CHICAGO (WLS) — One local woman battled a medical bill that should have been covered by insurance for years.

Mary Ann Posinger says she’s been battling the $1,152 bill for years. It all started when she visited a Northwestern Medicine satellite clinic for a scan in Bloomingdale, in December of 2021.

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“I disregarded that first bill because it was $0. And then the following month, I got another bill for $1,152,” Posinger said.

She ended up getting that bill in November of 2023. So, she called to complain. She thought she had cleared the issue up, explaining that she was 100 percent covered by insurance.

“Fast forward to April of ’25, almost 17 months later. I got another bill for $1,152. So then, that’s where my paper trail really began,” Posinger said.

She says despite her pleas to Northwestern Medicine’s billing department, she was sent to collections, and was getting calls to pay up. So, she called the ABC7 Chicago I-Team.

“It’s very frustrating because it’s taken a lot of my time out for somebody that should’ve been doing their job a long time ago,” Posinger said.

Her insurance company sent her a letter explaining that they were billed by Northwestern, too late, according to the insurer’s policy.

The insurer said she shouldn’t have to pay, but they didn’t have to, either.

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Posinger also had a secondary insurer at the time. And somehow, that insurer was mistakenly billed, paid the claim and then demanded the money back.

Northwestern Medicine said, “Unfortunately, the charges were initially billed to the wrong insurer. By the time the error was identified, and the claim was submitted to the correct insurer, it exceeded their timely filing limit and was subsequently denied.”

“I just want it off my record; I don’t even have debt,” Posinger said.

After the I-Team got involved, Northwestern Medicine reviewed the account, determined the patient “was not at fault” and the balance was adjusted to zero.

“It was their fault, and it has been cleared off my account,” Posinger said.

Every situation is different. But overall, if you’re battling a medical bill dispute, ask for an itemized bill to review. Then, compare the bill to your insurance “explanation of benefits.”

Don’t pay while a dispute is active. Let the provider know in writing that the bill is being disputed and ask them to place the account on hold.

You will not be charged interest on a medical bill. So, take your time if you need to fight it.