Health insurance receipts and paperwork

[anonymous]

i've been going through papers and receipts from my daughter's insurance payments, dr. appointments, meds etc. I keep a record for each year filed of the bills we've paid. Just wondering how long i need to keep these records? I have at least since my daughter was born(3 years worth). It's so much paperwork. Does anyone else keep these receipts and how long back? I keep them because there have been errors like the pharmacy said we didn't pay when we did or I'm afraid we'll pay something twice or get overcharged. I just don't want to hold on to this stuff forever. What do you all do?

Rebecca(mom to sammy no CF7 and Maggie 3 with CF)

 

[JazzysMom]

For tax purposes keep them for 7 years. This only applies if anything is tax deductable when you file. Otherwise I keep for 18 months. I would like to cut it down to 12, but I gaurantee you that if I do that something will come up with some providers billing & I wont have my records anymore. Medical records or "unusual" info that doesnt come along often I keep indefinitely. Most insurance companies have a cutoff for filing claims so if a provider bills you years later (if has happened to me) because the insurance wont pay, you are not responsible for it. Contact them in writing & keep a copy of everything you sent them. Otherwise the rest is pretty logical!