So, my child is listed under my insurance. I had renewed both my child’s and my insurance a month prior at the health insurance office. I received my insurance card in the mail, but not his. Usually, they’ll send them separately, so I figured it was still being mailed. I take him to his check up appointment a month after the insurance was renewed and the nurse tells me that his insurance is inactive. She told me to call his insurance right away. I was on the phone for an hour speaking to a representative and apparently, the health insurance specialist I met with to renew our insurance never sent out his renewal application. It made no sense to me because I was there in person when she sent out our applications. So, I went back to the nurse and explained to her what happened. She said he cannot be seen without an inactive insurance, and asked me to rescheduled instead until his insurance card arrives in the mail. Today, they called me and asked me to bring cash or check for a copayment. I’ve never payed a copayment before so I’m a bit unfamiliar with it, but to my understanding, it’s a payment I have to make for being attended by a doctor without insurance? Except my child wasn’t attended at all, we sat at the waiting area for an hour while I was on the phone with the health insurance operator. I’d like to know if they’re allowed to ask me for a copayment when he wasn’t attended? They didn’t even take his weight, height, or blood pressure... Thanks.
Answers (3)
A co-payment is what you pay when the insurance doesn't cover the whole amount. Generally I have a $15 co-pay every dr visit. If they are asking for a co-pay perhaps it is for when you take your son in for the actual visit. You don't owe them if you never saw the dr.
If he was never seeing, he shouldnt be charged. Co pay is when the insurance covers part of the visit, but there is a minimum payment you must make every time. Usually insurances provide a free physical per year, check with yours if they offer that. Call the office and tell them your son was never seeing by the doctor thus you shouldnt need to pay anything.