Medical Collection Question Please Help!

[Anonymous]

Hello Friends,

A local Chiropractor here was advertising a first visit free when you donate $20.00 to a local charity! I decided to make an appointment being that I was in severe pain and wanted to find out what was going on with my shoulder.

I went to his office, donated the $20.00. He really didn't do much except massage me, and use a little electrode device handed me Biofreeze samples, and sent me home with my next appointment scheduled. I came home and realized that he never asked for my insurance information.

Coming onto my next appointment, my shoulder started to feel better and I decided to go ahead and cancel the upcoming appointment.

Shortly after this, I received a bill from this office for $150.00!!! I sent the claim to my insurance company, come to find out they only paid $75.00 and the rest I was responsible for. I was outraged, and could not understand why I was being charged when this was a FREE first visit!?

I recieved two bills from this chirpractor in the mail in recent months for the amount of $75.00...then last week a collection bill for this chiropractor in the amount of $91.00. There was no warning, no attempted phone calls, and I only recieved two bills a week apart

A few days ago, MYFICO sent an alert that there was a change on my credit report. I checked and APEX Management placed this on my COLLECTION section, and dropped my score 33 points.

I have been trying so hard to get my credit score up high enough in order to buy our first home. This is devastating. I called the collection company and just simply asked if I could do a "pay and delete" they said no. So I typed up a letter and will be sending a "pay and delete" request by mail.

I wanted to know, is there some sort of limitation in the state of PA on how long a dr must wait to submit a bill to collections? I am also curious to find out just why it went from $75.00 to $91.00 and I wanted to know how much the amount must be in order for it to be sent to collections as well.

I really need some good advice, and any help I can recieve I am truly grateful for!

[DI]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Hello Friends,

A local Chiropractor here was advertising a first visit free when you donate $20.00 to a local charity! I decided to make an appointment being that I was in severe pain and wanted to find out what was going on with my shoulder.

I went to his office, donated the $20.00. He really didn't do much except massage me, and use a little electrode device handed me Biofreeze samples, and sent me home with my next appointment scheduled. I came home and realized that he never asked for my insurance information.

Coming onto my next appointment, my shoulder started to feel better and I decided to go ahead and cancel the upcoming appointment.

Shortly after this, I received a bill from this office for $150.00!!! I sent the claim to my insurance company, come to find out they only paid $75.00 and the rest I was responsible for. I was outraged, and could not understand why I was being charged when this was a FREE first visit!?

I recieved two bills from this chirpractor in the mail in recent months for the amount of $75.00...then last week a collection bill for this chiropractor in the amount of $91.00. There was no warning, no attempted phone calls, and I only recieved two bills a week apart

A few days ago, MYFICO sent an alert that there was a change on my credit report. I checked and APEX Management placed this on my COLLECTION section, and dropped my score 33 points.

I have been trying so hard to get my credit score up high enough in order to buy our first home. This is devastating. I called the collection company and just simply asked if I could do a "pay and delete" they said no. So I typed up a letter and will be sending a "pay and delete" request by mail.

I wanted to know, is there some sort of limitation in the state of PA on how long a dr must wait to submit a bill to collections? I am also curious to find out just why it went from $75.00 to $91.00 and I wanted to know how much the amount must be in order for it to be sent to collections as well.

I really need some good advice, and any help I can recieve I am truly grateful for!

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Why did you send the bill to the insurance company if the service was free?  Did you not contact and question the bill with the doctor?

[Anonymous]

I had left two messages on his VM. The dr uses his cell phone for the office number. He responded by sending me a letter stating I needed to submit the letter to the insurance company. I called the insurance company and asked them what I should do, and the advised me to just send it in along with a form that I had to fill out. The doctor never returned my phone calls.

I do feel that he was sore that I did not follow up with my next appointment.

[DI]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I had left two messages on his VM. The dr uses his cell phone for the office number. He responded by sending me a letter stating I needed to submit the letter to the insurance company. I called the insurance company and asked them what I should do, and the advised me to just send it in along with a form that I had to fill out. The doctor never returned my phone calls.

I do feel that he was sore that I did not follow up with my next appointment.

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I personally believed the doctor is committing insurance fraud by asking you to submit a letter to the insurance company.  What service did he say he performed?  Anyway, I would press the doctor's office to remove the collection account.  There seems to be confusion with the billing since the service was advertised as being free.  I hope that didn't charge you for canceling the appointment, but billed the insurance company anyway. 

[Anonymous]

I am reviewing the claim forms from United Health care right now...there was no breakdown from the Dr's office of services whatsover.
Here is a link to the Dr's website, if you click the "Meet the Doctor" at the bottom in yellow is the explanation of the visit. He upped it to $25.00 now

Is it possible to call his office and have them remove the collections? I sure hope so, this is really sad.

[Anonymous]

Forgot the link....

http://www.spinemassageandrehab.com/contact-us

[DI]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I am reviewing the claim forms from United Health care right now...there was no breakdown from the Dr's office of services whatsover.
Here is a link to the Dr's website, if you click the "Meet the Doctor" at the bottom in yellow is the explanation of the visit. He upped it to $25.00 now

Is it possible to call his office and have them remove the collections? I sure hope so, this is really sad.

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It's possible, but I would send a letter. 

[Anonymous]

Okay, I was thinking I will do that....I may copy what is says on his website and include that section in there. I appreciate your opinion very much!

[DI]

I visited the site.  Yes, you shouldn't have been billed unless  he performed something that wasn't included in the complimentary service for the $25.00 donation.  I would print that page out and send it to United Health along with a letter explaining the situation.  I would also file a complain with the Better Business Bureau if they're not willing to remove it.    As the doctor said in his website...he is no ordinary doctor and it sure seems that way.  I wouldn't be an ordinary patient.  He caused your credit score to decline.