#AmbulanceBill #InsuranceBilling #CollectionsAgency #CreditReport #HealthcareBilling
🚑 Ambulance Service Sent Me to Collections Instead of Billing Insurance
If you’ve found yourself in the unfortunate situation of receiving a collections notice for an ambulance bill that should have been billed to your insurance, don’t panic. There are steps you can take to ensure that this gets resolved and doesn’t negatively impact your credit.
Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate through this challenging situation and make sure your ambulance bill is properly handled by your insurance.
## Understanding the Situation
First, let’s break down the scenario you’re dealing with. You received an ambulance bill and notified the provider that they should bill your insurance (in this case, Tricare). However, instead of processing the insurance claim, the ambulance service sent the bill to a collections agency. Now, you’re worried about the impact on your credit and want to know the best course of action to resolve this issue.
## Contacting the Collections Agency
When dealing with a collections agency, it’s crucial to approach the situation with a clear and level-headed mindset. Here are the steps you can take when reaching out to the collections agency:
1. Verify the Debt
Before discussing any details with the collections agency, request validation of the debt. This includes asking for a breakdown of charges and proof that the ambulance bill was indeed sent to collections.
2. Communication in Writing
It’s advisable to communicate with the collections agency in writing rather than over the phone. This helps keep a record of all correspondence and prevents any misunderstandings.
3. Notify Them About Insurance
Inform the collections agency that the ambulance bill should have been billed to your insurance (Tricare). Provide them with your insurance information and request that they process the claim accordingly.
## Dealing with the Ambulance Service
In addition to addressing the collections agency, it’s essential to follow up with the ambulance service that initially sent the bill to collections. Here’s what you can do to handle this aspect of the situation:
1. Request Documentation
Ask the ambulance service for documentation showing that they attempted to bill your insurance. This could include an itemized statement or any communication they had with your insurance provider.
2. Escalate the Issue
If the ambulance service insists that they cannot bill insurance or refuses to cooperate, consider escalating the matter to a higher authority within the organization. You can also involve your insurance company to intervene on your behalf.
3. Clarify Insurance Information
Ensure that the ambulance service has accurate and up-to-date insurance information. Mistakes in policy numbers or other details can lead to billing issues, so it’s important to verify this information with the provider.
## Pursuing Insurance Coverage
To ensure that your insurance is properly billed and covers the ambulance bill, take the following steps:
1. Review Your Policy
Familiarize yourself with the coverage and benefits provided by your insurance policy, specifically regarding ambulance services. This will help you understand what should be covered and the procedures for claims.
2. Submit the Claim Yourself
If the ambulance service and collections agency are unable to bill your insurance, consider submitting the claim yourself. Your insurance provider should have a process for submitting claims directly, and this can help facilitate the reimbursement of the ambulance bill.
3. Seek Assistance from Tricare
Contact Tricare directly to seek guidance on how to handle the situation. They can provide valuable insights and assistance in ensuring that the ambulance bill is properly processed and covered by your insurance.
4. Appeal if Necessary
If your insurance denies the claim for the ambulance bill, you have the right to appeal the decision. Provide any relevant documentation and information to support your case for insurance coverage.
## Protecting Your Credit
One of the primary concerns when facing a collections notice is the potential impact on your credit score. Here’s what you can do to protect your credit in this situation:
1. Dispute the Collection
If you believe the collection is unjust or inaccurate, you have the right to dispute it. Submit a written dispute to the credit reporting agencies, providing evidence that the collection is in error.
2. Negotiate a Resolution
Work with the collections agency to find a mutually agreeable resolution. This could involve paying the bill in full, setting up a payment plan, or negotiating a reduced settlement amount.
3. Monitor Your Credit Report
Regularly check your credit report to ensure that the collections notice has been resolved and no negative impact remains on your credit score.
## Seeking Legal Assistance
In particularly complex cases or if you feel that your rights have been violated, it may be necessary to seek legal assistance. Consult with a consumer rights attorney to explore your options and receive guidance on how to address the situation legally.
By following these steps and remaining proactive in your approach, you can navigate through the challenges of having an ambulance bill sent to collections instead of being billed to your insurance. Remember to stay persistent in your efforts to resolve the issue and advocate for your rights as a consumer.
If you need further assistance or have specific questions related to this situation, don’t hesitate to reach out to both your insurance provider and the ambulance service. Their cooperation and support can greatly contribute to a successful resolution and ensure that your ambulance bill is handled appropriately.
This happened to me. I told the collector I was going to contact billing and they said “ too late, it’s already in collections”. It had been such a short period of time I contacted them anyway. They went over my insurance with me and it was resolved. Never heard from collections again and it didn’t show up on my credit report.
You need to contact Tricare and find out where to send the bill. Municipalities do not send bills to insurance company’s, that’s your responsibility.
As long as you’re within the year of service date it’s absolutely billable to insurance. I worked at a collections company for years and this would be an insurance dispute. We take the insurance info and sent it back to the original creditor for billing insurance.
If the collections agency is refusing to work with you on this it’s possible you spoke with a bad agent. I’d call back just to speak with a supervisor to confirm they are refusing to cooperate to dispute for insurance and then if they still refuse, send a written cease and desist letter to them to never contact you again for this.
You can go back to the original creditor yourself and provide the insurance info for them to bill for you.
is this a thing in usa? you actually pay for an ambulance ride?
Ask them who the original creditor is.
Then call them and ask for an itemized bill aka super bill.
Send that to your insurance company with your ID number and name and they should be able to process it as a claim.
Source: 17 years in health insurance
You’re going to need to contact the ambulance company and get them to recall the debt.
I’m pretty sure medical debt is no longer reportable on credit reports, so that shouldn’t be a worry.
What state are you in? Some have laws against collecting directly after not billing health insurance. A civil lawyer might be able to help
In terms of medical debt collections, only medical debt over $500 appears on your credit report. In addition, it will not appear on your credit for one year after being sent to collections. This is to allow you time to work with your insurance company to get the bill paid. If it’s paid before it is at the one year mark, your credit will be unaffected.
You should also call your regional Tricare and let them know. Most likely they have worked this before and can help you get this solved.
Have they sent you anything in the mail?
The first thing to do is mail them a “fair debt collection practices act” notice that you deny the debt and they should be billing your insurance.
You can find examples by searching for “FDCPA medical debt letter examples” and adjusting as you see fit.
If the ambulance company is in network and they did not bill insurance then it is their own write off. They are required to direct bill insurance. They are not allowed to bill the full amount before insurance. Again if it is in network.
Was this ambulance due to an auto accident? If so in some states you have to go through auto insurance instead of health. If an auto accident what state?
I am 100% sure you got an ambulance bill at some point. You should have then filed a claim with your insurance. You would then gotten a bill for the difference. Now, you get to negotiate.