Question about owing money to a health insurance company
My previous health insurance company filled a prescription twice for me after I had already switched to a new insurance company and was no longer covered by them. Months later they realized what they had done and sent me a bill in the mail requesting reimbursement for the total of the medications, just over $13,000. The letter also said if they didn’t receive payment in one month they would send it to a debt collector.
I called them and try and get it resolved, but they said to call my current health insurance company and get them to reimburse me that amount, and then I would pay my old provider. The rep told me she put a hold on the claim while I worked with the other company, and that she wouldn’t send it to a debt collector without letting me know first.
Fast forward several months and I have gone back and forth with the old insurance company, the new company, and the specialty pharmacy for both those companies. I never get a straight answer, they have always tried to pass the bill onto the others, and when they say they’ll get back to me in a few days they never do and I end up having to call back and start from square one.
A few days ago I received a letter from a debt collector requesting the ~13k, so my old insurance company had sent it to a debt collector without telling me like they promised me they wouldn’t do. I am still waiting to hear back from my current provider on if they will reimburse me or not.
I called the debt collector and explained the situation to them and that I’m waiting to hear back from my current provider. The rep told me that no legal action would be initiated from this and that my credit score wouldn’t be affected. She recommended I pay the amount to them and then try and get reimbursed from my current provider. I have no intention of paying with my own money, I would only pay them with the money from my current provider.
So my question is, if no legal action will be pursued and my credit score will not be affected (according to the debt collector), should I even bother with trying to get an answer from my current provider? Should i just forget about this whole thing since they say they won’t do anything?
Any advice will be greatly appreciated!
