Hospital bill collection calls...do I have to pay these?

Question

Does having delinquent hospital bills reflect negatively on your credit? I'm a student, I do not have a full time job, therefore I don't have health insurance. I have had to go to the hospital from time to time though, and I've went to a county hospital for people who don't have health insurance. Still, I have received hospital bills, in outrageous amounts of money, none of which I can afford to pay. They have been calling me about payment plans, ect..I don't even have a way to arrange a payment plan with them right now, that's how strict my budget is while I'm in school. Will this show up negatively on my credit?

Answer 1

Of course that will negatively affect your credit! You have to pay. Even if you dont have a full time job, you need to set a payment plan. Send what you can, but pay!

Answer 2

I am currently a business to business Credit and Collections Manager; in a previous employment life, however, I did billing and collections in the healthcare industry.

The short of it, yes, the bills will be reflected on your credit report. Will they effect you in a negative way? Yup. But, how much of an impact it has on credit denial or approval will depend upon the entity running your credit report. Your rental agent may not be as concerned about medical bills as a finance company will be.

If you are an uninsured student and you've gone to a "not for profit" hospital, you should ask your collector what your options are. Many hospitals have programs to help non-insured folks (who fall within or below the poverty level) and you could probably get the majority of your debt cleared by going through a simple application process. You should also ask them to consider settling the debt for as little as 10%.

Your major concern should be with keeping this out of court. In most states, it is extremely easy to get summary judgement against a debtor. Providing your state's laws do not prohibit wage garnishment (or income tax garnsihment) and/or placing a lein on private property, you could end up in a world of hurt. Even if you don't have money now, these things have a way of catching up with you when you're trying to finally get on your feet.

Don't run away from the bills and continue to play it straight with the collectors. If you find that you are meeting resisitance, you can remind the collector that you are a student and you have little money...and, if you bankrupt, they will get nada.

Answer 3

Medical bills do reflect on your credit. If you are young please try to find some resolve with this, believe me if you want to buy a car or house in the future, you NEED a good credit score!!! Set up an arrangement with the hospital to pay 5 or 10 dollars a month, it may still show up on your credit history, but a slow payment is better than none at all.

Answer 4

Your school might have a health insurance plan for COLLEGE students that's affordable.

Please call the Health Office of your univeristy to ensure that you can buy affordable health care insurance while you are receivng an education.

And by the way, yes you have to pay these deliquent hospital bills.

Yes, the unpaid accounts can be referred to collection agencies and reported on your credit report.

But know this. EVERYTHING IS NEGOTIABLE.

You should never pay full price on health bills.

Talk the bastards down to $0.30 to the dollar on the bill.

You have to be YOUR OWN advocate to get the bills reduced and then set up a payment plan that accommodates your tiny budget.

Champion your cause.

Answer 5

Yes, it will show up negatively on your credit. What you need to do is go to the hospital, they have help for people who can't afford the bills... alot of times it is written completely off. I understand your dilema about the strict budget, but you need to at least make an attempt and go see if they will write it off. They have funds for this type of stuff and not returning or ignoring thier calls isn't going to get you anywhere except for you to have bad credit. If you have bad credit whats the use in going to college to get a better job?

Answer 6

Yes it will show up on your credit report but in some case medical related things on credit may or may not effect a loan. But you should still talk to the hospital and let them know your current situation. Maybe they could even take away some money from the bills.

Answer 7

Since this bill is over a year old, it has probably been sold to a collection agency and that's who you would have to deal with. You can't go to the hospital and try to set up payment. The collection agency won't talk to you -- legally the cannot discuss the debt with anyone but your sister. Since there's been no contact from the collection agency, just let sleeping dogs lay.

Answer 8

Yes it will. You need to at least be in contact with them and figure out the best way to handle it.

I had a situation 4 years ago that a workers comp insurance company didn't bother to pay one of the bills from a surgery I had to have. It went on my credit report and it has already cost me several thousand dollars in excessive credit charges and lawyers fees. Don't let it go too far, it's nearly impossible to get bad credit removed from your report.

Answer 9

Sounds like you might benefit from a credit counseling agency. Look them up in the yellow pages. They have a lot of experience in helping people negotiate a reasonable way to deal with such things, and they can tell you what has to be paid and what may just be the result of some computer spitting out endless charges that are frivolous. I wouldn't try to handle this on my own as you have already gotten to the end of your ability to cope. But, don't put this off. Meet it head on or you could find yourself in court...or worse.

Answer 10

Yes, it will affect your credit. Call them and work out a credit plan. We need comprehensive health care in the US but until then, you must pay your hospital bills. Perhaps you are still covered under your parents' health ins?