Being charged for medical bills when I was covered?

Question

I recently discovered after checking my credit report that my doctor has seven past visits of mine in collections. I never received any bills but they are on there. I called them and they sent a print out of the services and bills, and much to my surprise I remember every visit even though they were from 2010. Each visit on the bill is showing "Per blue cross no coverage on date of service" but I had full coverage with my employer and always paid co-pay at the Dr. office, since they pretty much make you pay it. The problem is shortly after these visits I left my employer and therefore left BCBS and now they want me to pay. I contacted BCBS (Blue cross and blue shield) and got a COCC letter (I believe is called a certificate of credible coverage) and it shows I was indeed covered under the dates of these visits. In the bill I can also see a line under each visit named Coll Adjustment and Bad Debt next to it with a neg amount, but also a BCBS payment and BCBS Adjustment which are both negative amounts. So, finally for my question, is my doctor balance billing me, and if not can BCBS be billed still for these services since I was covered at the time even after three years has past? I'm not really interested in paying these since I had coverage. I don't know how to read this billing print out so if anyone can help that would be awesome, Thanks.

Update:

These are just charges for normal doctors visits. One was a bee sting, one was for a vaccination for my son, etc so im sure they were all covered. I just don't want to have to pay for these.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

If the doctor was "out of network" with BCBS, then they ARE still allowed to balance bill you.

You will NEED to call BCBS, to figure out WHY they didn't pay.  It is quite possible that you had a deductible on your policy (most people do) that you hadn't met.

If the doctor was "in network", and their contract with BCBS prohibits them from going after you, if they failed to bill BCBS, then you  CAN still be absolved of these bills . . .but you're REALLY going to have to call BCBS to find out for sure.  If the doc was out of network, and failed to bill BCBS, you're going to be left holding the bag.

A Hunch · Answer

StephenW is correct accept for each insurance plan has different requirements for how late it will pay a claim.  It's been 12-24 months. Since these dated to 2010, you are past that period.

Just because you had credible coverage during this time period does not mean the services that were rendered were covered by the plan.  That is an additional item you need to review.

StephenWeinstein · Answer

BCBS cannot be billed now.  BCBS can only be billed if they are billed within one year of the date of service.

However, BCBS can check its records and see whether or not it already paid for these visits.  If the bills in collections were already paid by BCBS, then BCBS can send you documentation to prove that.

Anonymous · Answer

No your scientific coverage won't cover a bill for centers your daughter won after the cancellation of coverage. you're in charge for paying the charges in finished during the lapse of your coverage.

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Being charged for medical bills when I was covered?

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