Dear Nurse Katz,
I received a bill from a medical facility that I felt was unreasonable and did not think it was even the correct amount, so I did not pay it. Now it has turned my account offer to a collection agency. Can they do that?
Jennifer
Cleveland, OH
Unfortunately Jennifer, they can. If at any point you do not understand or agree with a bill, it is always best to let that medical facility/provider know as soon as possible. Get as much as you can in writing so you have proof that you tried resolving the situation just in case the medical facility/provider is unwilling to work with you to find a "reasonable solution." If the proof is there and it goes to a collection agency, the facility might have to explain why this was not resolved and the "burden of proof" MAY shift. Otherwise, you will be held responsible to pay the bill. On the other hand, keep in mind that many collection agencies have the pressure of collecting the most amount of money in the shortest amount of time, and some of them can be quite aggressive. This is where, if you ever played poker, these skills might come in handy. Be sure to have a reasonable payoff number in mind as well as a date. If you are able to pay that bill off within a short amount of time, you may be able to strike a great deal. If a deal is made, be sure to get the agreement in writing BEFORE the final deal is made! If you are not sure where to start, the book Healthcare Made Easy, has some additional tips that can help. As Kenny Rogers mentions in the song, "The Gambler", "...you got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away..."