Do I have to pay legal costs if my medical insurance paid a hospital late?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Do I have to pay legal costs if my medical insurance paid a hospital late?
I received a summons for debt to a hospital. Shortly after receiving the summons, my medical insurance finally paid the hospital. The debt collection agency now claims that I have to pay their cost and the hospital’s legal cost. Shouldn’t this be the insurance company’s responsibility since they were responsible for the late payment?
Asked on August 7, 2012 under Bankruptcy Law, Colorado
Answers:
MD, Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
No you don't have to pay these bills; seems to me the insurance company messed up and committed bad faith or negligence or both. You need to file a complaint with your state insurance department and have that agency help you sort this mess out. In the interim, do not speak with the hospital or collection agency, period.
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Given the fact that you received a summons and complaint from a health care provider for money owed pertaining to costs associated by late payments by your health insurance carrier you need to place your health insurance carrier on notice about such and make a demand that it defend and indemnify you concerning the litigation. Given the seriousness of the situation, I suggest that you consult with an attorney that practices in the area of debt collection to safeguard your interests.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.