Filed
Fleecing the elderly, I guess
I have no issues with the techs, they are marvelous, and until this last June 2025, I never had any issues at all. Then one day I got a bill I didn't expect, as my insurance company always paid 100% diagnostic testing, not even charging a co-pay. A bill charging for a service my insurance company, when queried, said they ALREADY PAID as part of a "bundled charge". Called CPL, told them what the insurance company said. They claimed it wasn't so, instantly. I said, well, if it's not already paid, you should resubmit it, as my ins pays 100% disagnostic. Then in 2026, I get another bill for the same charges. By this time, I have my explanation of benefits from the ins co for that date, so I call up my insurance co and go over the bill on the phone. Ins co associate says the same as the last one, that this charge was included in the bundled charge that was on the original bill. Called CPL, explain the situation, tell them I'm a senior on a low fixed income and cannot afford to pay for tests my insurance company covers and that they insist they have already paid. After talking to several people, I was assured by the CPL associate I spoke with that this would be taken care of, that I didn't need to do anything, so when I got another bill for the sane charge a WEEK or so later, I didnt do anyth7ng, thinking she was still working on correctong the billing. But no, I should have known no comercial enterprise employs honest customer service and billing people any longer, that they will lie to you just to get you off the phone, and so recently I received a notice from a COLLECTIONS AGENCY. I will be having a conversation with my insurance company and my rheumatologist about whether my labs can be done at another testing facility, as I cannot have this be a regular fleecing, and if I cannot use a different lab, I feel I will have no choice but to find another doctor, who uses a different lab, as upset as I would be at the prospect.
Filed by Sharon T.