Doctor keeps sending me a bill

[debodun]

For an August office visit. I called the billing department and told them I was aware of the bill and there was no need to keep sending me repeat "reminders" and I would pay it on my next visit (Dec. 18). The agent said that they were sent automatically every month and nothing could stop them sending the bills until it was paid.

Well, I tried save them some postage.

 

[StarSong]

For an August office visit. I called the billing department and told them I was aware of the bill and there was no need to keep sending me repeat "reminders" and I would pay it on my next visit (Dec. 18). The agent said that they were sent automatically every month and nothing could stop them sending the bills until it was paid.

Well, I tried save them some postage.

You're lucky they aren't charging you interest on the overdue balance. If you were my patient, come December I'd require payment be made when services were rendered.

Why didn't you just mail them a check?

 

[Colleen]

Is this your copay? Do you have Medicare or an Advantage plan? Any kind of insurance? Did they submit it to them first? It's unclear what you owe and why. When was this last visit? Is it over 30/60/90 days past due? Can't you make a small payment just to keep the wolf from possibly turning you in to collections?

 

[debodun]

Why didn't you just mail them a check?

Because I counted on making the payment on my next visit.

 

[debodun]

Is this your copay? Do you have Medicare or an Advantage plan? Any kind of insurance? Did they submit it to them first? It's unclear what you owe and why. When was this last visit? Is it over 30/60/90 days past due? Can't you make a small payment just to keep the wolf from possibly turning you in to collections?

I have traditional Medicare and a supplimental plan and it looked on the bill that they had submitted it to them. This is only a $25 co-pay for an exam and "imaging".

 

[StarSong]

Let's reframe this:
Would you accept a $25 payment in December for items you sold in August, because the buyer says, "I'll be back for your December yard sale and will pay you then."?

 

[SeaBreeze]

Because I counted inn making the payment on my next visit.

Can't believe you haven't paid a bill you owe for a visit in August. They deserve to be paid on time, no reason for you to keep anyone guessing until your next visit on December 18th, it's not like you don't have the money. You should be thankful they're only sending reminders.

 

[SeaBreeze]

For an August office visit. I called the billing department and told them I was aware of the bill and there was no need to keep sending me repeat "reminders" and I would pay it on my next visit (Dec. 18). The agent said that they were sent automatically every month and nothing could stop them sending the bills until it was paid.

Well, I tried save them some postage.

If you paid your bill on time, they wouldn't need to use any postage.

 

[Happy Heart]

We have experience billing from doctors who collected from Traditional Medicare and Supplement plan F but were attempting to double charge until we called them on it. Other than a situation like that, I see no reason for delaying such a small payment.

 

[debodun]

The visit was in August, but they have to wait until they see what Medicare and the supplimental insurance will pay. That can take weeks. I didn't receive the first bill until about a month ago.

 

[Sippican]

What if the world worked that way? What of every patient decided to hold off paying their bill? Doctors costs would go even higher.
Saving them postage is not the answer. They don't care about the postage, its rolled up to an expense item that gets written off.
Put a stamp on it or better yet, pay it online.

 

[C50]

I agree with others, just pay the bill. Do you use the same approach if your next appointment is in six months? Or in a year? The doctor performed a service and deserves to be paid.

More than likely the doctors office uses a billing service who has no idea (or cares) when your next appointment is so they will keep billing you monthly until it's paid. You're lucky they don't ding you with an interest charge.

 

[Myrtle]

What if Social Security worked that way and just decided to send a check every 3 or 4 months or whenever they felt like it?

 

[Knight]

Can't believe you haven't paid a bill you owe for a visit in August. They deserve to be paid on time, no reason for you to keep anyone guessing until your next visit on December 18th, it's not like you don't have the money. You should be thankful they're only sending reminders.

removed because Deb explained why her copay isn't a copay in post #20. Seems strange to me but

 

[perplexed]

The visit was in August, but they have to wait until they see what Medicare and the supplemental insurance will pay. That can take weeks. I didn't receive the first bill until about a month ago.

I understand what your saying, the billing people have to file first and get paid,( I get bills too before my insurance pays) drives me nuts, I call the provider and say can't you wait until medicare and my supplement pays before you attempt to bill. They always say "our system" sends them out.One Dr's billing system takes months and I get bill after bill and I call each month.

I think maybe people are confused on if your insurances have paid yet???

 

[Myrtle]

I understand what your saying, the billing people have to file first and get paid,( I get bills too before my insurance pays) drives me nuts, I call the provider and say can't you wait until medicare and my supplement pays before you attempt to bill. They always say "our system" sends them out.One Dr's billing system takes months and I get bill after bill and I call each month.

I think maybe people are confused on if your insurances have paid yet???

I already know what my co-pays are and pay them the day of my appointment. i Don’t think anyone is confused.

 

[perplexed]

I already know what my co-pays are and pay them the day of my appointment. i Don’t think anyone is confused.

If your on traditional medicare you HAVE to wait till they and your supplement pays that is the way it is at least with my supplement and my supplement only pays 16% instead of 20% so no I don't know my balance and they would not let me pay if I did until they hear from insurances. I tried too many times.

 

[debodun]

I ran into this several years ago with another doctor. I received a bill for my co-pay and mailed it to him. A few weeks later I received another bill for the same thing. When I called, the billing dept said they never received my payment. I waited to make sure the check had been delivered, but in the meantime, I received another reminder. Again, on calling was informed that my payment wasn't in their records, so I mailed another check assuming it had gone astray somewhere in the postal service. When I received my next bank statement, both checks had been cashed. When I contacted them again, I demanded they refund one payment, but they only sent a partial reimbursement.

 

[Colleen]

I don't know about anyone else's insurance, but I've always had to pay my copay at the time of my visit. It says on my card how much my copay is. If you received a bill last month for $25, you should have paid it then. I don't understand why you're delaying. An EOB from your insurance explains what's been paid, what's not been paid by Medicare and the rest is what you owe. If you don't understand the EOB, call your insurance.

 

[debodun]

If your on traditional medicare you HAVE to wait till they and your supplement pays that is the way it is at least with my supplement and my supplement only pays 16% instead of 20% so no I don't know my balance and they would not let me pay if I did until they hear from insurances. I tried too many times.

Yes, what you said. I can't pay until they are sure what will be covered. Tests can vary as will the coverage for them. They know I'm good for it. I've paid their other bills on my next visit, but this is the first time I've received two reminders.

Everyone's health insurance seems to be different.

 

[Brookswood]

Please rethink your attitude towards your doctor. He/she is running a business. Having to wait 4 months to be paid for services rendered is too long. If you think differently, perhaps it‘s time to find a doctor who will grant you this extra time while he still has to pay his staff, rent, etc. on time.

Also, A word of caution. You might find your tardy payments are reported to a credit reporting agency. That could cost you money down the road in ways you don’t expect. For example, if your state allows insurance companies to use your credit report when setting rates, you may end up paying more for home and auto insurance.

 

[Murrmurr]

The visit was in August, but they have to wait until they see what Medicare and the supplimental insurance will pay. That can take weeks. I didn't receive the first bill until about a month ago.

That's right, but the copay is due at the time of service. It's sort of like a deposit on services rendered that day.

Your doctor's office cut you some slack back in Aug. I bet they won't do it again.

 

[Knight]

Yes, what you said. I can't pay until they are sure what will be covered. Tests can vary as will the coverage for them. They know I'm good for it. I've paid their other bills on my next visit, but this is the first time I've received two reminders.

Everyone's health insurance seems to be different.

Your post sounds like you might pay an additional amount if your insurance doesn't cover the total cost of your visit. Do you have a deductible that hasn't met the limit & are waiting for that? Otherwise this definition of a copay should fit . Copay is one cost, deductible is another.


Copayment
A fixed amount ($20, for example) you pay for a covered health care service after you've paid your deductible.
Let's say your health insurance plan's allowable cost for a doctor's office visit is $100. Your copayment for a doctor visit is $20.
If you've paid your deductible: You pay $20, usually at the time of the visit.
If you haven't met your deductible: You pay $100, the full allowable amount for the visit.
Copayments (sometimes called "copays") can vary for different services within the same plan, like drugs, lab tests, and visits to specialists.
Generally plans with lower monthly premiums have higher copayments. Plans with higher monthly premiums usually have lower copayments.
Copayment - Glossary | HealthCare.gov

I think in this instance we can use the gov. definition of what a copay is. Meanwhile the doctor has bills to pay so waiting for payment for 4 months is excessive.

 

[debodun]

If it was 6 months between appointments and I had received the bill soon after the visit, I would have mailed it in, but now it's only 3 weeks. I though they could wait that long. I'm sure they have other patients that are even more overdue on their bills.

BTW, Brookswood, I don't have a credit card.

 

[perplexed]

Yes, what you said. I can't pay until they are sure what will be covered. Tests can vary as will the coverage for them. They know I'm good for it. I've paid their other bills on my next visit, but this is the first time I've received two reminders.

Everyone's health insurance seems to be different.

I was told to wait till we came back in one time after both insurances paid (I called to verify they had been paid by both insurances)my EOB's come every 4 months can't stand owing bills and I still got a bill with interest, I was NOT happy, also I paid by CC in office once and they charged 4 % and I was not told that either.I tried to do right thing and still get taken for lack of better word.