This is not fair, bad business

[Lorix2]

I submitted a dental claim to my ins.co. for payment. I had paid the dentist in full. When I submitted the claim, I wrote on it 2x "please pay subscriber".

When I called to inquire about the status of the claim, the ins. company told me they made the check out to the DENTIST in error, but they would stop payment on it immediately and reissue me a check. I didn't think much of it and would just wait for the check.

My dentist office called and asked me when I was going to the pay the stop payment fee for the insurance check! I told them "I didn't ask for them to do that and it was their error and that's the way they were handling it and furthermore, if I had a zero balance, why would they cash the check anyway?" They told me their policy is to cash all ins. checks and reimburse patients. I wouldn't know that since I paid in full because quite honestly, I when I went for the appointment I forgot I had dental, because most of my life, we've been without it, it had been in affect for only 3 months and just didn't think of it.

Bottom line, even though the ins. co. admits the error and stop payment order, they will not pay for the fee. My dentist refuses to call the ins. co about it and said "it's my responsibility". Neither one will cooperate and it looks like if it's not paid, they'll put it in the credit bureau.

How is this fair to me? I didn't make the error or ask them to do any of this. The BBB will not consider the claim because it deals with company policy.

I can't get a customer service rep to put me through to a mgr. They all tell me "we DO NOT pay for stop payment fees". But excuse me! It was your error!

Would you call again or write? I'm really angry about this.

Thanks for letting me vent

 

[Stepharoonie!]

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

I don't know for sure if you have any recourse or not. Some of our customers pay and have the ins. check sent to them.... if it comes to us we usually catch it and return it to them or issue a refund. We are a small business though, so it's relatively easy for us to keep track of customers.

I would say if you are concerned about collection agencies then your best bet is to pay it. I assume it's around $20 or so? You might have to just learn from this one.

 

[klmklm]

call your local newspaper or TV news and get the ombudsman. This is a person who helps consumers--they can apply pressure since the publicity would not be good for the company.

 

[iamsorcerermickey]

It is insurance companies check, they are the ones who verbally called the bank and put stop payment on it. I am sure that whoever handled this at the insurance company was informed by the bank that there would be a fee for the stop payment from both banks. It was the insurance companies responsibilility to inform the dental office not to cash the check from them.

If your dental office is being uncooperative by refusing to call the insurance company then I would not worry about it, it is their loss.

The dental office cannot bill you for charges incurred from the stop payment as it was not your personal check.

This is NOT YOUR responsibility. This is between the dentist and the insurance company.

The dental office would have to justify to the credit bureau why they are charging you for this fee, when you had nothing to do with it.

 

[Lorix2]

The dentist office would have to justify the charge

They would? I could argue the fact it wasn't my check in the first place?

 

[mcnuss]

Is this plan through your work? If so, call your HR department. Often, they can intervene.

BTW - how much $$ are you talking about here? At some point, you have to decide if it's worth the $$ not to rock the boat with your dentist.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Originally posted by mcnuss


BTW - how much $$ are you talking about here? At some point, you have to decide if it's worth the $$ not to rock the boat with your dentist.

I think this is a very good point, and it brings a question to mind. Why, when you found out the check had been sent to the dentist.... did you not call them to check on the situation? From the way it sounds they would have processed the check and issued you a refund. Actually I am surprised your insurance company stopped payment so quickly.... they should have told you to contact the dentist to get it resolved.

If it's a small amount of money... I say pay it and next time you'll know what to do if it happens again.

 

[Tuffcookie]

I've never heard of an insurance company stopping payment to a doctor's office because they found out later the patient had already paid the account in full. It would cost them money to do that. It seems they should have told you to get in touch with your doctor and have them reimburse you. Who's idea was it to stop payment? If you suggested it I think maybe you should go ahead and pay the stop payment fee and chalk it up to experience.

TC

 

[nealymouse]

Lori.... If it were me I would NOT pay the charge. But you have to understand I am the biggest consumer advocate I know. If I feel I have been wronged I do not just pay up and walk off.

To date I have received a brand new riding lawn mower from Sears because our 1st one fell apart after 4 years (we are talking $2,500 for a mower)

I filed a lemon law case against GMC after they failed to fix the brakes on my brand new van 5 times. I won.

And Maytag had to replace my 4 yr old washer machine because it never went more then 3 months with out breaking.

Now of course you probley think I have the worst luck. I dont I just hold companies responsible for the promise they sell me. In this case the ins com told you they were stopping payment then it is between them and the dentist. I am sure you did not have the ins. companies policy in front of you. You called and spoke to someone who knows the policys and tool care of it. End of story (well if it were me that is).

Good luck

 

[WDWAurora]

I would assume it is the policy of most physician/dentist/etc offices to cash checks upon receipt-that's just what we do. I wouldn't hold them responsible for the insurance company...They followed their policy and shouldn't be punished because of the ins company. In the future, I would always call the dentist's office, as the refund is much simpler than the stop payment. I definitely don't understand why they won't get the ins company to pay the fee though, because it wasn't your check and you didn't issue the stop payment...But they're right, ultimately it is your responsibility. If we working in Drs. offices solved all these problems, we would never get the day to day business done...Again, how much is the fee? I don't think it's worth it...

 

[Doug123]

The attitude of "how much is the bill; oh, I don't think it's worth it" is one of the things that insurance companies count on. For those who believe this, don't you think the insurance companies make millions a year because of your "how much is the bill; oh, I don't think it's worth it"? Add up all those $20 and you have a lot of money.

My wife and I have learned to fight ever insurance bill that comes our way. At least half of them are wrong.

If you truely feel you shouldn't have to pay, then fight it. At the very least, consider dropping your dentist. Hitting him/her in the pocketbook is the only way they'll learn.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Originally posted by Doug123


If you truely feel you shouldn't have to pay, then fight it. At the very least, consider dropping your dentist. Hitting him/her in the pocketbook is the only way they'll learn.

Wow I really disagree with this statement. The dentist did nothing wrong!!!! They received an insurance check, probably deposited it, and intended to reimburse their client.

What exactly does this professional have to learn??

 

[we3luvdisney]

Stick to your guns! I would fight this to the bitter end.

I'm always fighting with the insurance company/doctors office. If everyone had the same attitude (It's only $20 why bother) the doctors office/insurance companies would make even more money. If these companies only have one patient/day forget the $20, that's $5,200/year.

To make a long story short ---- I blew up my gas grill & received 2nd & 3rd degree burns. I was rushed to my PPO hospital. When I received my bill they refused to pay the doctor because he was not in the plan, but the hospital was. They said I should have asked if he was in the plan. Needless to say, I argued the point and won. Now the icing on the cake --- I had to change my dressings (twice per day), so I submitted a claim for the bandages. The insurance company denied the claim, however agreed to pay for them after I said I would be going to the doctors office twice/day, which would cost more than me changing the bandages.

 

[Maleficent13]

I have been a supervisor (billing/accounting) in medical offices for many years. I would never even consider charging a patient for a stop check fee issued by an insurance company which was necessitated by the insurance company's error. The insurance company stopped the payment, they incurred the fee, they need to pay it. IMO, the dentist's office staff needs to do whatever they need to in order to collect this from the insurance company and leave you completely out of it.

Also, here's a tip: when you call the insurance company, ask for a manager as soon as they answer the phone. Don't tell your story to the rep. They will do everything they can to keep you from management. I know this from years of experience. Stand your ground, tell them you know they can't help you, and say you'll hold until a manager is available. Eventually they'll give in, but it requires patience on your part!

 

[Rajah]

I'm beginning to feel that there's no such thing as an insurance company that "plays fair" and is "good business". The only thing they're "good" at is cheating you out of money that should be yours, causing delays, and giving a hassle.

Sorry you're having trouble.

 

[tiggersmom2]

ITA with CJMickeyMouse,
This is NOT the dentist office's fault - They did nothing wrong, they should not have to eat the cost of the stop payment. Just a question, who ordered the stop payment? I have worked in a dental office for 10 years and I have NEVER heard of an insurance company doing this.

 

[we3luvdisney]

Originally posted by tiggersmom2
ITA, This is NOT the dentist office's fault - They did nothing wrong, they should not have to eat the cost of the stop payment. Just a question, who ordered the stop payment? I have worked in a dental office for 10 years and I have NEVER heard of an insurance company doing this.

I agree, when I place a stop payment on one of my checks I'm the one that has to pay the fee.

 

[Lorix2]

Sorry, I thought I clarified this.....the insurance company stopped payment on the check when I told them they made the error in making the check out to the dentist and not to myself. I did not ask for them to do that, they simply said "it was our error and we will stop payment on the check".

I don't think the dentist should have to pay for the stop payment either - but I don't think it's fair for them to come after me for it - they should call my insurance company and deal with it themselves. It was a transaction between the two of them - NOT me.

 

[Lorix2]

an update if you'd like...

I contact the ins. co and got a fantastic rep on the phone who gave me the contact info of someone in charge. I composed a friendly letter pointing out their error with a cc to the dentist office respectfully requesting that the stop payment fee be reimbursed directly to the dentist office since they should not be held responsible for it and neither should I.

I just mailed them...hopefully this will be resolved soon.

Thanks for your replies everybody.