22 Mar What to do about Medicare medical bill in collections?

Q. I have a family member who is on Medicare. She has no income and is physically unable to work. She recently received a notice from a collection agency for past medical expenses. No billings were ever received to make her aware of the charges that the collection agency is attempting to collect.
— Trying to help

A. Timing is everything for your question.

It depends on when she was on Medicare.

If the debt collection medical bills were from before she was on Medicare, then she would still be responsible, said Karra Kingston, a bankruptcy attorney in Union City.

“If, however, the debt is from after she was on Medicare and should be covered, then you will want to speak with the collection agency and give them your family members medical account information so that they can look into why this wasn’t covered,” she said.

She can also call her insurance directly to find out if this was ever billed through them, she said.

“It is important to let the Medicare provider know that they are billing for something that should have been covered,” she said. “Medicare can ask them to stop billing you and refund any payments.”

If they continue, you should file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

You can also contact Medicare’s “No Surprises Help Desk” at (800) 985-3059 to submit your question or a complaint.

Email your questions to .

This story was originally published on May 21, 2023.

NJMoneyHelp.com presents certain general financial planning principles and advice, but should never be viewed as a substitute for obtaining advice from a personal professional advisor who understands your unique individual circumstances.