Should I have to pay this bill???????

[Summer Fun]

Re: Should I have to pay this bill???????

then please, stop wasting your time here and take the Bill to your Boss,

Phil, This is another time a ant hill is turning into a mountain.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Should I have to pay this bill???????

I mean this respectfully, and i certainly don't want to upset you, but I have read thru the thread 3 times, and I can't find where you said you took this bill to your Boss.

Now there is a 90% chance I have missed it and I am wrong, but if I haven't, then please, stop wasting your time here and take the Bill to your Boss, and you'r going to be much happier, and your holiday period will be great. Very few Bosses are bad.

Cheers
Phillip

I forgot to mention in the OP, I no longer work for this company and have moved 90 miles away. It makes correspondence much more difficult. I've tried calling the company and nobody answers the phone. When I try to contact the safety guy, all I get is his voice mail. I leave messages.

And thanks to everybody who threw in their 2 cents. It's so nice to hear others experiences with this, even experiences from old EMT's. That's what I need!

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Should I have to pay this bill???????

Now the plot thickens. . Just mail the bill to them.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Should I have to pay this bill???????

Now the plot thickens. . Just mail the bill to them.

Yes, exactly.
You send a copy of the Bill,
by registered mail,
with a covering letter,
outlining all your personal details (so they can identify you as an ex employee quickly),
a brief 1 para account of the incident,
name those in attendance at the time,
asking them to make payment by the required date,
please.

If anybody disagrees or feels there is a more appropriate approach, please over-ride me.

Cheers
Phillip

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Should I have to pay this bill???????

Shouldn't Workers' compensation take care of this bill since it happened at work and on work premises?

No. Medical insurance should cover the bill, minus a deductible. Worker's Compensation benefits are for lost time/wages from work and don't kick in until 7 days after the accident. The concept is a 50% reimbursement of your lost wages after the sick or medical leave runs out. Also, WC has to be filed within 72 hrs of the initial event.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Should I have to pay this bill???????

Not trying to override you Fireman but if the company he used to work for is hoping to sweep this one under the carpet(and since they are not responding to his phone calls they may be) he would have to file another WC complaint against the company immediately in order to gain compensation. He may even be required to retain a WC lawyer however since he is the victim I doubt he will need a lawyer. If I am the OP I would give it a couple more days attempting to contact the company and if you still have not talked to them then I would go see the WC office in your area and get their advice from there, also take copies of your bill and keep one yourself. This is a clear WC case, they are on your side in this. and the company will likely face some stiff fines for not following up in a timely manner.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Should I have to pay this bill???????

To be honest, I'm not sure if this thread is a joke or not.

Here's what I'll offer:
You can google "Florida workmans comp". Then when you get to the states' site, click on the "injured worker" link.

The state board and the hospital should be more than happy to help you out. Claim forms are typically verified by the employer. Yes, some are reluctant to fill out the forms because their premiums may increase with claims, but that's the cost of doing business. I've filled out claim forms as the employer and also had managers that didn't tell me about the claims thay had stuffed in a desk drawer. It's in their best interest to respond.

You should have copies of the forms you signed where you checked the block to say that this was work related.

Fireman, sounds like you're thinking about a different situation with long term disability, not injury coverage. Workmans comp is supposed to pay medical costs associated with a work related coverage.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Should I have to pay this bill???????

The amount reimbursed by WC claims is directly related to the insurance coverage by the individual. If his insurace didn't cover emergency scene treatment/transport, then yes, WC would pick up roughly 50% of the cost of transport. I just didn't want to get into a full wall of text.

Yes, he can still file a claim through the WC state office, but it will be enveloped in red tape, especially if the jobber didn't file any of the necessary paperwork immediately after the accident (he stated this was months ago). I agree that a WC attorney may have to be contacted for reimbursement, but at what cost? Certainly more than the $1200 that the med unit is charging. The fines from OSHA, FDL, and any parent company would make the ambulance bill pale by comparison.

I reaffirm that the OP needs to either send the bill certified mail with delivery confirmation or hand carry it to the safety guy. If all else fails, contact the ambulance provider. They have been known to settle for much less, just to collect something. They are billing you at the highest Medicare/insurance rates when the ride actually cost them roughly $100 for personnel, fuel, and medical supplies.

 

[perchin]

Re: Should I have to pay this bill???????

To be honest, I'm not sure if this thread is a joke or not.

DING, DING, DING....BINGO!

Here's what I'll offer:
You can google "Florida workmans comp". Then when you get to the states' site, click on the "injured worker" link.

The state board and the hospital should be more than happy to help you out. Claim forms are typically verified by the employer. Yes, some are reluctant to fill out the forms because their premiums may increase with claims, but that's the cost of doing business. I've filled out claim forms as the employer and also had managers that didn't tell me about the claims thay had stuffed in a desk drawer. It's in their best interest to respond.

You should have copies of the forms you signed where you checked the block to say that this was work related.

Fireman, sounds like you're thinking about a different situation with long term disability, not injury coverage. Workmans comp is supposed to pay medical costs associated with a work related coverage.

Seems logical, and any time I have ever been treated for an accident, I've also had to sign a form stating that the event was or was not related to work.

 

[avenger79]

Re: Should I have to pay this bill???????

my take: you're the one they hauled to the hospital, so they will bill you. all you have to do is turn it in to get it taken care of. I would even bet they sent the same bill to your employer and they will pay it. may take a few days for them to handle it but not worth worrying about. talk to your boss he will tell you the proper channels to go through to have the bill taken care of.

 

[jtmarten]

Re: Should I have to pay this bill???????

It should be considered a work related injury, so Worker's Comp will cover 100%. If for some reason the company didn't have WC insurance, then they are self-insured and will cover the cost 100%.

If they investigate and determine the proper PPE wasn't used, or safety procedures weren't followed according to your company's requirements, they may reduce the coverage.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Should I have to pay this bill???????

Since I have experience in employee benefits, including WC and that experience is in the state of Louisiana, where WIF lives, I'll offer my thoughts.

This will boil down to whether or not the injury is work related. A previous, nonwork related injury may factor in, but the WC insurance carrier is still on the hook, if the injury is work related in the immediate case.

The advice that you were given, above, claiming that WC covers only lost wages is incorrect. If the injury is work related, your regular health insurer will not cover the injury or anything related to it. Moreover, the employer's WC carrier is responsible and the employer better have WC insurance or an SIF, because it is legally required to cover all but the company owners.

What your supervisor said about covering costs isn't going to matter, if the injury is not work related. The WC carrier will simply refuse to pay. Even if it is work related, they will probably fight you. If so, be aware that you have a right to seek your own doctors and if they determine the injury to be work related, you can use that to fight back. That is not to say that the WC carrier will just give in, but you do not have to rely on their doctors only. As you might imagine, the WC carrier is not going to send you to someone that they think will side with you.

The state of Louisiana also has something called the Second Injury Fund. This is a state mandated fund that is used to lessen the claims that WC carriers have to cover, where there is a previous injury that is a factor in the current injury. There is a law in our state, which requires you to truthfully disclose any injury or illness that is directly related to the work related injury. If you fail to be truthful, you can be fined.

There is a huge problem with the law, however. First, some WC providers, particulalry those connected to trade associations, have completely misinterpreted the Second Injury Fund law. IMO, some have done this very much on purpose. What they have been doing, is to have the covered companies hand out a medical questionaire to new hires. The questionaire basically asks for complete medical history, while referencing the law on every page, suggesting that if you don't answer, you can be sanctioned.

In a nutshell, the problem with this, is that it is intended to reduce exposure to WC carriers and you have no real responsibility to answer any question on it, unless the specific question is directly related to an injury or illness that is work related and for which you have put in a claim. If you have ever filled one of these questionaires out, you can be pretty sure that the WC carrier will try to use it to reduce their exposure. If you have not and they hand you one, my recommendation is to not fill it out.

As a side note, you should know that WC insurers are exempt from certain provisions of the HIPAA law, which is another reason why you should reject attempts by them to get comprehensive medical information from you. In short, tell them nothing that they don't need to know to cover a claim.

Here's the good news on the Second Injury Fund situation - regardless, the WC must cover the entire claim. Even if there is a previous iinjury which affects the current injury, and even if the first one is not work related, the WC carrier must pay the whole claim and they recover a percantage from the Second Injury Fund. It is not your responsibility to do that. Once again, however, don't rely on them to fess up to that fact.

Again, this is about whether or not your injury was work related. If it is, my advice is not to pay the ambulance bill. Send a certified letter to both the ambulance company and your employer, informing them that the injury was work related and that you will not pay the invoice.



???

 

[sprintst]

Re: Should I have to pay this bill???????

Another option since you don't work for them is to litigate. You've been a good guy and have given the company many chances to do the right thing.

I'm sure workmans compensation would love to hear how the company is not paying your claim via a personal injury law firm or a lawfirm that specializes in employer/employee lawsuits.

If they laid you off due to your injury then that is another whooper of a claim, pain and suffering, etc and I'm pretty sure you beat your dog and have taken up drinking as a result.

They should walk away from it with a black eye and a bad limp for trying to push you around. Maybe if they get bitten hard enough those who stood in the way of the claim will think twice about trying it again or will get fired for grossly mishandling an easily resolvable situation.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Should I have to pay this bill???????

Since I have experience in employee benefits, including WC and that experience is in the state of Louisiana, where WIF lives, I'll offer my thoughts.

This will boil down to whether or not the injury is work related. A previous, nonwork related injury may factor in, but the WC insurance carrier is still on the hook, if the injury is work related in the immediate case.

The advice that you were given, above, claiming that WC covers only lost wages is incorrect. If the injury is work related, your regular health insurer will not cover the injury or anything related to it. Moreover, the employer's WC carrier is responsible and the employer better have WC insurance or an SIF, because it is legally required to cover all but the company owners.

What your supervisor said about covering costs isn't going to matter, if the injury is not work related. The WC carrier will simply refuse to pay. Even if it is work related, they will probably fight you. If so, be aware that you have a right to seek your own doctors and if they determine the injury to be work related, you can use that to fight back. That is not to say that the WC carrier will just give in, but you do not have to rely on their doctors only. As you might imagine, the WC carrier is not going to send you to someone that they think will side with you.

The state of Louisiana also has something called the Second Injury Fund. This is a state mandated fund that is used to lessen the claims that WC carriers have to cover, where there is a previous injury that is a factor in the current injury. There is a law in our state, which requires you to truthfully disclose any injury or illness that is directly related to the work related injury. If you fail to be truthful, you can be fined.

There is a huge problem with the law, however. First, some WC providers, particulalry those connected to trade associations, have completely misinterpreted the Second Injury Fund law. IMO, some have done this very much on purpose. What they have been doing, is to have the covered companies hand out a medical questionaire to new hires. The questionaire basically asks for complete medical history, while referencing the law on every page, suggesting that if you don't answer, you can be sanctioned.

In a nutshell, the problem with this, is that it is intended to reduce exposure to WC carriers and you have no real responsibility to answer any question on it, unless the specific question is directly related to an injury or illness that is work related and for which you have put in a claim. If you have ever filled one of these questionaires out, you can be pretty sure that the WC carrier will try to use it to reduce their exposure. If you have not and they hand you one, my recommendation is to not fill it out.

As a side note, you should know that WC insurers are exempt from certain provisions of the HIPAA law, which is another reason why you should reject attempts by them to get comprehensive medical information from you. In short, tell them nothing that they don't need to know to cover a claim.

Here's the good news on the Second Injury Fund situation - regardless, the WC must cover the entire claim. Even if there is a previous iinjury which affects the current injury, and even if the first one is not work related, the WC carrier must pay the whole claim and they recover a percantage from the Second Injury Fund. It is not your responsibility to do that. Once again, however, don't rely on them to fess up to that fact.

Again, this is about whether or not your injury was work related. If it is, my advice is not to pay the ambulance bill. Send a certified letter to both the ambulance company and your employer, informing them that the injury was work related and that you will not pay the invoice.

???

Thanks Jay, and everyone except the two dip****s that said this thread was bogus. I mailed a letter to the company day before yesterday stating that it was indeed work related and that I wasn't going to pay.

It's funny, I've been on this forum for over 7 years, but people who have been here 5 months think they know me and know I would make a bogus thread about this.

Why in the sam ****ing hill would I do that? If I wanted to troll, it wouldn't be with something this boring. Here is the letter I sent my employer copied and pasted directly, with names hidden for privacy and security purposes:
_____________________________________________
Brandon XXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Lafayette, LA XXXXX

XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX
Safety Manager, XXXXXXXXXXXX Services, Inc.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Lake Charles, LA XXXXX

Dear Mr. XXXXX

Enclosed please find copies of my medical bills from Lake Charles Memorial Hospital and Acadian Ambulance Services, Inc. regarding the incident on October 19, 2010 in which my chest was sprained due to turning the turbine engines on the Airbus A-319. The bill from the hospital should be paid by XXXXXXXX Services, Inc. because I was injured on work premises, during work hours, while clocked onto a work card doing a work-related job. The diagnosis was a cartilage injury due to repetitive motion. For 4 hours that morning, I turned the two turbine engines for a bore scope inspection. The work card I was clocked into will prove that to be the case. That involves repeated back and forth chest motion. There is no doubt in my mind that is why I was injured.

As per our conversation in the hangar, you stated that XXXXXXX Services, Inc. would cover the full cost of the ambulance because it was taken upon by XXXXXXXXX Services, Inc. to call the ambulance and give me no other course of action to get to a doctor. Please pay this bill by the "due" date. A brief description of the incident regarding the ambulance is as follows:
The ambulance arrived and I told them that if their EKG showed I was fine I wouldn't want to go to the hospital, just back to work. XXXXXX XXXXXX stated that I would not be allowed back to work unless I saw a doctor. I requested to go in my own vehicle to see a doctor, and was denied that opportunity by XXXXXX even after multiple times telling him I was feeling better. He was citing liability as his reason for not allowing me to use my own vehicle. After requesting that he himself take me to the hospital and he stated he would not, I inquired about what options I had. XXXXXX informed me the ambulance was the only option. Thus, the ambulance should be paid by XXXXXXXXXX Services, Inc.
I appreciate you taking care of this matter in a timely fashion. If you need to speak with me, you may call me at 337-XXX-XXXX or 337-XXX-XXXX.

Thank you very much.
Sincerely,

Brandon XXXXXXXX




And no, I quit the job because of many issues, this actually had NOTHING to do with my decision. And what pisses me off, is I learned so much during the borescope inspection because the guy would hold the screen so I could see each blade, that's the one damn job I enjoyed doing a lot. I learned a ton. But turning the guts of a 5 million dollar turbine engine two full rotations, VERY slowly, for each of the umpteen stages of the compressor, is extremely hard to do when you only have a 1/2" socket jammed into an old piece of pipe as a cheater bar. I learned a lot, but 4 hours of crawling that engine along with my chest injured it. I surely wish I didn't have this to deal with, believe me.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Should I have to pay this bill???????

Good.
That letter should get action for you.

Don't worry about the bogus bit. The new guys will get to know everyone in good time. Guess we have all been there-done that.

Cheers
Phillip

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Should I have to pay this bill???????

Water the real quetion is your long term credit rating. Pay the bil for that reason alone. You can always go back on your employer at anytime..He would be a fool to try to avoid such a claim..

Now im trying to make a point a point here with you...Someday you might be deined a loan for not paying this..or You might pay say 7% on a house loan insted of 5...Now figure that out.. Over 1200... Pay the bill and then look at your employer staiting that you have taken care of your responsibility's Now its his turn to be responsible..or the propertys owner...Hell sue him the propery owner that will get someone motivated..

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Should I have to pay this bill???????

Usually a letter stating that you intend to retain counsel if the matter isn't resolved immediately will wake up the WC guys. They don't want to go to court over such a small amount and pay your legal fees also. If you get no response from your letter, SUE! Good luck.

 

[jspansel]

Re: Should I have to pay this bill???????

Sorry to hear that... Hope they pay it for ya.

I totaled my motorcycle this last couple months ago and had to have an ambulance ride to the hospital. Ambulance was almost as much as the ER visit. $1100... My medical insurance has a $2k deductible and ambulance is part of that. So I owe the whole bill. I have no personal injury on my bike insurance so no help there. Sucks for sure. Hope you dont have to foot it like I do.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Should I have to pay this bill???????

Next time you write such a letter, don't go into specifics and don't publish the specific in an online forum. Tell them nothing more than needs to be said, because they are likely to try to twist it all in their favor.

Very simple - "I have a verifiable work related injury and I expect you to handle any and all bills related to that injury, via your WC insurance. Accordingly, I will not be paying any of the invoices"

Seriously, leave it at that.



???

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Should I have to pay this bill???????

Water the real quetion is your long term credit rating. Pay the bil for that reason alone. You can always go back on your employer at anytime..He would be a fool to try to avoid such a claim..

Now im trying to make a point a point here with you...Someday you might be deined a loan for not paying this..or You might pay say 7% on a house loan insted of 5...Now figure that out.. Over 1200... Pay the bill and then look at your employer staiting that you have taken care of your responsibility's Now its his turn to be responsible..or the propertys owner...Hell sue him the propery owner that will get someone motivated..

He can dispute the credit information and if he is right, it will be removed. Trying to get paid back on the bills will be tough. If he doesn't pay them ***** will be looking for someone to pay it and then the employer has to fend both he and they, off.

***** Ambulance Service is a very large company, with branches across the state of Louisiana. I live 3 hours away from WIF and they have a station very close to me. If they know this is a WC situation, they aren't going to go away and the employer will have to deal with them.


PS: I decided to remove the name of the ambulance company involved in my post. I have no reason to believe that it has done anything inappropriate and it is pretty much stuck in the middle of this situation. Based on the information given, this seems like a pretty clear cut WC case and I still think WIF should not pay the bill, but I am belatedly reluctant to drag the specific ambulance company into a public discussion on the matter.


???