Woman Faces Ongoing Medical Bill Dispute

A woman in Chicago has been dealing with medical bills that she believes should have been settled by insurance for quite some time.

Mary Ann Porsinger has been fighting a bill of $1,152 for years, which began when she visited a Northwestern Medicine clinic in Bloomingdale back in December 2021 for a scan.

“At first, I received a bill for $0, so I thought nothing of it, but then the next month, boom—another bill for $1,152,” Porsinger recalled.

After months of waiting, she finally got the bill in November 2023. Porsinger reached out to them, believing it was a misunderstanding since her insurance was supposed to cover everything.

“Then, in April 2025, I received yet another bill for that same amount, and that’s when I really started my paperwork journey,” she shared.

Despite reaching out to Northwestern Medical School’s billing department, she was passed to collections and harassed for payment. Frustrated, she contacted ABC7 Chicago’s I-Team for help.

“It’s deeply frustrating that my time has been consumed by a problem that should have been resolved ages ago,” Porsinger expressed.

Her insurance later informed her that Northwestern had submitted the bill too late, as per their policy.

They assured her that she didn’t owe anything, although the situation remained complicated.

Porsinger had a second insurance policy at the time, which was mistakenly billed. That company paid out but then sought reimbursement.

“Sadly, the claim went to the wrong insurance initially, and when it was finally sent to the correct one, it was too late, so it got denied,” a statement from Northwestern Medicine indicated.

“I just want it off my record. I’m not in debt,” Porsinger said.

Once the I-Team got involved, Northwestern Medicine reviewed her account and concluded that Porsinger wasn’t to blame, adjusting the balance to zero.

“It was their mistake and now it’s cleared from my account,” she said.

Every case is unique, but if you’re dealing with a similar bill conflict, it’s wise to request and examine your itemized bill. Then, you should cross-reference it with your insurance’s “Benefit Description.”

Don’t make any payments while disputing a bill. Inform your provider in writing that you’re challenging the charge and request they hold your account.

No interest accrues on medical bills, so if you find yourself in a dispute, take your time to resolve it.