Help! Old medical bills

Help Me Clark!
From HLN's Money Expert Clark Howard

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Jerry:
I recently received a medical bill from a doctor I used in 2007. His office said an audit turned up a lab bill that was not filed and they want me to pay it.

My insurance company says it's beyond their time limit for doctors filing claims. One person at the insurance company said not to pay it if the doctor says I'm responsible. However, I worry about my credit score if I do not pay it. Any suggestions?

Clark:
You are so right to worry about your credit score and in this case what is a reasonable amount for you to pay the doctor is what your insurance would have left as your co-pay portion.

If the doctor failed to do a timely claim it is not reasonable to hold you liable for the full amount of the lab bill when it was the doctor's office that didn't do their part. So normally with lab work there would be a portion of it that would come out of your pocket; offer them that amount of money.

If they don't want to play you send them a letter by certified mail that their failure to bill you in a timely fashion has caused you harm because it is no longer within the window that you can file with insurance and that you have made an offer to them and that if they at any time attempt to put this on your credit report, that you are prepared to sue them under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.