I need to reply/answer a summons I received from a collection agency. The debt is very small(less then 1k) from 3 different medical providers. I believed my medical insurance at the time covered these debts, but apparently not. Because I only have <20 to respond, I need to figure out what I should say. There are attorneys fees and filing fees and blah, blah, blah that are being asked for as well. I am not sure if the problem was with my insurance company or with the provider billing them, but the research will likely take more then the 15 days I have left to respond. What is the best way to approach this?:confused:

Hello laura:

File notice that you intend to defend yourself. Then you'll have some time.

However, even if you find that the insurance was supposed to pay, you're still going to owe the debts and you'll have to collect from the insurance company. IF they made a mistake, that's still NOT a defense to use in court.

Therefore, if it were me, I'd negotiate a cash settlememt - and THEN go after my insurance carrier.

excon