Workmen's Comp. Problems....Please help if anyone can?

[dancinlady55]

What is the name of your state? Louisiana
After a 2 year battle in the courts with W/C I finally won my case in April 2002. The problem that I am currently having is with my out of pocket and previous medical expenses with my providers. They were ordered by the court to pay for everything from the date that I left work which was in 1999. From that time until May 2002 I had been making regular payments on all my accounts to keep my name clean. Once I won the decision, I was advised legally to stop making payments which I did. As of today W/C has paid some of these bills but not all of them. I am currently being turned over for collection and this is ruining my name. Can anyone out there advise me as to what rights I have regarding this situation. Please help if anyone has any suggestions that can help me with this matter.
dancinlady55

 

[driftbuster]

I would start by seding a copy of of the paperwork that you received when you settled, highlight where it stated that you did not have any further financial responsiblity. also my lawyer told me that if ther were any further problems with my case that he wouild take care of it, it was included in his bill. maybe your lawyer said something like that. this has gone on way to long.

 

[dancinlady55]

Workmen's Comp. Problems....Please Help If Anyone Can

Driftbuster,
Thank you for responding to my question. I have been in touch with my attorney. That has also been a problem as she has been investigating this since June 2002. Before posting this question the last time I had received any information from my attorney was back in July. She mailed out a letter to my employers attorney about the discrepency in the out of pocket expense I had paid and letters to my outstanding medical providers and collection agencies telling them it is against the law to bill me or turn me over for collection. These problems are still on going. I hate calling my attorney although I do when I have enough! I started calling her 3 weeks ago and I just spoke to her yesterday. I am feeling like my case has been put on the back burner. She always has a wonderful excuse as to why she has not returned my call and I hate getting ugly. Yesterday when I spoke to her, she stated she has letters going out again to my providers. She also stated that workmen's comp. is trying to sort out what has been paid. I cannot understand if I have sent in the outstanding bills since April 2002, what is their question? I also have been thinking this has been long enough for them to have taken care of these bills. I guess I will allow my attorney more time to straighten these problems out. How much longer do you think I should let this continue and what would you suggest if I continue to get no results? I am not allowed to contact my W/C adjuster myself at the advice of my attorney. I am trying to be very patient as I am certain you can see that. Thank you again for responding.
dancinlady55

 

[driftbuster]

since you have been thru the system you know about the games, they don't stop. I paid 2 bills(total 120 dollars) myself because i was tired of the excuses and the phone calls from the collection agency telling me how Iwas responsible. It is unfortunate that they can still get the last word in and still jerk you around even after it is over. be patient with your lawyer, as you know by now how the system works. mine still isn't over. I filed for disability retirement with my ex employer and after 3 months they are still sitting on my aplication. they have not made any appointments with their dr's as of yet. I was told "no problem" but until I get my first check i will still be a wreck.

 

[precious626]

worker's comp

What is the name of your state? Louisiana
After a 2 year battle in the courts with W/C I finally won my case in April 2002. The problem that I am currently having is with my out of pocket and previous medical expenses with my providers. They were ordered by the court to pay for everything from the date that I left work which was in 1999. From that time until May 2002 I had been making regular payments on all my accounts to keep my name clean. Once I won the decision, I was advised legally to stop making payments which I did. As of today W/C has paid some of these bills but not all of them. I am currently being turned over for collection and this is ruining my name. Can anyone out there advise me as to what rights I have regarding this situation. Please help if anyone has any suggestions that can help me with this matter.
dancinlady55

well i think if you get a copy of the judgement and send it to the collection and credit breau it should help and make them go after the insurance and tell your lawyer about it he should be able to advise you on this also. hoepo this helps

 

[BeenAround]

Do you have copies of all the outstanding bills that you need to be reimbursed for by this insurance carrier ?

 

[BeenAround]

There is a "guerilla tactic" method that I have used successfully to enable my friends get w/c to pay up in a nasty situation like this. But before I go and spend time outlining what you really need to do, I just wanted to know if you have all the paperwork first.

 

[moe15]

Call Wcb

CALL WCB-your claims examiner and tell them that they are not paying...better yet, do it in writing.
They will get to the insurance company.
I would call your claims specialist at the insurance co. also, and let them know that they are not fulfilling their requirements, and if it is not taken care of by a certain date, that you will be requesting another hearing with the WCB to get it straight.
I agree with the other responses--send the collection agencies a copy of the "Notice of Decision" that you get after your hearing, that recaps what was awarded.

 

[BeenAround]

I am assuming that Dancinlady has already tried contacting everyone to try to collect her money...there are w/c carriers out there that you just won't believe - they absolutely do everything possible not to do what they are supposed to do. If you are dealing with the same impossible w/c that I had to deal with for my friends, then calling them is not going to be enough.

But of course, if you haven't done those basic steps, please do try calling them first !

 

[moe15]

You would be surprised

at how many people just don't know where to start, or the resources they have.
When I was first injured, I didn't even know that the WCB and the insurance Co. were 2 different places, I thought they were the same company.
I did not know that they had a claim specialist assigned to my case, so that I could talk to the same person everytime.

It is nice to have this board now! Wish I knew it was here back in the beginning!
I find that the WCB is pretty good at following up with the insurance if I don't want to deal with them (my ins. co. rep. is really nasty to me).
I have now started a group at yahoo for NYWorkersComp to help people who may not have the resources I now know about

 

[dancinlady55]

I posted this thread a very long time ago. I had to vanish from here due to the fact that I had to endure back to back spinal surgeries. Since that time I am just getting back into this site. Thanks to all that posted in attempt to help me and I am sorry for not getting back to this before now. My WC issues have been setteled and things have been going in the right direction. All my outstanding bills have been paid but not without battle. I also did received penalties due to me for lack of their responsibility in paying the bills as they were ordered. Just thought I would provide and update. One thing people need to remember is, "Don't go down without a fight"! Thanks!
dancinlady55

 

[pikkie]

sorry you are having these problems with w/c

I had something from w/c go on my credit,well I found out through the labor board in the state of tn that they can be sued for doing this- nothing from w/c should ever go on your credit in some states.So it might be a good idea for you to call someone at the labor board in your state.The creditors that were calling me were from other states so, I guess they were not aware of our state law regarding w/c.I gave them all the information about where to send this to get it off my credit.I spoke with my lawyer about it,even though I was not to contact the ins. company because I had a lawyer he advised me to call them and give them one chance to get it off my credit.She at first did not want to talk to me and I told her well this is to help you,she said ok give me the information and it was off my credit that very day. If you have a lawyer ask them what you should do.If not call your labor board someone will know this informaton.

 

[dancinlady55]

Pikkie,
Thank you for the info. I did get all these problems straightened out. Thank you for caring enough to post. Good day to ya!
dancinlady55