Is it legal for you to be billed for a medical bill after 2 years if your insurer did not pay?
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Is it legal for you to be billed for a medical bill after 2 years if your insurer did not pay?
Asked on January 15, 2012 under Bankruptcy Law, Arkansas
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Assuming that the statute of limitations, or time to sue, for a debt like this has not expired in your state, then yes, you can be sued. Ultimately, *you*, not your insurer, are legally responsible to the medical care provider for medical bills; if they do not get payment from the insurer, the provider(s) will look to you, and may take legal action if necessary. You, in turn, may be able to sue your insurer, if they dishonored their obligations under your policy and did not pay a bill they should have.
The relevant statute of limitations for this cause of action or debt would be the one for a written contract, which is 4 to 6 years in most states.
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