Blood Drug Testing

Received $500 bill from lab for blood tests done 5 months ago?

I had two blood tests done in June and last week I received a $500 bill from the lab. I called the insurance to dispute the charges and they told me that the lab had turned in the claim with the incorrect order of my name, middle name first, last name as middle and first name as last. I called the lab about the error and they confirmed my name was correct, just like it showed up on my bill. Both sides claimed the other party was at fault. What should I do? Should I go ahead and pay the bill because the account is long overdue? Or will it ruin my credit history if I wait for this problem to be corrected? This is my first time having my own health insurance and I am not sure what to do.

Public Comments

1. If the ONLY reason your insurance company turned it down, was because your NAME was in the wrong order, I'd appeal that with your insurance company. That's silly. You can also file a complaint with your state insurance commissioner. After all, if they could figure it out to match it to you, they SHOULD have paid it.
2. If your name is correct on the bill, then just ask your insurance for a claim form and submit it yourself as a correction. Also, maybe the insurance has your name wrong--which is why the lab's bill looks incorrect to them. If that's the case, just correct it.
3. First, you need to confirm if the insurance company is continuing to deny any more payment to the lab. If that is the case, then you have two options. You can pay the bill now to avoid any possible credit problems, and then request to file an appeal with your insurance company. The other option is to call the lab, and ask them if they will place a 45 day hold on your account while you submit your appeal to the insurance company. Some billing departments will accommodate this type of request. You should also try to understand why you are being billed the expensive charges. Did you use a lab or did the doctor send your blood to an out-of-network lab? If so, that may be one good reason you are getting this bill. Another common reason is that the type of tests your doctor ordered are not typically covered by a medical policy or are considered experimental or investigational. You can appeal in any case, but you should try to understand why you are getting the bill.
4. Don't pay the bill. Just make sure the lab sends another claim form with the correct information. Whether the lab or the insurance company was "right" or "wrong" is irrelevant. Its easy for the lab company to send a new claim form...2 or 3 clicks on a computer and its done. Then, watch for the Explanation of Benefits to come from your insurance company. That's your acknowledgment that the claim was processed under your policy. Its a pretty easy fix...don't panic and don't pay the bill. Just ask the lab to send a new claim.