Pregnant, in Texas, Unpaid Medical Bills, need real advice from people who know what they're talking about!

Ugh! I'm in such a mess right now. I have no health insurance and was initially told over the phone that I probably didn't qualify for Medicaid (husband's income too high). So, I worked out a payment plan w/my OBGYN where I was supposed to give her around $360 a month for prenatal care and delivery (this would not include hospital charges). But after a couple visits my husband and I saw there was no way we could keep up with the payments, so we decided to give Medicaid another shot. We went down to the office and this time I was able to qualify. However, now my doctor is saying that she will not accept Medicaid (even though she's on the list in the book as a preferred provider) and that I have to honor the agreement I made with her. Well, I can't do that and am going to go to another doctor who does accept Medicaid. But my old doctor is saying that I owe her $2,200 (total cost of prenatal and delivery, even though I only had 3 visits w/her). Can she sue me? What can I do?Pregnant, in Texas, Unpaid Medical Bills, need real advice from people who know what they're talking about!
It depends on the terms of the agreement that you signed when you entered the payment plan. However, a doctor can not charge sue you for services not rendered.


You may want to contact medicaid directly and tell them of


your issue. Your doctor might have a change of heart if she knew her federal/state funds might be in jeopardy by refusing to accept medicaid after she has signed a provider contract to do so.





I know this is stressful, but this is a time where you should be taking care of yourself and your unborn child. Get you care from a new provider. You can not be forced to go to a certain doctor and I personally would not feel comfortable with a doctor who treats me in the manner that you say you have been treated.Pregnant, in Texas, Unpaid Medical Bills, need real advice from people who know what they're talking about!
ok for one she can collect on services that were never provided/rendered. yes there was an agreement that was discussed and you and your husband decided you couldnt afford her. was it a written agreement or just verbal? anyways that shouldnt matter cause you arent continuing with her services, so you just owe her for the three visits you had. if she tries to sue you, she isnt going to win i'll tell you that. but then again she could lie. anyways as a preferred providor with medicaid she is suppose to honor that. personally i would talk to a lawyer about her not accepting medicaid from you even though she is on the list. but then again i wouldnt go back to that doctor, she seems like a real B#$#%.


like i said earlier, consult with a lawyer and get things lined up for if and when she does sue you. you'll have a better case than her!
If you signed a contract or some kind of form stating that you would pay her the set amount each month until the end of your pregnancy, she may be able to take legal action even if you don't stay with her until you deliver. If it was just a verbal agreement, she won't be able to sue you.
she cannot MAKE you see her and pay the whole amount...just for the visits that you see her for(including test that were done by her) I wouldnt think that she could sue you unless you signed a aggrement saying that you would see her the whole time...i would just start going to another ob and if she has something to say about it tell her that you will have your lawyer call her...most of the time that will get them off your back because any lawsuit will go onto their record
I would def see another doc as it seems she is only after ur money and not ur best interest...





They can only charge you for the 3 appts you had with her and nothing more....So find out how much those appts cost each and pay only that amount...





If she is on the list of providers that accept medicaid then she should be more then willing to accept it, but even after this i would trust this office, i would report it and def get another doctor.....





You def dont need to pay that much if you can avoid it because you are going to need every extra penny you have once that baby gets here!!





Good luck and maybe even try to talk to a lawyer of some sort to see what ur rights are...but no she cannot sue you for services that were not provided!
Medicaid can pay back the three months of doctor visit.. I would talk to someone about them. I don't know if you can get a lawyer just talk with them and they give you advice. But she shouldn't be refusing you now that you got insurance. If she sue get a lawyer and say I did tell them but we found out that I can keep affording and then I been approve for medicaid then she refuse that she did accept medicaid but she refuse me and kept me expecting to pay which we could afford and I only visited her times.. And I went to the new doctor.
she can send you to collections but that's about it.


as a physician she cant not deine you medical care! so if let say for example.....the day you go into labor she is the obgyn on call for the hospital you go to and your obgyn is not avail she WILL HAVE TO deliver your baby to the best of her ability without the consideration of payment owed.


for the time being you can find another Dr but I'm sure it would be unsettling to be there with her if she doesn't want to treat you but when the times comes she doesn't have a choice





a signed contract is only as good as services rendered ,, she only saw you 3 times therefor you owe her 3 visits of fee's .. any judge would see that
if she is doing that then go to another dr.... i live in TX also and i have NEVER heard of any payment plan like that ever going into effect. You do know that medicaid will cover any unpaid medical bills that have built up for you being pregnant right??? and if they are on the list they cannot turn you down.... there is not any way they can do that. Contact the dr office and medicaid number and see what can be done for the balance to be off your name... but even so I think that practice is mooching you something harsh... get another dr.... if you live around N. Texas I can probably refer yoou to a great dr if you need anyone.
I suggest you contact Medicaid. If she is an authorized provider BUT refused you - she is in the wrong.





She did not deliver your child so she can not collect for it - even if you signed a contract.
There is places that give low cost insurance for pregnant women,not government assistance,not based off income but cheaper than other insurance plans.i have seen this in baby magazines,covers prenatal,delivery costs.
I don't think she can sue you...you haven't even gone through labor and delivery so she can't charge you for that!! You probably do have to pay for the three visits you had with her, but you could try to see if Medicaid will cover it (call them and talk to them about it).
She can't collect for services that she never provided. You owe her for the three visits but thats it. And if she is on the list of providers then you should be able to pay her with the medicaid. Talk to a lawyer if you can. Good luck and congrats!
I know what your talking about, I just had my baby 3 weeks ago... We didn't have insurance at the time, and I got a bill in the mail that was $7,000...
If she is an approved Medicaid provider and she is stating she will not accept your medicaid you need to call your case worker at medicaid and file a complaint against that doctor...FYI the reason she is refusing the medicaid is because they pay a very small portion of the total charges...less than 40% I believe and the doctor is required by law to write the rest off...so in her mind she would rather harass you to pay it all than have to write off any of it.





she isn't going to sue you for unpaid medical bills...she will simply attempt to collect what she feels you owe and if you don't pay she will send it to collections. However, you might want to talk to her about a more affordable payment plan so that you can avoid collections. Furthermore, I'd change doctors ASAP as this woman sounds like lining her pockets is more important to her than your health or the health of your baby.





Let me add if you have only seen her 3 times than she can only charge you for those 3 visits. Make arrangements for those visits and be done with her...she can't charge for services she never provided you.
ususally when you have unpaid medical bills medicaid will pay it. but since you signed a contract you will probably owe her the $, but if she accepts medicaid she can't just say i don't accept it anymore esp if she is only saying that for you. she has to put advance notice that she isn't accepting medicaid any longer! and since you are changing dr's you actually never delivered she can't charge you for charges that didn't occur just for the visits you had with her!! she needs to provide itemized bills for those visits and bill medicaid, how many visits did you have! she has no right to bill you for all pre-natal and delivery charges unless you continue to be a patient!!!