topic Re: Medical Question. in Recovering from Medical Debt

Medical Question.

Anonymous — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 19:59:29 GMT

Hi.

I called my MD office to pay the $280.00 for my procedure in 11/08, when i got back refusal for insurance to pay. I was told I was referred to a Collector, call them. I recently pulled my report and IC collections is on there Balance $452.00 from OC:MY DOCTOR.

I can PIF, however where did they get the extra $200 from and if I pay is it automatically deleted from my CR? DO I pay my Doctor....if not isn't that a Violation of HIPPAA.

Re: Medical Question.

fused — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 20:09:59 GMT

Are you sure there wasn't an additional amount owed for something else the doctor did? Do you know what month this was first reported on your credit reports? When did you pay the doctor?

Re: Medical Question.

Anonymous — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 20:16:47 GMT

I have not paid yet. My retainer was $280.00 that was what was submitted to insurance. The procedure was on 2/5/07. I never heard from them, I assumed insurance paid and 6 months later or more they said I oew money or going to collections. It turns out they never sent it to insurance and I sent it in, when I found out 11/08 and rec'd a rejection letter. I called to make payment to My MD, they said too late went to collections. Mind you I have been a pt. for 20+years.

12/07 placed in collections to be removed from credit file 01/14.

I can pay do I pay him the bill $280 or the $452 being reported from collections. Shouldn't they have taken my payment instead of telling me call collections....did they break Hippaa since it is medical

Re: Medical Question.

fused — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 20:42:06 GMT

So, far I don't see any HIPAA violations as you "might" still owe money. I would use the HIPAA letter process, here are the first few steps.

1.) You must Opt Out of two things: Your Credit Reports and All Creditors. The first one ensures that the CRAs will not sell your personal data to anyone else (haha…no more data mining). The second one will prevent JDBs (and CAs) from buying and selling bogus collections.

Use this link to opt-out of your credit reports

OPT-OUT CREDIT REPORTS (or call 1.888.567.8688)

Use this link to opt-out from all of your CURRENT creditors that you're in GOOD standing with. Do not attempt to opt-out with any CAs or current creditors that you're in BAD standing with (i.e. charge-offs, or currently late).

OPT-OUT ALL CREDITORS

2.) Also, be sure to update your personal information with the CRA's before attempting to reestablish your credit.

3.) Send the pre-HIPAA dispute letter to the CRA ('s) CM (no RR, this is the only letter in the HIPAA process where you will not send it CMRRR) and wait up to 35 days for the results of the their investigation(s). Be sure to handwrite this letter (and the envelop too) using personalized stationary and teal blue ink. If your med collection is deleted, you're finished. If its not deleted, please post agin in this thread for more advice. Good Luck!

PRE-HIPAA MEDICAL DISPUTE LETTER

Re: Medical Question.

Anonymous — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 17:25:26 GMT

anyways owe the $280 not the $452. after I opt out how do you update personal information before reestablishing credit. do you send the dispute letter anyway to follow the HIPPA protocol.