Here is my problem:
I have a medical bill from a rehab facility in the amount of 2700$ Its actually my husband's, it is from February 2011
Im not sure of the date I received the first notice of it, but I got one, and then I think one followup reminder, and nothing since.
My husband went into the hospital to have a hip replacement. After a few days the hospital had to release him, but he needed a temporary rehab stint before he could come home. At the hospital, I spoke to the care coordinator person, who said she would find a referral for us, in network, that could take him. She said she found one in our insurance, and I asked her how long he was going to be in rehab and how long the insurance would cover-she said about 4 days.
So he transferred there on a saturday.
On tuesday, he already felt like he could come home. It was a question of him being able to get up our stairs to our apartment (2nd floor) and he really wanted to get home. On Tuesday I tried to talk to a dr or director that would tell me when he was being released, and got a big run around. The told me there was a meeting to discuss his care on wed. So he would not be released tuesday.
I arrived on wednesday early in the day to find out when the meeting was and if he could come home that day. No one was available to talk to me, no answers, no time on meeting, no one returned my calls-finally at 4 pm I left a strongly worded message on the directors voice mail. she called me back to say the meeting was at 6 pm. So , no release on Wednesday.
On thursday, more run around. By this time, husband was realllllly unhappy and was telling everyone he wanted to leave, no answers from anyone. Finally talked to director and she said that he needed to stay there through the weekend, and he could come home Monday. I asked her what would happen if he just went home? I said that the hospital had told me the insurance would only cover him for 4 days. (which is why we expected him to go home on tuesday or wednesday) but she assured me the insurance would cover him until monday, and if he left AMA, before Monday, that the insurance might refuse to cover any part of his stay.
In hindsight, I wish I had called the insurance myself, but it did not occur to me that I could. I had had surgery on my leg just a few months prior and never spoke to anyone from insurance about it, the drs did it all, and it had been fine.
So the rehab center kept him until Monday, so he was there 10 days.
Then I got a bill for the whole amount, 2700$. I called my insurance-they said the rehab center was out of network and so had to apply out of network deductible (5k?) first, etc. so we were on the hook for the full amount. The insurance people said they showed that the hospital did call them on the date after the surgery, but there is no record of what was said.
So, first of all, we never would have chosen an out of network rehab. And we wanted him released 5-6 days before they would release him.
Ive never spoken to anyone from the rehab since he was released, and as I said, Ive only received two bills, and no collections or anything, although its been over 18 months.
Yes, it would have been better if I had dealt with this much earlier, but I can only say that there has been a multitude of other bills and issues to deal with since then, and since I wasnt getting hassled by them, I thought Id leave it alone as long as I could- head in the sand style.
I cant say what the motive or excuse the hospital person had for lying to me-because she flat out lied to my face, but it seems fairly clear that the rehab center was trying to keep him as long as they could for $$, maybe they did not know he was not on medicaid (seems like most of their other patients were) or what, but they were milking us. but they lied to, since they told me they had talked to the insurance and he was covered.
maybe they know they were in the wrong and that is why they have not pursued this bill, or maybe they are just totally inefficient and behind.
in any case, what are my options? What should I do at this point?
I dont have the whole amount right now to pay. I could probably pay half after Dec 1. or could agree to a payment plan for some (or all, if I absolutely have to, of the total)
I dont think we really should have to pay the whole thing, but should I go to them and negotiate?
our situation is that we have just paid off all of our other credit card and medical debt (more than 30K over the last few years)
but we are in foreclosure on our condo and live in a state where they can come after you for the amount of default, so I suppose bankruptcy is a looming possiblitity (it is possible for the mortgage to agree to not come after you)
I dont need facepunches, just where to go from here on this particular debt. Thank you.