My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: AZ
In summary;
My minor child sought the services of an OBGYN due to unplanned pregnancy. The state of Arizona does not require the consent of a parent for a minor seeking medical attention.
I can not find an Arizona statute requiring a parent to pay for minor child medical expenses. Only if the minor child has caused some type of damage to property.
I did not sign any payment responsibility with the doctors office.
My daughter used her medical insurance (provided by me through work)
The doctors office has an outstanding bill they attempted to collect from her (an unemployed student). She has no ability to pay it. However, I asked her to go to the doctors office after I received a call from the manager that she was placing this with collections, and told my daughter to try to pay the debt with her only means, an American Express card. The doctors office informed her "We don't take AMEX" and refused to accept the credit card.
They proceeded to place my name on the billing after several months and have sent the bill to a collection company.
I sent a letter to the collection company asking for written communication only ( no phone calls) and validation of the alleged debt.
They sent a letter back stating, we are ceasing communication per your request and will place this collection on your credit.
I sent another letter explaining to the collection company that I did not request a "Cease and Desist" but rather a written communication only as they seem capable of writing for payment demand, and also requested validation of the debt again.
In turn the collection company sent me a copy of my minor daughters doctor bill and a nice notice "We have placed this collection on your credit with a notice of dispute"
How thoughtful.
Other than an assumption of presumed indebtedness because she is my daughter, which everyone at this point is using, I don't feel a responsibility to pay for services that I had no legal right to assist in the decision process.
I would have instructed my daughter to interview several OB docs and find one that would perform her needed services based on what the insurance company would pay, which by the way, was a substantial amount.
In summary;
My minor child sought the services of an OBGYN due to unplanned pregnancy. The state of Arizona does not require the consent of a parent for a minor seeking medical attention.
I can not find an Arizona statute requiring a parent to pay for minor child medical expenses. Only if the minor child has caused some type of damage to property.
I did not sign any payment responsibility with the doctors office.
My daughter used her medical insurance (provided by me through work)
The doctors office has an outstanding bill they attempted to collect from her (an unemployed student). She has no ability to pay it. However, I asked her to go to the doctors office after I received a call from the manager that she was placing this with collections, and told my daughter to try to pay the debt with her only means, an American Express card. The doctors office informed her "We don't take AMEX" and refused to accept the credit card.
They proceeded to place my name on the billing after several months and have sent the bill to a collection company.
I sent a letter to the collection company asking for written communication only ( no phone calls) and validation of the alleged debt.
They sent a letter back stating, we are ceasing communication per your request and will place this collection on your credit.
I sent another letter explaining to the collection company that I did not request a "Cease and Desist" but rather a written communication only as they seem capable of writing for payment demand, and also requested validation of the debt again.
In turn the collection company sent me a copy of my minor daughters doctor bill and a nice notice "We have placed this collection on your credit with a notice of dispute"
How thoughtful.
Other than an assumption of presumed indebtedness because she is my daughter, which everyone at this point is using, I don't feel a responsibility to pay for services that I had no legal right to assist in the decision process.
I would have instructed my daughter to interview several OB docs and find one that would perform her needed services based on what the insurance company would pay, which by the way, was a substantial amount.
Debt Collectors: Minor Child Medical Visits Billed to Parent
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