Insurance claim under dispute but medical bill sent to debt collectors.

Am an international graduate student here in the US (state of PA). Got an infected wound on my leg (cellulitis) from biking back in Nov 2023 for which I needed IV antibiotics with emergency dept observation for ~48 hours. Under the hospital's portal the bill (~16k USD) was being processed w/ my student insurance (underwriter: United) and then April 2024 came saying insurance denied any coverage as it is pre-existing. [How is an infected wound pre-existing? I come from a medical background and how's an acute condition preexisting? Incredibly stupid reason.]

Internal appeal was sent with paper trail (e-mails) with proof of my medical records from my home country. They acknowledged my appeal but gave zero ETA on decision, except they would render a decision 'at a minimum of 90 days'… meaning it could be 90 days, months, years, decades–I guess basically whenever they want to.

Nonetheless, I was contacted by debt collectors around about July 2024 and I did not know much about medical billing in this country that I think I basically validated the debt myself. They kept harassing me calling and emailing (me and my adviser–my emergency contact) every now and then 'til I told them to stop this month (Sept 2024)–well, they did. But I'm scared of wage garnishing and credit score reporting.

What do I do next?

Please help this poor researcher, working/studying in US academe, from a developing country.

submitted by /u/brugmalayi
[comments]