Medical debt legislation

[adavis425]

Here's the link to a very interesting article on proposed medical debt legislation.  It has to do with the lightning fast speed with which medical bills are forwarded to collection agencies even though they may be paid, in dispute, etc. and the effects on one's credit report.  Very interesting.

http://news.yahoo.com/medical-bills-wreck-credit-even-paid-off-183216201.html

[MattH]

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@adavis425 wrote:

Here's the link to a very interesting article on proposed medical debt legislation.  It has to do with the lightning fast speed with which medical bills are forwarded to collection agencies even though they may be paid, in dispute, etc. and the effects on one's credit report.  Very interesting.

http://news.yahoo.com/medical-bills-wreck-credit-even-paid-off-183216201.html

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Yuck.  Given the complexity of sorting out what insurance will or will not pay, it is entirely possible to have an honest misunderstanding about what is owed through no fault of the individual so damaging their credit can be grossly unfair.  Fortunately for my wife and myself, we live in a State that restricts the ability of providers to go after patients for charges that have been disallowed by the insurance company.  This law was passed a number of years ago precisely because too many patients found themselves caught in the middle of fights between providers and insurers.  Every State should have such laws.

[webhopper]

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@MattH wrote:

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@adavis425 wrote:

Here's the link to a very interesting article on proposed medical debt legislation.  It has to do with the lightning fast speed with which medical bills are forwarded to collection agencies even though they may be paid, in dispute, etc. and the effects on one's credit report.  Very interesting.

http://news.yahoo.com/medical-bills-wreck-credit-even-paid-off-183216201.html

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Yuck.  Given the complexity of sorting out what insurance will or will not pay, it is entirely possible to have an honest misunderstanding about what is owed through no fault of the individual so damaging their credit can be grossly unfair.  Fortunately for my wife and myself, we live in a State that restricts the ability of providers to go after patients for charges that have been disallowed by the insurance company.  This law was passed a number of years ago precisely because too many patients found themselves caught in the middle of fights between providers and insurers.  Every State should have such laws.

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This happened to me in 2009...  I had a misunderstanding about the amount that my insurance would pay for physical therapy... and I moved, so the bills were getting sent to my old apartment, and I never knew about the unpaid bill until I pulled my CR prior to applying for an auto loan. I paid off the bill, but it still hurts my credit. This was before I knew about PFD and the like.