Q: Received a 4,000.00 bill from doctors office 3 years after surgery. Never got a call, statement during the three years.
The only reason I knew I had the outstandng balance was because I tried to make appointment and was told I could not coe in until i took care of the bill. They sent me statement. But it was three years old, no late fees, has not been turned over to collections or never have they called me for collection.
A: Sounds like they have been very passive in collecting this outstanding bill. It is typical for many service providers to decline to perform new services when they have not been paid for past services. Nobody likes to work for free. If you can pay this outstanding bill, you should. If you are unable to pay this outstanding bill, you could theoretically file bankruptcy to discharge it. Since they have not been aggressively pursuing collections, you could logically choose to just ignore it.
A: It would be helpful for you to have an EOB or denial (if applicable) from the insurance carrier if the surgery was processed by insurance. The basis of a denial or partial denial could be relevant in determining a patient's obligations in paying the bill (medical necessity, failure to provide info, etc.) Good luck
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