Medical Bills: Will they ever stop?

Since becoming severely sick in 2009, I have had the “fun” of dealing with countless medical facilities and their billing departments. Over and over again, claims are not submitted properly. Wrong insurance companies have been billed or my personal information is incorrect. I have spent hours and hours on the phone trying to get medical bills sorted out.

Sometimes the bills are deceptive. A clinic will not inform me they do not take my insurance. Only after the visit will I be told, “We do not accept your insurance. Here is your bill.”

Recently, I received a bill from a medical center. They took my insurance, but they knew the medical appointment was not covered by my insurance policy. They did not feel the need to disclose this information to me. The clinic did not care I could not afford the visit. Moreover, I would not have had the appointment if I knew it was not going to be covered by my insurance. The medical center had an arrogant attitude regarding my bill. They were going to be paid, even if that meant leaving me bankrupt. As the woman in the billing department said, “Pay this bill or we will send it to collections.” The power the world of medicine has on my finances is mind-blowing.