Dental Bill: How do I approach this?
I hаd crown work done years ago. I wаѕ working аnd hаd insurance. HOWEVER, thе dentist office сουld nοt gеt thе crown shaped / fitted correctly. It took 3 visits.
I wаѕ changing jobs аnd аt thе second visit аѕkеd…аftеr next FRIDAY I wіll nοt hаνе insurance. Iѕ everything covered аnd taken care οf? (mυѕt hаνе bееn intuition). Oh yea…уου аrе аll set. Yου paid уουr share etc… Third visit comes…crown іѕ placed! I hаνе nο insurnce thіѕ week…
2 months later I gеt аn $800 bill. I paid thousands out οf pocket already, tοld thеm I wουld nοt hаνе insurance…bυt supposedly bесаυѕе thеу dіd nοt bill thе insurance company before thе insertion οf thе crown thаt finally fit…(аftеr mу insurance wаѕ еndеd)…now I hаνе tο pay!!
I filed complaints wіth Better Business Bureau аnd Attorny Generals office. Today gοt a call frοm аn attorney (fοr thе dentist). I ехрlаіnеd whаt happened… аnd hе ѕаіd “Sο οn thіѕ recorded line уου јυѕt admitted….” I hung up! Hе NEVER tοld mе thе line wаѕ recorded.
Dο I hаνе аnу rights here?
Thanks..
Donna ~ Massachusetts
Yeah….IMAGINE someone getting pissed because you don’t pay them what you owe them! The nerve….
(and, were you REALLY stupid enough to piss off someone’s attorney by hanging up on them??)
Would never happen in a European country….just sayin’…
let him sue you. then you can give the entire story to a judge and he will probably throw it out. but highly doubtful they will do anything but put a black mark on your credit.
and most insurance has a after the fact clause that would have paid if billed in a timely manner.
and it sounds like you are talking to a telemarketer that is working on behalf of the dentist and the lawyer. this is the kind of thing they pull. so don’t sweat it. if it is already on their list it is already on your credit report. which by the way can be a good thing because you will not be able to over use it.
just keep the credit you have current and let them spend their money to push it. and remember that the usa does NOT have a debters prison.
You have the right to present your side when they sue you.
However, since your insurance is your responsibility, and your contract with the dentist office clearly explains that (standard in any health care agreement, although not really necessary) it’s not likely you can win.
Your best bet is arrange a payment plan before the dentist is awarded interest, legal expenses and court costs, as well as the bill.
In mass no one has the right to record a conversation at all so he either is not a lawyer or bullshitted you about the recorded line.
Call the insurance company. The work was done before the insurance ended and they should bill the insurance using the date it was made not the date it was put in. Basically the calendar date is the issue. Really they should have billed when you told them to bill.
I would file a complaint against their billing practices with the state’s attorney general or contact a lawyer yourself.
Also I think Wbz radio 1030 AM has a help line you can call to ask about legal matters. Search for it online or call and ask them for help. Also I would contact help me hank on channel 7 in boston.
Do not pay anything. Let them sue you or send it to collections. I would keep all evidence of when your insurance ended. Keep all your receipts.