Healthcare companies - welcome to the 21st century

Several months back, we took our son to the emergency room. During the months since, bills trickle in from that trip.

I paid a recent bill using online bill pay. Soon after, I started receiving collections threats, etc in the mail. So I called them to find out why they didn't receive the payment. Apparently, according to the person on the phone, if you don't use their envelope with the coupon they sent, they have no idea whose account it's for (even when the account # is specified on the bill payment service).

Similarly, with our HMO. I can pay all my other bills via bill payment except for health care and health insurance bills. Those must be sent in the mail with the coupon. I just cannot understand it. My only guess is that the people who open the bills and read the coupons must be part of a labor union looking to hold on to their jobs.

Bill payment services online are such a blessing, you can schedule the payments, etc - never late. Having to do it the old way for just heath bills is so irritating.

I wish they would open up to the 21st century. There must be a business opportunity there somewhere because it's obvious they are using antiquated systems.