SurvivingInfidelity.com^®

I have (too many) specialists that I visit once a year or so. They are part of a large hospital group that bills as part of that group. At each visit, I sign in, pay my co-pay with a credit card and am seen by the doctor. As far as I know they won't let you see the doctor until you pay the co-pay.

Three times now, three different offices, I have been billed REPEATEDLY, for this co-payment. I have called, been polite, yelled, submitted information to prove that I paid and yet they keep billing me.

I'm mad. This is crazy. Short of changing all three, and one other doctor, do any of you have any suggestions?

[This message edited by scaredyKat at 10:41 PM, May 2nd (Thursday)]

At this point they are acting as collection agencies, and are subject to those rules.

You need to get orginized at this point. Get each bill they are trying to bill you for, get a copy of the proof of payment of that bill, and if you have a EOB for that service to show that you had paid your part, get that as well.

For each one, you need to write a letter stating that you have already paid for this co-payment, and that you do not owe it, citing the proof that you will send along with it.

Then tell them that if they continue to contact you stating that you owe this, you will consider that harassment and will take the necessary action to stop their harassment.

Send it registered mail to the medical office AND the whoever runs the hospital so that they are aware of what is going on, so that if it ever did reach court, you would have the proof that you sent this letter along with all of the proof to show that you paid the bill.

It sounds alot more scary then it is, but if you are SURE that you have paid for the service, then you need to stand up for yourself.

Call and ask to speak to the manager at their billing office. If they will not help you, call your doctors directly and inform them that you will be forced to find another doctor if they don't get this figured out. I used to work at a radiology group and if on the of the doctors got pissed, pretty much everyone got right on the problem.

Thanks, both of you. I intend to take you advice. One problem is, "whoever runs the hospital" is a huge group of faceless people. I am going to make a lot of noise...

I keep thinking that they are doing this to others. People who pay cash and have no way of proving they paid, who people who just give up and pay the bill when they read the threatening message at the bottom.

Not me. I won't be intimidated.

Thanks again. My noise is helping but I am still pissed. I filed a complaint with the FTC (online)

It's such a small amount of money, $10. Obviously, if they try to double bill me everytime I see a specialist in this group it adds up. AND there is the concern that it isn't just me. They CANNOT be messing up on only my account, can they? I am so glad I pay everything by credit card...