Mistakenly cashed a check that shouldn't have been sent to me.?

I received and cashed a legal check made out to me from my health insurance company..only to realize after the fact that the check was actually for a medical claim so it probably should have be sent directly to my doctor instead. Since the error is technically my health insurance's fault, will I still be forced to pay them back the $106?

Yes, you will. You either need to call the doctor and find out if they got paid for the visit - because the insurance WILL tell them YOU got their check, and in which case, you are liable. OR call the insurance company and let them know the error and ask what they want you to do. Most times, they send you a letter right away asking for the refund.

If you don't, you run the risk of being sent to collection by the doctor's office, thereby screwing your credit, or getting sued by the insurance company, and they'll win, because technically that's a stolen check.

Maybe

If you paid the doctor yourself, then the check is to reimburse you. If you still owe the doc/lab/whoever money, simply pay them yourself. You did not do anything wrong.

yup.

Keep it and don't mention anything to anyone. Your doctor probably don't care about $106 and thus wouldn't make a complain to the insurance company.

Call your doctor and see if the claim has been paid to them first. Then call the ins. co. and explain what you found out. If it's legit you better pay it back. Maybe you overpaid something (deducible)? Was there a letter of explanation attached? Honesty is the best policy (turns out Mom was right!)

Yes, because you are financially responsible. There are laws that protect businesses from mistakes like this, and hold the consumer liable. I would call them as soon as you get a chance to and let them know what happened.

Yes, you will have to pay it back because the check did not belong to you. Even if it was a mistake you should want to do the right thing. The money is not yours so you should return it to the insurance company.

If the cheque was made out to you, as long as you pay the medical bill, you won't have a problem. If you don't pay the doctor's bill he could sue you, and your insurance co will not support you, as they' already paid out on it.

Check the details of your insurance policy. As far as the insurance company is concerned, they paid the claim and can prove that you cashed the check. Even before the doctor's office submitted the bill for payment, YOU were responsible for the bill.

If you're contemplating committing insurance fraud by keeping the money and not paying the bill, ask yourself whether $106.00 in your pocket is worth risking your future insurability. Heaven help you if you have a really large medical bill that they won't pay because of your deception.

A clear conscience has no price tag. Call the insurance company and ask them how they'd like to handle it. My guess is they'll tell you to write a check for $106.00 to the doctor.

Yes. One does not acquire title to funds sent in error, as in this case. A lot of people think that mistaken checks are free money. They are wrong.

The doctor will want his money and the insurance company will prove they sent it to you. So just pay the $106 to the Doctor and everything will be cool.

Sure. Getting any type of payment, deposit, etc by mistake does not entitle you to keep it.
A few points.
You are responsible for the payment of any medical bills, regardless of insurance. So even if you were paid by mistake, when the doctor does not get paid, they will bill you.
Call the insurance company to get this straightened out. Letting these things seem to cause problems if not taken care of rigth away.
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for $106 the will call if you owe them. there was a check to go to my dentist and they called me (i didn't have it, honest) and then they called the insurance company. the check was missing because it was sent to a wrong address. 3 options. #1: send it back because you owe them #2keep it because its yours. #3 keep it even though its not yours (throw your hands up in the air---cause you just dont care) let the insurance company bill you (your signature is on the back of the check= address and phone numbers and financial related material etc.) you say no i wont and they throw it on your credit as a medical charge (I dont think the marks are as bad as say auto repo). the choice is yours grasshopper

No. They've paid for the service. Now the medical provider will come to you for payment, and they'll get it.

If you don't pay, they'll take you to court, sue you, and win, and garnish your wages until they get paid - plus court costs and interest, of course.

Just pay the bill. You've been reimbursed. It's the right thing to do.

Yes, you will, one way or the other. If they paid you instead of the provider, the provider will be coming after you for payment.