Domestic Partner Health Insurance Question

[smartestnumber5]

I have a question that's part of a much longer story (I just posted a vent here: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1339586).

GF is covered under my health insurance as a same-sex domestic partner. Recently there was a bill for a pap smear for her that somehow didn't go through the insurance correctly, so it ended up as an unpaid bill. The billing dept of the hospital (which bills for her primary care physician) had the wrong address for her, so she never got a bill. We only found out about the existence of the bill because I got a call from collections. The hospital had sent the bill to collections under my name, even though the bill is in her name for health services she acquired. (We told the hospital billing dept about the error and they're currently working on sending the claim through insurance.)

So, my question is, am I legally responsible for her bill because she is covered under my health insurance? I suppose it makes sense that I would be, but it had never occurred to me.

What really confuses me is that the bill only exists because the hospital apparently didn't realize that she was covered by my health insurance; but they are asking me to pay the bill because they did realize that she was covered under my health insurance. How the heck did that happen? And, there are two bills left from an ER visit her previous insurance didn't cover completely, and the hospital has now sent these bills to collections *under my name* ! Now, how in the heck can they hold me legally responsible for GF's bill (from way before she was covered under my insurance) when we have no legal relationship to one another? This just ticks me off to no avail--it's like, "Gay marriage--no way. Civil unions, nope. In fact, let's enact a state constitutional amendment against all that. That woman you have sex with and who lives in your house is just that--a live in sex partner, and she'll legally be more than that......Oh wait, she has unpaid medical bills? Live in sex partner--that's good enough for us. Now pay her bill or we'll destroy your credit."

 

[Tony-NJ]

it seems a bit messed up - I'm sorry about that. I don't really know the answer but I would call your insurance company regarding the current bill that's due. Explain to them what the hospital did and ask them if you are responsible for payment. Hopefully they will pay it quickly.

I highly dout you are responsible for the old debt. Good luck!

 

[pigletliz]

Is your insurance through your employer? This happened to one of my co-workers. Our company offers healthcare to both married couples and those with domestic partners, even though our state does not recognize gay marriages. It is an employee benefit, so the state's position does not enter into this matter. Basically she has the same coverage that my husband and I do. One person, the primary, signs his or her immediate family members/domestic partners onto his/her plan, extending medical coverage to them. It is not buying the family member/domestic partner their own separate plan. Everything is linked to your plan/employee number; especially if your company contributes to your health plan costs. I doubt if you are liable for anything before your partner was added...unless somewhere on your paperwork it actually says "spouse". It is possible they believe you really are married, like my co-worker, who went to another state to have the ceremony performed. You should check with your company human resource benefits person to get proof of when your GF was added to your plan. They should be able to help. Good luck.

 

[Psychometrika]

Unless you are in a state that recognizes same-sex marriage, AND you did not sign the "if the insurance doesn't pay I understand I'm liable" then there is no contract. I