I got a call today from the collection agency on my $1100 bill. Yesterday we agreed I would pay $100 now and ~$357ish later this month (on the 28th of December) to close my account. She stated that it would be placed in 'Current' with the credit agencies as soon as I paid the $100. Then when she said I paid the full settlement amount (~$357), that I could write the credit agencies and they would completely remove this collection. It seems she lied about that and that credit agencies won't do it. I'm a student in college. I can't afford this 1100 bill. The hospital told me they accept my insurance at which point I consented to treatment. I can't take out a student loan now because my credit is blotched. Before it was perfect. I'm stuck. What can I do? The first thing is to write a letter telling them not to contact me any more. I know they won't sue me, and if they do, so what? I'm on SSI, they can't recover anything from me. What can I do?
Are you saying the insurance didn't pay at all, or as they should? Have you tried to talk directly to the hospital about this?
Yes, I asked the hospital before treating me if they accept NYS Medicaid (I was in PA visiting family). They said yes. I told the billing agency at the hospital this. They said the claim was denied by NYS Medicaid and that they need an address to mail the bill to. NYS doesn't have any mailing addresses, they do everything electronically. The billing department at the hospital doesn't care. I'm stuck and I don't know what to do. I need college loans to finish my degree. Is there ANYTHING I can do; I will try whatever it is I need to try.
Well, I don't honestly know anything about interstate medicaid issues. But, I would be taking my issue up with the hospital - someone higher up than the billing office. Do you know why NYS denied the claim? The bureaucracy I can imagine is a nightmare, it is probably something you will have to be diligent with. Pushing both the hospital and NYS to do something. I can't imagine it not being payable merely because you were out of town when you became ill. Sounds like someone at the hospital and or NYS is being lazy - not surprising.
Who higher up? The 'bad debts' department at the hospital is completely rude and he won't help me in any sort of way.
Ask for his supervisor, if you don't like that answer, ask for a higher higher up. Climb the chain of command. Do not take No for an answer. The billing department does not run the hospital - someone is signing their paychecks. Do any of your local news stations have consumer help reporters? Contact them. Have you tried going to the Medicaid office with your bill and asking them what you are supposed to do? Be a pest. Call every day. The squeaky wheel gets oiled.
Have you talked to the NY Medicaid people? If so, what do they have to say? This can't possibly be the first time that this has occurred for them.
They told me I have to have the billing department of the hospital call XYZ number and speak with them. Called the billing dept. of the hospital and they said they are unwilling to do that. That NYS Medicaid has to call THEM. He is making it impossible to resolve this issue.
At this stage I would probably send a letter to the CFO of the hospital, CMRRR. It would contain a brief, very factual statement of what has occurred. Put in the letter the number given you by the NY Medicaid people and have him contact them to get the matter resolved. Request that he provide you with a certified statement that the bill is taken care of. You may want to also begin dropping this in the lap of the PA Medicaid office; see what they have to say. After that, a complaint to the PA Consumer Affairs people might be in order. Sounds like a bureaucrat being a bureaucrat.
What is a CMRRR? Do you really think the CFO is going to give a damn? Why do I contact PA Medicaid and when I do, what do I say?
Have you tried submitting the bill directly to NYS Medicaid yourself? Often there are mechanism for filing for payment back to you. If you haven't, I would try submitting your own claim for this bill. Also, NYS Medicaid must have a "special help" department, just keep pounding on the phone lines until you get someone who can do something about this. Don't overlook the option of writing a letter to your local Congressman either, often they can cut through the red tape.
