Old medical bills

Yesterday I received a letter from a collection agency about a bill from a visit to the ER on 4/17/04. I thought this bill was paid by my insurance long ago. It turns out the hospital never submitted the claim. I never heard anything from the hospital since the initial bill when I sent them my $30 copay.

Some background:

I didn't have my insurance #'s during my visit so I called back 2 days later and gave the person in billing the info.
I never received any bills until 12/17/04. However it was not itemized so I called and requested an itemized one.
I received an itemized bill on 1/12/05 and sent $30 sometime in Feb. as my co-pay.
Yesterday I received a letter from a collection agency.
I called the hopital and they claim they never got the insurance info. They are also saying that it would be too late to put in a claim now.

I don't remember the insurance company or any member #'s. It was something calle a Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement, I believe I paid cash to get a discount. I did receive something a little over a year ago saying something about a lawsuit and a fund set up to pay claims, but since I didn't know I had a claim I didn't keep the info.

I guess the question is should I pay the collection agency? And if so how much? They have offered to settle for $999.

You may want to file in small claims against the hospital and the collector...and force them to prove the debt and why they delayed etc.

I appreciate the idea. How about the other 29 people who read this? No other ideas??

Ask them them to prove and verify the amount of the debt supposedly due.

I don't see how to delete this thing but I settled so you can stop responding. Thanks to those who did.