Anthem won’t even process claim?

Last year, I switched from an employer provided Anthem HMO plan to a PPO on January 1st. I had the plan until August 31st. I had a few medical appointments (in KS) early in the year, and my medical provider accidentally tried to bill the old HMO plan. Of course it was rejected because I was no longer covered under that group number.

When the error was realized, I contacted Anthem and they asked the provider to resubmit the claims to the state the care occurred in (KS) with the updated group number. Provider did. Anthem rejected the claims (note, they didn’t deny them, so there is nothing to appeal, they simply said they were rejected for being mailed to the wrong place). Contacted Anthem and they told provider to send the claims to Atlanta this time, so provider did. Repeat rejection. Contacted Anthem again and they said to send them to Kansas City, Missouri (care was in Wyandotte County KS, but they said that claims in that county are sent to KC MO).

Provider submitted those claims to KC, and Anthem again stated that they were sent to the wrong plan. Note while all this was happening, a few claims for other, later visits were submitted by the same provider with no issues whatsoever.

I called Anthem again and they said it’s the provider and they need to contact and submit to the local office. The provider called the local office and they said to call the main office. Main office tells them they can’t help.

To make everything even more confusing, on September 1st, I switched to my spouse’s plan, which is another Anthem plan so I can’t even look up my old anthem account online anymore–i can only access the new one.

Every time I’ve called myself, Anthem has said yes, I had coverage(I reconfirm the dates of coverage, dates of service, and the correct group number), but they say the claims aren’t being submitted to the right place. And again, since they aren’t actually denying claims, rather simply saying they’re being sent to the wrong office, they won’t send me any communication on the matter or documentation.

The provider called today and basically said we can’t do anything else because Anthem is being difficult and it has been more than a year, and I’m on the hook for the expenses now.

I don’t know what to do. The bills aren’t astronomically high, but I am looking at around $3,000 in bills that I really am not in a position to pay right now (but I’m not low income enough to qualify for any relief).

Does anyone know what I need to do to escalate this? Every time I call, the Anthem rep punts it to someone else. Do I simply keep calling and escalating with Anthem? File a complaint? Threaten ligation/arbitration? I’m so lost.