Question
I had a surgery, which was covered by my insurance company. In May 2009, however, a collection agency called me that there was an anesthesia bill which I had to pay right away. I called insurance company, which said they would cover it if received any bills from the anesthesia provider, and that never happened. I gave my insurance info to the collection agency, with no results, and they refused to connect me with the service provider (I never received any bills from the latter, due to change of address, I guess). Can I do anything about it, it has ruined my credit, and I know I am not responsible for the bill ($850)?
Answer
Hi Olga--
You must contact the anesthesia provider and request that they bill your insurance company. If the collection agency will not give you the information, send a dispute letter to the agency stating that you never received any bill for this service and ask that they contact the provider and ask they submit your bill to you as well as your insurance company. Ask that they pend further collections of this amount until you have the information you requested.
You must try your best to get this bill paid by your carrier. As long as it gets paid and even if the collection agency does report this to the credit bureau, the fact that is gets paid really won't hurt you to much. If they do report and you do get it paid, you also can insist that the provider/collection agency takes back the negative reporting. Some will...worth asking.
Good Luck!
Tricia
