It's really a small matter -- just $14.29. But, I can't let it go. I'm not one of those people who feel the world owes them something...and, I have a pretty good sense of perspective. I know I'm one of the fortunate people of the billions on this planet. I go to sleep warm. I wake up and there's always food in my refrigerator. And, unlike the millions of Americans who don't have health insurance, I do. But...I want my $14.29 worth of justice.
I'm being held responsible for someone else's error, and it's not fair. I received a letter from a local medical group informing me that if I didn't pay them the $14.29 that they say I owe them, that they will turn my account over to a collection agency. It's only a couple of bucks, but it has real consequences for me. If it goes to a collection agency, then it goes on my credit report. If it goes on my credit report, the bank gets to charge me a higher interest rate if I ever refinance my home or take out a car loan.
And what kills me -- is -- that it's not my fault. The trouble started with someone at the medical group who put the wrong code on a bill. Here's what happened -- and why I won't pay that measly $14.29.
My wife had her yearly physical exam and mammogram. Our insurance pays for this. After more than a half an hour on the phone with the medical group and a representative of the insurance company, I learned the clerk who is paid to put a medical code on the form that goes from the medical group to the insurance company -- put the wrong code on it. Instead of indicating the mammogram was part of my wife's well-woman check-up, the form indicated that the mammogram was in response to a pelvic lesion. My wife does not have a pelvic lesion (whatever that is), and the insurance company decided that it would be a bad use of their money to pay for a mammogram as a diagnostic test for a pelvic lesion. I agree.
But, that's not quite the end of the story. After spending time on the phone, correcting other people's errors, I received another bill from the medical group for the same $14.29. OK? Another couple of calls and I'm being assured it will be taken care of. Fine. I accept the fact that the world isn't perfect and people make mistakes.
Then...I get another bill from the hospital that my wife's doctor is affiliated with. This is an un-itemized bill -- part of a friendly letter -- that says if I'm having trouble paying my medical bills, I should call them and they can make some arrangements. The hospital claims that I owe them $178.00 for the un-itemized expenses. I called the hospital. I was unable to speak to a human. I spoke to a computer chip that recorded my name and my address, and the computer chip responded by saying it would send me an itemized bill. I figure I can't talk rationally to my insurance company without an itemized bill, right?
This is the holiday season. I know how bad the economy is -- and how many people have so little. I'm going to give a good donation to the local food bank this year, and I'm going to make a New Year's Resolution to do something for the people in my community who are suffering. But, all I want -- is my $14.29 worth of justice.
I'll worry about the $178.00 after New Year's.
