Can't pay Medical Bills, threatening collections even though paying?

Question

This is for my mother who can't qualify for any social services and doesn't have enough money to pay all the bills. I've been sending these people (different companies/hospitals) payments (small) and even so they are threatening to send it to collections if they don't get the money right now (like half a million dollars is easy to come by). Can they do this? Should I/we just keep sending payments? Any ideas?

Thanks for all the answers! She is 64 (5 months from medicare) and doesn't have insurance. Because our State sucks, because she is married she does not qualify for benefits from any agency (they are telling her to get a divorce!). She has cancer and need chemotherapy right up to the time she is 65 so bills will still accumulate until then :(

Answer 1

Does she have insurance?

If she does, bills don't necessarily means she owes.

Hospitals and doctors contract with insurance companies to provide services at set prices. Sometimes they send out bills to collect the residual charge. The patient doesn't actually owe this in all cases. It's just that the doctor is obliged by government regulations to send out three bills to collect. If not collected it's written off.

If she has insurance, she should find a social worker to help her with this.

If she has no insurance, she should find a lawyer. That would be cheaper than paying the full amount. The uninsured have to pay a non-negotiated rate. That means they are billed the full amount.

In other words, an uninsured patient is charged more than an insured patient for the same procedure because the insurance company has negotiated a favorable rate for the services.

I don't know much about her situation, but I hope this helps.

Answer 2

To be absolutely sure talk to a lawyer. You should be able to find one in your local yellow pages that will give you a free consultation. I have had to do the same as far as making payments. They try to get more out of you than you can pay but you can only pay what you have. As long as you make a payment, any amount that they accept even $5 says they accept your conditions on paying, each month you'll be okay. They will aggravate the crap out of you. A lawyer may be able to help with that but the cheapest way to go is to have the phone number changed. The aggravation probably isn't good for your mothers health. Also try talking to a social service advocate that works in the hospitals that your mother has a bill, sometimes they can get the bill paid in full. Good luck.

Answer 3

Has she considered filing bankruptcy, with so many medical bills this may be the only way out. They can turn the bills over to collection but they will just put the bills on her credit report and you can pay them the same payments. If they take her to small claims court you can show that an attempt was being made to pay the debts. The courts will allow payments as low as $5 a month as long as you pay it. There are also credit counselors who can help set up payment arrangements with the company's and will get them off your back.

Answer 4

Wait a minutes.. Doesn't the hospital where you live have free care. Under federal guide lines as and state guidelines. They are suppose to give her free medical. You call patients rights at the hospital and tell them that you want a financial sheet so you can have the cost of the medical put down.

As long as you are paying them they shouldn't be calling at all that is considered harrassment.

They tried that stuff with my mother. Where we live that's a no no no.

if you need my help email me at [e-mail].. give me the name of the hospital and I will rip them a new one. I will help you right a nice little letter. I gave you information from the hospital I go to and they should have website and or have patients rights posted under federal guidelines.

I worked with medical insurance companies for over 10 years and i know alot about medical.

You should also call the elderly services within your area they will help you too. Considering there a law that states that they are harrasing an elder lady with cancer.


did you see if she qualifys for medicaid? that might actually help pay some of the bills, whether she is married or not. I believe federal medicaid will help where as its called emergency medicaid. I don't know what state you live in.. but find your state they will help with cancer patients I believe too

Answer 5

They rendered the service - you owe the bill. So - if you are having a heart attack - you are passed out - emt's are administering CPR to keep you alive - they take you to the closest hospital where you are admitted into the cardiac care unit and do not die. According to your argument, you do not owe the bill b/c you did not pick the hospital. You would have picked on in your network - so the emt's should have dug around your purse, hoped your health ins card was in it -if so - called customer service and asked which hospital was in network (even if it was not the closest). and then taken you to that hospital. You realize if they did that - you would be dead. If you are incapacitated - the ambulance usually takes you to the closest hospital that is equipped to handle your injury type. You owe the bill. Usually if you pay the hospital a little money each month- they will not turn you over to collections. Since you have been turned over to a collections agency - call them and work out a payment plan.

Answer 6

I would like to know the answer to this also. Sometimes I can't pay mine (and they always demand payment in full) so I have made small payments and they did turn me in to a collection agency. If you consult a lawyer please send me an email with the response.

Answer 7

PLEASE get the book "Healthcare for Less" by Michelle Katz, it goes over all of this....for example, if her bills are coming out to more than 7.5% of her AGI, she is eligable, not only for deductions, but discounts...Medicaid will kick in to help in some states...I can go on and on, but you need to buy this book at either Barnes and Noble or order it on Amazon for $10. The author had a situation where she did not have insurance and needed back surgery...she had the surgery and did not go into debt.....I heard this on "Oprah and Friends" and went to her website at www.healthcareforless.us...click on "buy a book" and you will find it will help you and your mother get out of debt!!!!!!!

Answer 8

Ask the bank about debt consolidation. Often they offer a service that allows you to make a single payment for all your bills and the debt is reduced substationally.

Answer 9

just keep paying what you can.. their threats are garbage.

i know this through experience..

as a matter of fact.. if it's possible... maybe you can claim bankruptcy on her behalf? that's a brickload of money going down the tubes.....

bankruptcy lawyers are a bounty of helpful information.. talk to one or two...

doesn't mean you have to file.. doesn't mean if you do they won't treat your mother again....

sure would alleviate some of the agony.

Answer 10

My sister use to work for one of them collection agencies they can't do anything but threaten you so tell them to shut up or they'll get nothing.