Help! My credit score TANKED due to ridiculous situation

[Rachel Payton]

I need help!  My credit score has been near 800 for YEARS!!  in 2020 I had a baby, and during pregnancy I obviously had several doctors appointments.  One of those appointments, the billing was sent to my insurance (as they all are) and they took like 10 MONTHS to review this one particular claim, which they ended up denying.  So the bill was sent  back to doctors, then to me basically with a "This is already almost a year past due" type notice, even though my insurance company took so long to review the claim.  My score tanked like 150 points over a $1500 bad debt that was sent to collections right away once insurance denied it.  I took care of the debt immediately through the doctors office, NOT the collection agency.  I was thinking paying the balance immediately there might be a correction done to my credit report or something, but it's only come up about 10 points in 3 months!!!  We're currently in the process of applying for a loan for a 2nd home and I'm nervous my no longer stellar credit score is going to have a major impact (Husband's score is still amazing as far as I know).

Is there anything I can do to get my score up quickly?? Do I need to call the doctors office and ask them to remove the bad debt?  Do I fight directly with the credit reporting agency?  Am I totally screwed?  Should I not worry at all because it probably wont impact my ability to get a loan??

[Jim K.]

I hope everyone reading this thread understands just how easily they can end up in the same situation, and it's just arrogance and hubris to believe you can't. @Rachel Payton, you've got to keep fighting this, and keep exploring options for applying for that loan. I wish I had better, more targeted advice for you.