no false, misleading information such as expired card, invalid card, wrong DOB etc. Then you can say, since the hospital failed to file the claim, my insurance says I'm not responsible and you guys have to eat the costs. However, if the insurance says your responsibile for the whole bill and it is too late, next best thing is to talk with you collection agency and hospital billing to see if something can be worked out. Try to negotiate a payment plan or at least a settlement. Soemtimes getting 60000 over a period of time is better than forcing 80000 out of no where. If all else fails, get a lawyer and try to find a loop hole in the hospital policy and also your insurance that will legally not make you liable to pay the unfiled, unpayed balance.
2. Well honestly you have to do a few different things depending on what you are worried about is going to determine what order you do them in FIRST send a dispute letter in writing request validation you wouldnt hurt to do this certified. They can NOT report this date on your mothers credit: During the first 30 days they issue the first letter and you respond with a written or verbal dispute AND they provide you with validation of the debt. Most people beleive sending a Cease and D letter solves everything with a collection agency NO is only pisses them off more and they most likely if you have something will sue you because that will be the only way that can communicate with you. Next you want to keep disputing with your issurance basically when it comes to collections its all about disputing and keep disputing from the start because after your bill has not credit reported with them for the first three months they can not place it on there as far as your insurace file a grievance and file a formal complaint. Hope it helps
3. You need to talk to the health insurance Company who you say it was was at fault their billing error. The bank or the credit bureau cannot help you. The bank has sold your account to a debt collector. You should either go to the Health institute or if that's not feasible send them a letter, registered mail, so they won't be able to say they didn't get it. If they say they paid ask for proof, a letter or a cancelled check. If they won;t cooperate and it really is their fault you can report them to the Insurance Commission. One more thing, if you have a second health policy to pay the part not covered by your first policy that could be the problem. ..... Maybe they were never billed. Also, if you do not have a second insurance policy are you absolutely sure the the amount they are asking for is not the portion not covered by your insurance ? If so it is your debt. The insurance company can answer all the questions. I'm not sure they can take your mother's home (check to be sure) but they can put a lien on it and prevent her from selling the house until the bill is paid. Unless you are a cosignor on the mortgage, it can't hurt your credit but it can be a very negative influence on your mother's credit report.