Update: Is there a statute of limitations on medical bills related to pregnancy?

I'm not sure this is the right board but, I figure as parents, we've had more than our share of medical bills LOL!

Are there any rules as to how long a provider has to bill you?

I got a bill yesterday from 3/15/12 for a visit to L&D before DS 2 was born (I thought I was in labor).

Everything was settled with my insurance on 5/2/12 so it's not my insurance that was holding up the process.

DS 2 was born on 3/17/12 and I received that bill from the hospital before I returned to work from maternity leave!

TIA!

Update - I called the number and they said it was sent in error - they had to write the balance off since it was over a year old. Since it was an issue on their end, I'm not responsible for my copay (it was $50 and they did get the insurance payment).

Message edited 10/25/2013 4:33:05 PM.

Re: Is there a statute of limitations on medical bills related to pregnancy?

There's no statue of limitations. It's unusual to get a bill that late since the drs offices usually reconcile all accounts at the end of the year. I'd call to make sure it wasn't a mistake, since that could happen. But if it's a legit bill, then you have to pay it.

Re: Is there a statute of limitations on medical bills related to pregnancy?

I would have them resubmit to your insurance again and see if they will pay it first. Wait to pay it until you see what your insurance company does. It sounds like they didnt submit correctly the first time.

See what your insurance says they may have put the wrong info on it and it got kicked back from the ins to be refiled correctly.

I had to deal with this all the time at my RE office. The ins paid them

Is there a statute of limitations on medical bills related to pregnancy?

Thanks - it's legit and insurance did pay their portion (last May). I just was shocked to get it since I was already billed for my copay for DS's birth (which was 2 days later) over a year ago.

I wasn't sure how the process with L&D worked - I had only gone 1 other time in both pregnancies and received that bill pretty quickly so since I hadn't been billed, I figured that it was covered elsewhere.

Re: Is there a statute of limitations on medical bills related to pregnancy?

I hear ya, its weird how medical billing works sometimes.. I just got an explanation of benefits from a hearing test done to DS in the hospital the day after he was born (so nearly 14 months ago).