Possibly stupid question about filling out forms at doctor's office

[Kellydelly]

I have four children (10-14). I have most often been the one who takes them to all dental and medical appointments. I always fill in my husband's insurance information and list him as the person who is responsible. Then I sign the forms and go on my merry way. I always assumed that my husband and his insurance were responsible for the bill.

So after 14 yrs of doing this, we visit a new orthodontist. They tell me that my husband needs to come into the office and sign everything instead of me to ensure that he is the one who will be responsible for the fees. I have never run into this before. Maybe I am just a dim bulb and should have realized that as a parent I am 50% liable no matter what?

My husband has always been the main breadwinner. I will probably actually be the one making the monthly payments to the orthodontist out of my account, so it's not a big deal. I just didn't want to be named as responsible for thousands since he is the one who makes more money than me (like 5x more), and orthodontics take yrs. Probably not making sense, but if you are following what I am asking, or work in a medical office, is the person you write down on the forms in the "responsible party" responsible for any bills or is it automatically the person signing them?

My husband is going to go to this office and re-sign the forms I already did, but it may not even make sense for him to do this . Is the office staff confusing me or am I confusing them? LOL

 

[TheIncredibles!]

My husband makes more than I do and we use his insurance. I just put down that I am the responsible party and sign my name. If my husband is responsible or I am responsible in the end it comes out of the same bank account. I'd rather do that as opposed to having my husband take time off to go sign forms so I can cover my rump.

 

[JanaDee]

I have four children (10-14). I have most often been the one who takes them to all dental and medical appointments. I always fill in my husband's insurance information and list him as the person who is responsible. Then I sign the forms and go on my merry way. I always assumed that my husband and his insurance were responsible for the bill.

So after 14 yrs of doing this, we visit a new orthodontist. They tell me that my husband needs to come into the office and sign everything instead of me to ensure that he is the one who will be responsible for the fees. I have never run into this before. Maybe I am just a dim bulb and should have realized that as a parent I am 50% liable no matter what?

My husband has always been the main breadwinner. I will probably actually be the one making the monthly payments to the orthodontist out of my account, so it's not a big deal. I just didn't want to be named as responsible for thousands since he is the one who makes more money than me (like 5x more), and orthodontics take yrs. Probably not making sense, but if you are following what I am asking, or work in a medical office, is the person you write down on the forms in the "responsible party" responsible for any bills or is it automatically the person signing them?

My husband is going to go to this office and re-sign the forms I already did, but it may not even make sense for him to do this . Is the office staff confusing me or am I confusing them? LOL

Unless you're planning on divorcing, the money all comes from the same place, right?

I always sign I am responsible (I have zero income) and write in DH's insurance info.

 

[mom2rtk]

Totally nutty that they would expect your husband to take time out of his day to come in the office and sign forms. I wonder what other odd policies they'll have in store for you.

 

[Arielle22]

You can't legally commit your DH to pay the bill. The office wants the person named as responsible party to sign themselves so if it had to go to court the office would show your DH took responsibility.

Just put yourself and sign. If there was a divorce, the bills would need to be included under joint bills anyway.

 

[Tink415]

I've always written that my childs parents were responsible for the bill and written both our names. They usually bill to my husband because his insurance is first (dental) or the only (medical) but it varies depending on the office. Seems the orthodontist office is very serious about getting paid.

I've been married for a long time, used to be when we moved I could call and get services billed in my husbands name, that doesn't happen nowadays!

 

[mjkacmom]

I've always put my husband's name, since he is the one who works. Never had an issue in the past 17 years.

 

[Kellydelly]

I've always put my husband's name, since he is the one who works. Never had an issue in the past 17 years.

Me too, until I did begin working again a few years ago. Nobody ever questioned it until this office staff did. Or I did, and opened up a dumb discussion about it . I always thought dh was on the hook, as the employed, insured one. After thinking about it I can see that we both are, no matter what.

 

[Styx Fan]

I never really thought about it. When I was working and had my own insurance I think I put I was the responsible party. Now I always put my husband, just because the insurance is through his work.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I have four children (10-14). I have most often been the one who takes them to all dental and medical appointments. I always fill in my husband's insurance information and list him as the person who is responsible. Then I sign the forms and go on my merry way. I always assumed that my husband and his insurance were responsible for the bill.

So after 14 yrs of doing this, we visit a new orthodontist. They tell me that my husband needs to come into the office and sign everything instead of me to ensure that he is the one who will be responsible for the fees. I have never run into this before. Maybe I am just a dim bulb and should have realized that as a parent I am 50% liable no matter what?

My husband has always been the main breadwinner. I will probably actually be the one making the monthly payments to the orthodontist out of my account, so it's not a big deal. I just didn't want to be named as responsible for thousands since he is the one who makes more money than me (like 5x more), and orthodontics take yrs. Probably not making sense, but if you are following what I am asking, or work in a medical office, is the person you write down on the forms in the "responsible party" responsible for any bills or is it automatically the person signing them?

My husband is going to go to this office and re-sign the forms I already did, but it may not even make sense for him to do this . Is the office staff confusing me or am I confusing them? LOL

No, never ran into that.

You say NEW ortho? Do they come highly recommended from someone or something?

What a PITA.

 

[Luv'sTink]

I always put my husband too, his insurance. I am trying to think of who's name the bills come in for our son, but I don't think we have had a medical bill for him in years and years.

His Orthodontist was paid before they started each phase. I don't remember even getting an option for payments.

 

[Kellydelly]

No, never ran into that.

You say NEW ortho? Do they come highly recommended from someone or something?

What a PITA.

Yes, new orthodontist. My oldest two daughters had phase one (palate expanders and top front braces) at one of those chain orthodontists because they took our insurance at the time. I ended up not liking the orthodontist at all. Now with phase one for my son, and phase two for one of the girls as well as another kid thrown in there getting started (not sure how many phases she will need!) I wanted to go to a real practice with good references . My oldest doesn't want to go back, guess she's saving me another $4,000.

 

[Nancy]

I've always put my husband's name, since he is the one who works. Never had an issue in the past 17 years.

I've always put my husbands name on the forms too...even now when I hold the insurance coverage and I work full time myself. No one ever questions it. Bills for me still come in my name and bills for the kids since they are over 18 come in their names. I just hand them over to him to pay.

 

[momz]

I find it strange that you say you are only 50% responsible for your child's bills.

As your child's parent you are responsible for 100%, and so is the child's father. The collection agency isn't going to make that distinction.

The periodontist is not going to do 100% of the work if you are not willing to be 100% responsible for the payment.

 

[Snoozan]

After working in a Dental insurance claims office for years, I know that the ruling was changed that whichever parent brought the child in was responsible for the payment - of course, if there was only insurance under the other parent, that would get billed first, but any remaining balance was the responsibility of the parent who brought the child in. This is particularly important in cases of divorced parents. Not really fair to have the non-custodial parent paying for visits they know nothing about, unless it's spelled out specifically in the divorce decree.

 

[aprilgail2]

After working in a Dental insurance claims office for years, I know that the ruling was changed that whichever parent brought the child in was responsible for the payment - of course, if there was only insurance under the other parent, that would get billed first, but any remaining balance was the responsibility of the parent who brought the child in. This is particularly important in cases of divorced parents. Not really fair to have the non-custodial parent paying for visits they know nothing about, unless it's spelled out specifically in the divorce decree.

OK- now for another question- sometimes my brother brings my 14 year old daughter other times my friends or neighbors have brought her to the Dr/Dentist--sometimes she walks over by herself from school and goes- so how would that make me not responsible? Still my child no matter who takes her to dentist/dr.

 

[momz]

OK- now for another question- sometimes my brother brings my 14 year old daughter other times my friends or neighbors have brought her to the Dr/Dentist--sometimes she walks over by herself from school and goes- so how would that make me not responsible? Still my child no matter who takes her to dentist/dr.

I would guess that the adult that gives consent for treatment would be the person financially responsible? But, the adult that gives consent also has to be a legal guardian of the child...so, there ya go.

I don't think a 14 year old is able to give legal consent to be treated, so the child also could not be held responsible for the bill.

 

[Belle0101]

Here's what's funny - at our family doctor's office and 1 of the specialist's office, I can write any name I care to write on the line addressing who is financially responsible for our son's medical care. I can write myself, my husband, Bozo the Clown, Walt Disney. It doesn't matter because there's a 2nd separate sheet to sign addressing who is financially responsible.

That 2nd sheet states (paraphrasing) that I am aware of the new Indiana law regarding financial responsibility. The new law (per the sheet) states that the person who actually signs the child in is fully responsible for the medical bill, after insurance if applicable. The household dynamic (married parents, divorced parents, step-parent, grandparents, parents who were never married, etc) is of no concern, Orders of the Court are of no concern and who carries the insurance is of no concern.

My son sees another specialist and they don't have me sign anything like that nor does our dentist. Those bills all come in my husband's name because the policy at both is that the person carrying the insurance gets the bill.

 

[Kellydelly]

I find it strange that you say you are only 50% responsible for your child's bills.

As your child's parent you are responsible for 100%, and so is the child's father. The collection agency isn't going to make that distinction.

The periodontist is not going to do 100% of the work if you are not willing to be 100% responsible for the payment.

I don't understand your confusion . I am saying that we are probably both 50% responsible, which adds up to 100% . I have never had an office tell me that because I was signing the forms that that made me responsible (as obvious as that may seem). I've always written dh's name there on the form and nobody said a thing to me.

 

[kidzmom3]

I manage the registrations at a large community hospital. The person who brings in minor child is responsible for the bill. If there is an agreement between the parents that one of them will pay.....it doesn't matter to us. The guarantor is the one who brought them in. We will send that parent the bill and they can work it out themselves.

If anyone besides the legal parent or legal guardian brings the child in....we are obligated to call the parent and whomever gives permission is made the guarantor.