Just Got a CC Charge from Apria!

[Scootergirl]

So.........here we go. My troubles begin a month in with Apria - just opened my CC bill and I have a $521 dollar charge. Of course all the offices are closed and I can't talk to anyone till Monday. But I did call my credit card company and open a dispute. My out of pocket expenses are supposed to be ZERO. Apria demanded my CC number, but told me, don't worry, we won't use it. Well, I was waiting from what I had read here, and here we go. I asked the credit card company what I can do to stop it - they said even if I got a NEW credit card, the charges will still come through and I would have to dispute them every time. The told me to talk to the merchant - which I will and I will put it in writing that they are no long authorized to use my credit card. Anything else I can do besides call my insurance company Monday? Thanks for the help - I know this has happened to others, I was stupidly crossing my fingers that it wouldn't happen to me.

[HoseCrusher]

You might think about calling your states attorney's office and filing a complaint.

[jencat824]

Scootergirl,

As long as you are putting it in writing that they are no longer authorized to use that card, I would send it certified, return mail, so you have a signature from someone at Apria. This could prove helpful for any future disputes.

So sorry they did this to you, but the posts about this weren't until after you had already given them your CC # so you couldn't have know. Hit them hard on Monday am & let them know they MUST correct this immediately. That's a BIG charge, so I would start with the branch manager.

Good luck & let us know how it goes,
Jen

[Janknitz]

Make a complaint to your insurer, too. If you have 100% coverage they just violated the terms of their contract with your insurer.

[Scootergirl]

Thank you all. I was so shaken up and angry about this, I just wish it wasn't the weekend. I wish I opened my bill yesterday when I could have still made phone calls. I was even ON the phone with my insurance about another issue with my husbands doctor - I could have talked to them about it then, too. I don't even know what they're charging me for - my orginal machine and equipment bill was for $512 (pretty close numbers there) and I exchanged just the CPap unit a 8 days later. The machine is a RENTAL....and I haven't even gotten any EOB from my insurance saying Apria submitted anything - but I know that my insurance gave authorization for both RX's. And they also informed me both times that I had no out of pocket expenses. Right now, I've called Apria every name I can think of - I don't think I've stopped referring to them as M....F.....Apria all morning. I'm so steamed. Kinda of puts a bit of a damper on Mother's Day weekend - I wanted to relax and all I can think of is PINK PAPER BILLS AND A BOGUS CREDIT CARD CHARGE!

Sorry......don't mean to yell.

[Scootergirl]

Well, I just got a bill in the mail from Apria - so I know exactly what they're billing me for and it looks like from what is says on the bill - that my insurance - that told me TWICE that I was covered - would not pay. So that will be my first call on Monday.

[chunkyfrog]

If you are on Medicare, you can file a complaint for double billing.
Medicare says they frown on that--big time! I am changing to a different DME--Monday.
I will give the local Apria staff a nice goodbye note with the cc# demands as my ONLY reason for jumping ship,
along with honest praise for the local staff. Luckily this new outfit is more convenient to me,
even though they are about a mile farther away--just in a better direction.

[hobbs]

Well, I just got a bill in the mail from Apria - so I know exactly what they're billing me for and it looks like from what is says on the bill - that my insurance - that told me TWICE that I was covered - would not pay. So that will be my first call on Monday.

Be nice when you call Apria! They are in business to make $$$ and will/should do everything it takes to get the insurance to pay. It took (4) months of working with Apria and (3) denials from my insurance until my S9 was finally paid 100%. I believe standard insurance procedure is deny and see if you go away quietly. BTW, still don't trust any DME to do anything they say the first time.

[Guest]

Well, I just got a bill in the mail from Apria - so I know exactly what they're billing me for and it looks like from what is says on the bill - that my insurance - that told me TWICE that I was covered - would not pay. So that will be my first call on Monday.

The charges could be coded incorrectly. If so that is something Apria will have to work out.

[Scootergirl]

The odd thing - the bill Apria sent is only for 70.75 - which is one month rental. Which the insurance paid the first month. Keep in mind - they just started this process with me on 3/24.....and the insurance paid out by 4/17....which means they didn't wait for the insurance payment in my mind. So they billed my CC for over 500 dollars because they couldn't wait for the insurance to process? And then, the send me a bill for 70.75 - good thing I started the dispute with my credit card company - what a despicable way to do business - if you're going to send me a bill anyway - why did you send me a bill for more????? And the bill shows they were paid everything except the last 70.75 which was Aprils rental!

I'm not on medicare, though. This is my Horizon insurance through my employer. And I will be calling them bright and early Monday morning before I even think about calling apria.

[Scootergirl]

If you are on Medicare, you can file a complaint for double billing.
Medicare says they frown on that--big time! I am changing to a different DME--Monday.
I will give the local Apria staff a nice goodbye note with the cc# demands as my ONLY reason for jumping ship,
along with honest praise for the local staff. Luckily this new outfit is more convenient to me,
even though they are about a mile farther away--just in a better direction.

So glad you can get with another DME. I have to get through my compliance stage - which I'm also going to discuss with my insurance. Apria told me they'd be renting this machine for 12-13 months to me - my insurance told me they buy the machine for me after 3 months. There is no way I'm going to be dealing with Apria like this for 12 to 13 months.

[Scootergirl]

Well, I just got a bill in the mail from Apria - so I know exactly what they're billing me for and it looks like from what is says on the bill - that my insurance - that told me TWICE that I was covered - would not pay. So that will be my first call on Monday.

Be nice when you call Apria! They are in business to make $$$ and will/should do everything it takes to get the insurance to pay. It took (4) months of working with Apria and (3) denials from my insurance until my S9 was finally paid 100%. I believe standard insurance procedure is deny and see if you go away quietly. BTW, still don't trust any DME to do anything they say the first time.

Thanks - I usually start my dealings with people nicely - there's no reason for me to be nasty to anyone, especially if I'm looking for them to help me. My anger is at Apria operating procedures - not at the people who are forced to operate that way. I learned a long time ago not to attack people for the jobs they have to do. Standard procedure shouldn't be to deny coverage that you have already authorized - all of my Rx's were pre-authorized by my insurance. More likely is Apria not liking how long the insurance is taking to pay out - which if you could see the dates - it only took them three weeks to pay.

and LOL - I'm with you about the trust.....I have a feeling I'll be wrestling this for a little while.

[SeekSleep]

I had nothing but trouble with Apria, to the point I pretty much think company policy drives the issues rather than mistakes, or any honest problem. I too have dual insurance and shouldn't ever have to pay anything. They would continually send me a bill saying the insurance company said I owed that amount. When I would call apria they would always say they couldn't itemize what I owed the money for, and I would have to go through multiple people telling them I was gathering info for possible insurance fraud before they would finally admit the insurance had turned down the claim because it was a double billing. This happened 5 times before I switched companies.

Good luck, they are a very frustrating company to try to deal with.

[sawinglogz]

I asked the credit card company what I can do to stop it - they said even if I got a NEW credit card, the charges will still come through and I would have to dispute them every time.

However, if your card were to be stolen and you reported it as stolen, they have to reject all charges to the old account number.

[chunkyfrog]

You might have to close the cc account. We did with Discover, and never went back.