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Message
Surprise Dr.'s bill (They got me)
Posted on 3/6/25 at 3:11 pm
Posted on 3/6/25 at 3:11 pm
I'll try to make this as easy to follow as possible.
I've been using the same doctor for the last 12-15 years. Last year he moved his office about a mile down the road. I go to see him for my annual check up and blood work about 3 months ago.
Yesterday a bill arrives for the blood work. I call their billing department to ask them to resubmit it to insurance as this is always taken care of by them.
They inform me that they changed networks when they moved, and I'm on the hook for the bill as the lab I was sent to was for my "convenience" and that I could have gone to any lab in my network if I didn't want a bill.
Thanks for explaining that now.
First of all, I'm not an expert in insurance, or medical billing. Secondly, it seems a little scammy to do that to long time patients without saying something before the work was done as opposed to "Whoops, sorry about that. Cash, check or credit card? How would you like to pay us?
Turns out, they got my wife (her bill arrived the day before mine), my mom and I with the exact same BS. Who knows how many others they've trapped with this.
I've been using the same doctor for the last 12-15 years. Last year he moved his office about a mile down the road. I go to see him for my annual check up and blood work about 3 months ago.
Yesterday a bill arrives for the blood work. I call their billing department to ask them to resubmit it to insurance as this is always taken care of by them.
They inform me that they changed networks when they moved, and I'm on the hook for the bill as the lab I was sent to was for my "convenience" and that I could have gone to any lab in my network if I didn't want a bill.
Thanks for explaining that now.
First of all, I'm not an expert in insurance, or medical billing. Secondly, it seems a little scammy to do that to long time patients without saying something before the work was done as opposed to "Whoops, sorry about that. Cash, check or credit card? How would you like to pay us?
Turns out, they got my wife (her bill arrived the day before mine), my mom and I with the exact same BS. Who knows how many others they've trapped with this.
24
Posted on 3/6/25 at 3:13 pm to Clyde Tipton
Look up the “no surprises act” that went into effect a couple of years ago & mention that to them. I’m sure they will make some adjustments after that :)
Posted on 3/6/25 at 3:18 pm to Clyde Tipton
quote:
it seems a little scammy to do that to long time patients without saying something before the work was done
It’s not their job to explain your medical plan to you
Posted on 3/6/25 at 3:19 pm to 0x15E
Idk feels sketch id expect my dr office to let me know
Posted on 3/6/25 at 3:20 pm to 0x15E
quote:
It’s not their job to explain your medical plan to you
If they cease to take the insurance that you have had on prior visits, it is.
Posted on 3/6/25 at 3:22 pm to Clyde Tipton
I'm in the same boat, just received a $350 bill for bloodwork done during my annual wellness visit. It's usually covered under the annual wellness visit. I've never been billed before for it.
Posted on 3/6/25 at 3:24 pm to 0x15E
quote:
It’s not their job to explain your medical plan to you
I don't think he's saying it's their job as much as a heads up that they were changing networks would've been nice. Especially for such a long-time customer.
My dentist office was being dropped by my dental insurance last year and they told me over and over about it to make sure I was aware and to see about switching or whatever. I ended up keeping my current insurance because they are still covering some of their work, and if they ever stop completely then I'll find another dentist. But it was nice that they let me know and were on top of it.
This post was edited on 3/6/25 at 6:14 pm
Posted on 3/6/25 at 3:28 pm to Clyde Tipton
quote:
Turns out, they got my wife (her bill arrived the day before mine), my mom
Posted on 3/6/25 at 3:28 pm to 0x15E
quote:
It’s not their job to explain your medical plan to you
As a provider, that's incorrect. It's our responsibility to run your shite through the system to make sure that you're not out of network for a scheduled appointment.
For OP, you can mention the No Surprises Act and you might be able to scare them into comping you. That said, I'm pretty sure the interpretation is for scheduled appointments. So if that bloodwork wasn't scheduled until you saw the doctor and you went ahead and did it the same day, they might use that as a loophole for payment (just an FYI). My insurance (BCBS) stopped covering same day bloodwork last year.
This post was edited on 3/6/25 at 3:31 pm
Posted on 3/6/25 at 3:30 pm to sigsauer
quote:
I'm in the same boat, just received a $350 bill for bloodwork done during my annual wellness visit. It's usually covered under the annual wellness visit. I've never been billed before for it.
That may not be that the bloodwork folks are out of network, but instead your plan is no longer covering that service.
Just an FYI, A LOT of benefits changed for this year on insurance plans. Double check your stuff for sure.
Posted on 3/6/25 at 3:32 pm to Clyde Tipton
Dealing with the same thing with my wife. She went to a dermatologist that is in network but the actual doctor is not. We did not know until we got the bill for $600. She has two insurance providers and neither covered.
They haven't been returning my calls but sure as hell love to flood my inbox with invoices.
They haven't been returning my calls but sure as hell love to flood my inbox with invoices.
Posted on 3/6/25 at 3:33 pm to Clyde Tipton
quote:
They inform me that they changed networks when they moved, and I'm on the hook for the bill as the lab I was sent to was for my "convenience" and that I could have gone to any lab in my network if I didn't want a bill.
Thanks for explaining that now. ?
They don't want to explain to you that their billing clerks fricked up. They would rather collect from your insurance than collect from you.
Posted on 3/6/25 at 3:34 pm to BluegrassBelle
I would be kinda pissed to be honest with you.
Posted on 3/6/25 at 3:34 pm to BluegrassBelle
quote:
So if that bloodwork wasn't scheduled until you saw the doctor and you went ahead and did it the same day, they might use that as a loophole for payment (just an FYI). My insurance (BCBS) stopped covering same day bloodwork last year.
Stuff like this is why I don't feel quite so bad about that Luigi dude popping some CEOs
Posted on 3/6/25 at 3:35 pm to sigsauer
quote:
$350 bill for bloodwork
Hopefully this is an OT joke and not real. Bloodwork should be under $20.
Posted on 3/6/25 at 3:35 pm to Clyde Tipton
The same thing happened to me. Our coverage was for instate labs. I’ll tell you what I did. I don’t know if it was right or wrong? My wife went to a local gastroenterologist for an endoscopy and colonoscopy. Found some stuff and sent it off to a lab out of state in Texas. I got a lab bill for around $2000. I don’t know what the in state cost would have been? I was irritated they didn’t tell people they switched their lab provider to a place in Texas. I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau after talking to both the lab and gastroenterologist’s office. The lab decided to forgive the costs not the local gastroenterologist. The only thing they asked was for the BBB to stop bothering them. I asked the BBB to post a comment that everything was settled and to leave the lab alone. I don’t pretend to understand who was completely at fault. I expect some of it was my fault for not asking where the labs would be sent and maybe the gastroenterologist’s office for not letting us know about the change. Just a guess. Just for your information. Good luck.
This post was edited on 3/6/25 at 3:38 pm
Posted on 3/6/25 at 3:37 pm to BluegrassBelle
quote:
Just an FYI, A LOT of benefits changed for this year on insurance plans. Double check your stuff for sure.
Thanks for the head's up. My annual isn't until August, so I'll definitely check first.
Posted on 3/6/25 at 3:40 pm to deeprig9
Maybe in 1975
This post was edited on 3/6/25 at 3:41 pm
Posted on 3/6/25 at 3:40 pm to Ingeniero
quote:
Stuff like this is why I don't feel quite so bad about that Luigi dude popping some CEOs
I hope I don’t ever feel that way.
Posted on 3/6/25 at 3:44 pm to Clyde Tipton
quote:
First of all, I'm not an expert in insurance, or medical billing.
my wife is, I would not pay a thing until you run what you posted by your doc's office manager and have them resubmit it to someone in your network, for starters
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