Results 1 to 6 of 6
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Posts
    3

    Default Do Parents Have to Pay a Minor's Medical Bills That They Didn't Authorize

    My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: MT

    Hi, this is a very frustrating issue and I'm looking for help.

    Last year, I (mother) had my first and only panic attack following some devastating news. I was home with my 3 yr old and my husband (military) was out of state for training. My other children were on a hiking trip with some friends. We were new to the neighborhood and my neighbors did not know much about us. When I had the panic attack, I lost consciousness in my driveway and a passerby called 911. When emergency responders arrived, my 3 yr old was placed in temporary custody of the local CPS. I was hospitalized for the night for observation and while they tracked down my husband. They had me doped up and I slept through it all. When I woke the next day, I was told that my daughter was placed in emergency foster care and that my husband was on his way.

    He arrived late in the afternoon and picked up my daughter. We went home and life went on. A few weeks later, we received a bill for medical care for my daughter while I was hospitalized. When I tracked down what that was referring to, I found out that they CPS had taken her in for a "routine welfare check". Of course, nothing was found wrong, but I was irate. I called my insurance and was told that they would "backdate an authorization" as emergency services.

    We received nothing. I was also upset because I couldn't figure out how they were able to receive care for her without a parents authorization. Any time any of my children had an appointment , I had to sign as being responsible for the bill if insurance did not cover it. Of course insurance did not cover it because there was no prior authorization on file.

    Now we have received collections notice for this bill in excess if $600. I did not sign. Neither did my husband. The hospital cannot find the paperwork for her intake. How can we be held responsible when we didn't even know that she had this appointment? We did not sign for her and it appears that no one did. CPS is not helpful because we don't have a "file" with them. The insurance company is now defunct and they cannot provide any info regarding their attempted actions to resolve it as they told me they would.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: Do Parents Have to Pay a Minor's Medical Bills That They Didn't Authorize

    When the state has to take emergency custody of your children, and has to verify their health before placing them in a home, it is to be expected that they'll hand you the bill. If you have insurance that covers it, submit it to your insurance. If not, and you have the means to pay the bill, they will expect you to pay the bill.

    It is not even slightly unreasonable for the state to ask parents who have the means to cover the cost of care for their own children, rather than passing the bill on to the taxpayer. If your child had a medical condition that was not detected, and suffered serious injury while in foster care as a result, you would no doubt be apoplectic. Children have heart conditions. Children have diabetes. Children suffer from hemophilia. Children may have serious digestive disorders, communicable diseases, cancer. The state can't just shrug off all of the possibilities with, "He looks healthy," and shuffle the child off to a foster home.

    I very much doubt that a "routine welfare check" resulted in a bill for $600. If this is a bill from the hospital for whatever occurred between when you presented with the child and when protective services took temporary custody, that's something for you to work out with the hospital.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Posts
    3

    Default Re: Do Parents Have to Pay a Minor's Medical Bills That They Didn't Authorize

    Hi, thank you for your reply. It actually helped put it into perspective for me. You're absolutely right, this burden should not fall on the taxpayer. I didn't think of it in that way. I guess I had assumed that because neither my husband nor I had any involvement with the visit that the CPS would have taken care of it either with my insurance or in some other way- you're right- that some other way would fall on the taxpayer. Since we aren't incapable of paying, there's no reason for it to come from a state funded program that is already suffering. So, thank you. The bill is so high because the exam cost $279, the lab work was billed separately for another $124 and the rest was for the payment of the pathologist. That's how that hospital always bills. I get it now and I thank you.

  4. #4

    Default Re: Do Parents Have to Pay a Minor's Medical Bills That They Didn't Authorize

    And, having some experience with this myself (from the CPS side), whenever a parent "goes down" for a supposed medical reason and gets taken away leaving a child to be thrust into the care of the state (who is then responsible for the child), workers have to err on the side of caution - including supposing that whatever is wrong with YOU, might impact the child as well. For example, there's no way workers at the scene could know, for certain, exactly what caused your unconsciousness. Might have been a panic attack. Might have been carbon monoxide poisoning. Might have been menengitis. Might have been a bite in an obscure place from a rare mountain spider released by the neighbors kids. In other words, might have been somethat that could also impact the child, even if not showing signs of illness or distress herself. It really is one of those "better safe than sorry" types of situations, and one that has evolved as standard procedure - but only AFTER the system lived through days where NOT doing so ended up with severely ill or injured children NOT getting necessary care and ending up ill or worse, when they didn't need to be.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Posts
    3

    Default Re: Do Parents Have to Pay a Minor's Medical Bills That They Didn't Authorize

    I understand, I was and AM very appreciative of the level of care my daughter was provided. I couldn't have anticipated that this would happen and I'm so thankful that someone was there to help. It was traumatic enough to know that I had that reaction which left my child alone. I am paying the bill as we speak because I get it now. Thank you for your service to families who need you. Many thanks for your input.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: Do Parents Have to Pay a Minor's Medical Bills That They Didn't Authorize

    The hospital exam, unfortunately, was considerably more expensive than the exam that would likely have been conducted had the child been taken into custody elsewhere.

    Depending upon your means and the hospital's policies, the hospital may be willing to give you a discount or accept payments.

    1. Sponsored Links
       

Similar Threads

  1. Defenses: What Happens if the Named Plaintiff Didn't Authorize the Lawsuit
    By greenwoodguy in forum Civil Procedure
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 12-20-2012, 06:29 PM
  2. Disputing Debts: Billed for Medical Tests I Didn't Authorize
    By kat123 in forum Debts and Collections
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 11-25-2012, 01:01 PM
  3. Debt Collectors: As an Adult, Am I Responsible for Paying Medical Bills from when I Was a Minor
    By LiveLaughLove in forum Debts and Collections
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 12-10-2010, 09:36 AM
  4. Traffic Accidents: I Didn't Know I Owed Medical Bills
    By madjordanfan in forum Accidents and Injuries
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 05-02-2009, 06:26 PM
  5. Minors' Rights: Can Parent Make Minor Pay Rent, Medical Bills, Not Eat After Certain Hours
    By cloudy_gurl777 in forum Juvenile Law
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 09-13-2008, 06:44 AM
 
 
Sponsored Links

Legal Help, Information and Resources