Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Illinois

First let me assure you that what I say is 100% truthful. I have never not paid a bill before now but I

feel that this is a case in which I should not be held responsible. Here's the situation: In 2007 I was

an emergency medical patient and had to use the local ambulance service. It was common to not

see copies of my medical bills since I had a Medicare Advantage plan through Humana plus Medicaid

at the time. A couple of months after my episode I did get a copy of the hospital payment from

Humana. Nothing ever came about the ambulance bill and I thought maybe the state picked up that

amount.

Well, much to my shock, I got my first notice from a collection agency for this bill in 2009. I wrote the

state and Humana about this old bill and wrote the collection agency that I only get disability from SS

and SSI, and can not pay the bill myself. Humana said they were never sent any claim from the am-

bulance service either. More calls and letters followed and the billing dept. for the ambulance dept. claims to have billed myself and Humana several times in 07 and 08, but someone goofed up because

none came to either of us. Is there a statute of limitations as to timely filing and the pursuit for this

account payment. Who is legally responsible now? Please advise,

Cheryl


Asked on 9/30/10, 9:56 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Stephen Messutta

The question is whether you can submit a claim now to get the ambulance paid. If the ambulance company did not bill you in time and the billing did not reach you because they screwed up and you did not, that could be an issue. Ask the ambulance company or its collection agency to produce evidence of billing to you and Humana.

The response given is not intended to create, nor does it create an ongoing duty to respond to questions. The response does not form an attorney-client relationship, nor is it intended to be anything other than the educated opinion of the author. It should not be relied upon as legal advice. The response given is based upon the limited facts provided by the person asking the question. To the extent additional or different facts exist, the response might possibly change. Attorney is currently licensed to practice law actively only in the State of Illinois, inactively in Florida. Responses are based solely on Illinois law unless stated otherwise.

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Answered on 10/08/10, 8:59 am


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