Medical-how to remove from CR-Collection Agency

[Anonymous]

Briefly, I have a collections showing up on 2 reports.  One report shows one collection and one report shows 3 collections.  The one report shows a collection from a medical supplier (the the rental of a product to use at home) for 405.00 from 2007.  The other report shows the same collection agency and medical supplier but for 405, and two small amounts. 

I have no idea about these small amounts but as to the 405.00, I repeatedly told the OC and then the CA by mail and telephone that this was a charge that my insurance carrier was repsonsible for.  I gave them my medical / insurance information repeatedly.  It was never resolved and now here I am.  I have had multiple surgeries during that time and this issue must have just slipped through the cracks and never resolved itself. 

Is the med collection on your reports? yes

Is it paid or unpaid? unpaid

If paid, who did you pay, the OC (original creditor: doctor, dentist, hospital, etc.) or the CA (collection agency)?

If unpaid, do you have the money to pay it off in full? no but if absolutely necessary, I will take a loan out to do so but I truly cannot afford to do so.  I am on food stamps and aid as it is.

Do you remember the date(s) of treatment? not a treatment -medical item and approx 2007

Have you ever disputed the med collection? If yes, when and how? Just now, I disputed online and via mail with CR and GW letter to OC and inquiry letter to CA.

If you did dispute the collection, is it currently marked as "disputed and/or verified" on your report(s)? on one, yes.

Have you ever requested debt validation from the CA? If yes, what did they send you and when did you receive it? Yes and not yet...only recently requested.

How can I fix this issue as quickly and as successfully as possible?  Again, I sent a GW letter to the OC and a inquiry letter to the CA.  Is there something else I can do other than wait for their repsonse?

[Anonymous]

For the paid medical follow the HIPAA process from the beginning. Do not skip any steps!

Call your ins.company and ask why they did not pay the claim.

[Anonymous]

How can I do the HIPPA process if it wasnt paid?

The insurance company is now claiming 50% of these types of medical machines are the patient's responsibility.  That is why they only paid out half.  This was only explained to me now and frankly, I dont believe it.  I never paid anything when I had that poicy for the rental of medical machines.

[fused]

Can you afford to pay the debts in full if you have to?

[Anonymous]

To be honest, as I mentioned in my first post, no.  I would basically need to take money out of my 401K to do this.  It wouldnt seem cost-effective. If not, if there anything I can do?  Can I do the HIPPA process with this scenario?  It would seem not but when it was my understanding at the time that somehting was covered by insurance, then the carrier backs out of it saying they were not responsible, it is tough to dispute years later especially when I am no longer a subscriber.

Any suggestions?

[fused]

Once you have the funds to PIF, then start the HIPAA process.

[Anonymous]

Just so I am sure, with a medical collection, there is no other route to remove other than paying in full? 

(I am just fuming that I was told, way back when, that this item was completely covered by insurance and now, I am finding out it is not and in collections).

[fused]

No, not necessarily. If you use the HIPAA letters and cannot pay in full, this will tick the OC and CA off and they might sue you. Once you have a med PR on your reports, you lose your protection under HIPAA as med debt that turns into a public record is exempt.

Some have tried PFDs with med collections, but I'm not a big fan of them when it comes to med collections. PFDs have their risks. PFD are contracts and they definitely render HIPAA useless. So, even if the CA agrees to delete in writing and they don't, you would have to fight the CA on breach of contract and not under HIPAA protection.

[Anonymous]

If you do a PFD letter and the CA never takes the tradeline off even after signing and agreeing to do it, you could simply then move the the HIPPA process. No? 

[fused]

I say no.