Bills. Feh.

[redbird]

The stack of bills for this week includes two related to the gall bladder surgery. One is for $8000.00 from the surgeon, with a note saying "if you have insurance we will help you file" and a space on the back for giving them my insurance information. They should already have it, but I have filled it in again and sent the paper back, trying not to fret. The other is for $322.00 for something to do with the ER, and labeled "previous balance". I thought I remembered writing a check for that already. A quick look online showed that they cashed the check on July 3. This bill is dated July 10. That one is going back with a polite note saying that it was paid with check thus-and-such, from account whosis, cashed July 3, and not adding "so stop wasting my time and stamps."

Comments

I had a problem when I paid a bill with my local hospital as well.

[dakiwiboid.livejournal.com]

The first invoice was marked, DO NOT PAY, as they showed me all the actual charges, and billed my insurance. My balance due was shown as $00.00. The next invoice, post-insurance billing arrived with my co-pay on it, and had this charming notation, "This amount is past due, please pay immediately or something or other", where something or other means face the usual credit-damaging consequences. That invoice was the first payable invoice I'd received. I called up and complained about it, and was told that the billing office had tried to get the company who did the invoicing to change it for several years without success. I think that phraseology actually discourages people from paying, rather than encouraging them.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

I got a Medicare notice for the hours I spent in the ER last month. The ER billed almost $3K, Medicare paid $450. Now Kaiser will pay some, and I should only have to pay the $50 co-pay. But then I'll get a notice for the doctors and it will all happen again.