Can I send minimum payments and not the full pay off balance to my hospital bills without affecting my credit?

Question

After I had my baby I have been bombarded with hospital bills that my insurance did not cover. I have been sending $20.00 here and there but not the full balance. Will that show up on my credit report or can they charge interest or late fees?

Answer 1

Call the hospital (number is on the bill) and you can arrange to make monthly payment. The will accept what you can affort. Just make sure to make your payments every month, on time. This way you can avoid having the bill go into collections. Once it is in collections, it can affect your credit. The hospital will work with you, they will just be happy to receive payment...any payment. It costs them $$ to send a bill to collections.

Answer 2

Luckily, most hospitals do not report delinquent status to credit agencies. They understand that it takes time to work out insurance payments/your payments for a total hospital bill. They also will not likely charge you late fees or interest if you are at least sending them something.

The best thing to do is once you've finally determined what you're share of the bill is actually going to be, is to call the receivables department of the hospital and try to work a payment plan out with them. Typically, if you can go up front with most of the balance, they will discount what you owe; otherwise they will establish a payment plan with you, which is usually pretty fair.

Communication is key; make sure they know you're intent to repay and you're willingness to keep current. They'll work with you.

Answer 3

What you need to do is contact the financial office at the hospital and tell them that you are having a hard time paying off the bills. They will set you up with a payment plan of what is affordable for you. If I remember correctly when I did this there was little or no interest. Each hospital may be different in how they handle things but I have always been able to work with the ones I have been to. Congratulations on your newest family member!

Answer 4

Hey Vanessa
I too have had this happen to me.
I have always been told and done the following with great success.
Its better to pay at least SOMETHING rather than NUTHING.
I've even paid just $10 on a $900 bill one month and the lady at the hosp was ok with that. I was trying. When you stop paying or responding THEN you'll get in trouble for sure!
I have done this for years and have never had a collection or credit issue. Also - Just calling can do WONDERS. Seriously. Let em know youre trying and INTEND to work something out.
Also see if there are any "breaks" for in-state patients or quick pay offs. A hospital once offered to cut my bill in half if I could pay it within 30 days.

I wonder why they couldnt make it half off in the first place ....

Answer 5

Well it is always better to send more than the minimum so the interest rates can go down, that is if you have one. And also make sure that you send your payments on time. Trust me, I just asked a question about perfecting my credit score, but it you can afford to make more than the minimum payment, even if it's five dollars, I encourage you to do so. Good luck!

Answer 6

it particularly is often extra perfect to pay the completed stability, in case you may. how are you able to be a credit threat in case you always pay back what you owe? The credit card businesses do no longer make lots funds from you once you pay the completed stability each month, yet they do no longer punish you for it which comprise your credit. the instructor that advised you to throw away funds on interest by ability of carrying a stability is a fool.

Answer 7

contact the hospital ask them about payments, if you are showing good intentions with a payment each month there is nothing they can do my mom paid for 5 years the same amount and she kept track and when it was paid that is all they never asked for interest

Answer 8

Yea as long as you make a payment your credit is supposed to be safe... (a payment per month)