I have over $9,000 in hospital bills. I have nothing! How do I handle this problem?

Answer 1

Hospitals do business with the expectation that they will have to write off a certain amount of debt. And of the varieties of bad debt that can show up on your credit report, would-be creditors tend to be most understanding of bad-debt relating to hospital care. They usually recognize that most people just don't have the savings in hand to pay promptly for unexpected hospital stays, even when insurance has already covered the bulk of the costs.

Ethically, you should arrange to pay what you can -- and even small payments along the way can help to keep the debt collectors off your back. But draw the line at any arrangements that cut into your ability to meet monthly household requirements. If it comes down to a choice between paying the hospital (on one hand) or making this month's rent payment (on the other), then pay the rent.

The folks who are urging you to take out a loan are offering bad advice. Borrowing money would mean substituting a debt on which you'll have to pay interest for a debt that's interest free. The arithmetic does not work.

You might consider contacting a local Consumer Credit Counseling Service. Be forewarned: Some of them are more reputable than others. But the good ones ask only for a small monthly fee. In exchange, you get good advice about household budgeting, and they'll negotiate with creditors (especially credit card companies).

Also, you might consider shopping around for a better job. Think outside the box a little about the kinds of things you're capable of doing -- and then look into what the job opportunities are. You might surprise yourself by landing a better job -- thus becoming better able to deal with this debt.

And finally: if debt collectors start getting out of hand, consider getting caller ID on your telephone, and obtaining a second number with a distinctive ring-tone on the same line. Give the second number to family and friends, and allow the voicemail to pick up the first number. When the debt collectors get really bad, the arrangement will help you to hang onto your sanity. You already know that you owe them money, and don't really need their ugly reminders.

Folks who haven't been there generally have no clue as to how depressing debt can be. When good people fall behind on their ability to pay their debts, it takes an emotional toll. I know personally of an extreme case in which a married couple took their own lives. He'd lost his well-paying job due to health problems, and their sole remaining source of income was her job clerking at a convenience store. They had had the utilities cut off to their house due to nonpayment, and were about to lose the house due to foreclosure. Finally, they decided they had had enough and each took major drug overdoses.

I've been there -- and thankfully, have emerged over time from the horrible burden of debt. Right now, my own credit rating is still terrible -- but is improving with each passing month, as I move away from that terrible time of dealing with mind-numbing debt.

It takes time, but it can be done.

Answer 2

Most hospitals will work out a payment plan with you. Explain to them your situation and they will work something out. You'll eventually have to pay it or it will get worse with bill collectors calling your house at all times of the day.

Ask friends if you can borrow money, sell some things that you don't need anymore. Try your best to get the money so that you can pay that off.

Answer 3

Most hospitals have a charity fund to take care of bills owed by patients who can't pay. You should call the business office and they can tell you who to speak to.
I had a 45,000 bill and it was written off by the hospital.
Good Luck

Answer 4

I would do settlement with the hospital, loan to pay off the debt, and if the worse case scenerio comes up, I would do bankruptcy. Talk to the hospital, tell them your problem, they would really work with you. Try to get a second job, don't get discouraged.

Answer 5

Go see the financial counsler at the hospital. When people don't have the money the hospital will write it off. They just did that for me with 7000.00 of bills.

Answer 6

Don't stress over it! Write a letter to the hospital, and they will work something out with you, or tell you how to go about it. Maybe you are eligible for state help.

Answer 7

First, do NOT get stressed. My son almost died this year, had no insurance. Owes $229,000. He is self employed. Worked out a deal he would pay them $10/month, when he gets back on his feet, will negotiate again. They don't like it-he said he would file bankruptcy otherwise and they would get zero.

Answer 8

If you have nothing there is nothing for you to handlle. When they call asking for you to pay it tell them "I am completely broke, jobless and have nothing" and then hang up.

Now if you actually have a job then you don't have nothing and you should work out a repayment plan with them or consider filing for bankruptcy.

Answer 9

How is it "we the people" are required by low to have insurance and corporations are people, but not required by law to accept said insurance? This wold suggest to me that big business gets to have it both ways.

Answer 10

Settlement is the best way to go for these types of problem debt.

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