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  1. #1

    Default Medical Bill in Collections, Never Notified of Insurance Denial

    My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: CA
    I went to the hospital in August of 2008 and paid my copay and until recently never thought about it again. I have sense moved to another state over 2 years ago.

    In April of 2011 I noticed that there was a collection on my credit report but didn't have any knowledge of it. I tracked down the collection company and found out it was from the hospital I went to in 2008. The collection company had an inaccurate address for me.

    I contacted the hospital and they said they received notice in 2009 that the insurance was cancelled and they requested the money back and I had to contact the ins. company. The hospital stated they had attempted to contact me but could not provide proof. They also said they had started collection in 2011.

    I called the insurance company and they said they told the hospital in Feb 2009 but did not receive payment back until October 2010. They stated they never sent me a letter notifying me of the claim being denied.

    Now, I have this on my credit report and they are trying to collect for the bill plus interest on something I was never notified on. Do I have any recourse?

    It doesn't seem right that a hospital can take 3 years almost 4 years to decide to collect on a debt.

    Any advice is greatly appreciated.

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Medical Bill in Collections, Never Notified of Insurance Denial

    Did you move during the period at issue? It sounds like you did and that the bills were being sent to the only address the provider had. If not, how are you associated with the incorrect address that was apparently used?

    If you owe the money, you owe the money and it can be reported on your credit.

  3. #3

    Default Re: Medical Bill in Collections, Never Notified of Insurance Denial

    Yes, we moved to another state. But as I mentioned in my original post, I spoke to both the insurance company and the hospital regarding this issue.The hospital claimed to have tried to call me but couldn't provide what number they called or when they called. They stated they never sent out a bill because it was the insurance companies responsibility to notify me of the claim being rejected and there being an outstanding balance.

    The insurance company stated that they never sent me anything stating the claim was rejected and that they hospital should have sent me a bill.

    The address the collection agency has was an old address from before I moved to CA. I don't know how they got the address. They had my parents address on file and did not use that one which would have insured I received any notifications.

    I have already sought other legal assistance and because both the hospital and the insurance company stated that they did not properly try to contact me, I have began the process to have this removed from my credit report and have the interest removed.

    I do not have a problem paying a bill I owe but what I do have a problem with is the hospital sending it directly to collections and not providing me the opportunity to pay the bill. The hospital blamed it on the insurance company stating they should have contacted me; which was the case but the hospital should have done their due diligence and sent a bill or something of that nature before it was sent to collections.

    I wasn't asking how to get out of paying the bill but how to get it taken off my credit since I was never notified that there was a bill in the first place.

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