hi Kri,

We called the insurance, they said they aren‘t allowed to discuss billing queries by telephone and that we had to send them an email. We then sent an email with a copy of the bill as well as registered post to their address. We‘ve still heard nothing, and this was weeks ago.

In parallel we have been in contact with the hospital, who have said they will now discuss further whether we are the ones that need to pay. We have heard nothing since then, and that was around 2 weeks ago also.

We are getting worried now as the bill they sent us is due on 18th April, and it states that a Mahnung would increase the costs by 5%.

At this point we feel that our only option is to hire a lawyer, which is obviously going to cost aswell... what a nightmare

As you've contested the bill, if you don't pay it's not because you've forgotten but because you're not convinced you need to pay it therefore there should be no need for a Mahnung, in theory.

Write the hospital via registered mail, with registered copy to the insurance and TELL them to figure it out!

Tom

Do I have any legal standing to do that? I have no clue what my rights are here. The hospital tell me that I am liable to pay if the insurance don’t pay

Refuse the request, it'll drag on for years.

Tom

No way, the cost of a simple letter, which includes reminders, mustn't be more than a low double-digit amount, the federal court has been (and is) very clear on that on multiple occasions. Since you've probably got that threat in writing, you could ask them what they base that on (legal or regulatory basis), and that this looks mighty close to coercion according to criminal code §181.
That may be true or not, it just doesn't matter anymore because after five years it's no longer enforceable.

At this point their demand has the same legal standing as me sending you a bill and demanding payment even though we've never met and never done any kind of business.