Current Events > Just got a $1800 ER bill from 3 years ago

(+) Yeah! (+)

When my dog bit me and gave me nerve damage

I haven't even been on the insurance they billed for 2 years because I changed jobs.

This isn't a late notice or collections or anything. It's like they just forgot about it until right now.

Mail back a check, post-dated to 2026.

And I just looked it up and Virginia doesn't have a statute of limitations on medical debt.

A bill had an overwhelming majority in both the Senate and House last year, but then Youngkin vetoed it and everyone fell in line.

How is it legal to send medical bills out this late? They should be delivered, by law, within a month max from discharge date. They should always be itemized. Hell, hospitals should be listing their prices for their basic services as a standard.

But we live in America. Healthcare needs to be complicated, confusing, and expensive so the insurance companies can rake in more money.

Also, a $200 imaging bill that I paid for my last trip to the hospital (for my kidney stone) has somehow been sent to collections despite me having proof I paid it.

America needs to be torn down to the foundation and rebuilt.

hockeybub89 posted...

America needs to be torn down to the foundation and rebuilt.

I feel that we're much too far gone for that to be feasible

People are too obsessed with their "stuff" to care about getting fucked over by every institution under the sun.

Presumably your insurance company from three years ago would still be on the hook for whatever meager portion of the bill they would cover, certainly your current insurer would not accept responsibility.

Is the bill from the hospital itself? How did it take 3 years for them to figure out your insurance didn't pay for it?

I ask because I believe the drug store has been using my old insurance for my prescriptions. I told them I changed insurance and they just ignored me and asked for a dollar copay.

Ask them for an itemized breakdown of the charges and see what happens.

hockeybub89 posted...

And I just looked it up and Virginia doesn't have a statute of limitations on medical debt.

Where? I'm getting 3 years for Virginia's SoL on medical debt, unless you were already on a payment plan.

Either way, don't pay anything. Once you give them any amount the SoL is reset, so if there is one in Virginia you'll be screwed.

Some systems are just shit at giving out bills. Hell, my hospital billed me twice for the same visit two years apart.

I just ignored it and never heard from it again

TheOtherMike posted...

Where? I'm getting 3 years for Virginia's SoL on medical debt, unless you were already on a payment plan.

Either way, don't pay anything. Once you give them any amount the SoL is reset, so if there is one in Virginia you'll be screwed.

Maybe I looked up the wrong bill? Idk I was rage surfing.
LeoRavus posted...

Is the bill from the hospital itself? How did it take 3 years for them to figure out your insurance didn't pay for it?

I ask because I believe the drug store has been using my old insurance for my prescriptions. I told them I changed insurance and they just ignored me and asked for a dollar copay.

My old insurance paid roughly 70% of the bill according to this, yet somehow I didn't get billed for my responsibility until now.

I got a bill recently where the hospital billed my insurance I haven't had for two years, even though they took my information during the visit and I gave them my newest card.

We called and they're going to fix it now, but if I'd had just paid it without realizing what they did I'd be out almost 2k

They're fucking terrible at their jobs.