I'm being sued by the hospital. What should I expect?

Question

Okay so earlier this year I ended up going to the hospital because I couldn’t catch my breath very well and I was in pain. Well I ended up having pneumonia and be humiliated the whole time anyway with the doctor and nurse telling me before tests came back that I probably only have bronchitis. The doctor gives me a couple of prescriptions and then a woman from billing leads me across the hospital to discuss payment. I told her I didn’t have insurance and that I was on a very tight budget anyway. That coming to the hospital had been a last resort kind of thing for me. She said basically it wasn’t her problem and she either needed cash, a credit card number or for me to take out a loan to pay the amount. I told her there was no way I could take out a loan that I had no cash at all and that I didn’t have any credit cards. Well then she said that I needed to find someone to give me their credit card number. Okay I said but I’m not sure he will.

So anyway I couldn’t get a credit card number and a week after this whole incident I lost my job and my income. A month and a half after that my fiancée left me for a woman he was working with and my son and I had to move in with my mom. I had a temp job a few months back and ended up losing it when my ride quit. There are not many jobs here because I live in rural Kansas. And many of them you have to have transportation to get to. Every last penny I had gotten before when to my parents to help pay for cost of food and utilities plus paying for child care, diapers and gas to the girl I was riding with. I very literally had $20 dollars or less when everything was said and done to my name. I’m trying very hard to get another job, but it’s really tough. My parents have managed to get a little money up for my son to have something for Christmas. And then the hospital served me with papers saying I’m being sued for the entire amount or the hospital bill plus court cost plus a % intrest

We’ve tried to talk to the hospital before and tell them that it was not something we could afford but they are stubborn and say nothing less than $100 dollars a month and a credit card or loan or they will sue you.
It’s so sad to because most people actually don’t have insurance around here because many factories are hiring through temp agencies that don’t provide insurance, companies cant afford the costs so they are dropping plans or the premium is so high that it is hard for people to afford it if they do. And then the physicians charge at least $65 dollars upfront fee to see them and that’s without any tests! No free clinics and few people qualify for Medicaid too! My son and fiancée had insurance at the time but he was paying over $200 dollars a month just for premiums. This area the average pay ranges between $7 and $9 dollars an hour anything over that you’ve had to been their awhile. So where do people go when they are sick if they can’t afford a doctor visit?

My own sister is a waitress and just found out she’s a stage below cervical cancer. She doesn’t qualify for Medicaid here because with her possible tips (Yup for real) she would make more than so much a month. So my sister has a chance of developing cancer and for what? I’m just so depressed and frustrated. My sister is a single mom too and her little girl depends on her. How do you explain this stuff. Her husband walked out on her and doesn’t pay child support either. I realize that people on here probably don’t care but I’m scared because I’ve never really been to court before especially being sued. I have no money, no possessions and I’m so scared and nervous I keep throwing up! I’m not against paying my bills damn I’m trying to just survive right now. I don’t know what to expect in court and it’s also pretty well know many factories here do background checks and don’t hire people who have garnishments.

Like I said they are suing me already. My court date is one the 19th. I am scared to hell because of it all. The hospital here will take what ever you give them but they will sue you for not paying their minimum amount asked. They terrorized my ex mother in law like this and she is disabled on disability. I'm just really scared!

Answer 1

first of all, most hospitals (even if they dont tell you) have some sort of 'charity care' programs, where bills/services are covered to those whom qualify, and it sounds like you do. if they dont, contact the state medical board of your state and they will point you in the right direction.

call social services; most states today have medical insurance to cover those going through a hard time. apply for it. its worth the aggravation.

contact and find the local food bank. this will help free up money for other expenses, electric phone etc.

secondly, you CAN pay them just five bucks a month and there is nothing they can do about it. or better yet, ask them if they would rather your file bankrupt? they dont want that. (one link i'm posting has info on how to deal with bills and bill collectors).

contact your local legal aid office TODAY; they are in every state and most counties. its in the phone book or call your county court house clerk for the number. they work on a slinding scale and is free to most. make an appointment, bring your paperwork (ask what to bring).

here are some links that will help. just click on your state and find the child support section. also, there is medical help info on the one. the last two are awesome for help too.

Answer 2

As you reported, you dragged your ft and did not stick with by with the coverage employer. Your husband filed the place of work artwork, yet purely left it at that. He must have followed by to verify your son replaced into extra. Then he appealed, and in no way followed by on that. in the intervening time, you probable persevered to receive month-to-month statements from the wellbeing center, and this can were an excellent indicator that you had to adhere to by. As for each little thing else that has been occurring on your existence, at the same time as it truly is tragic and intensely time eating, it truly isn't any longer the wellbeing center's problem. that's now the employer area of the wellbeing center you're coping with, and they have a employer to run. They treated your son lower than good faith that you would deal with the monetary end, even if that be your coverage or paying it your self. You did not attempt this over and yet lower back with each and every assertion they despatched to you. What are you able to do now? contact the coverage and experience their @ss about paying the declare. artwork with the wellbeing center, and note in the adventure that they'll settle in case you will get your coverage to cover it (or a minimum of area, and also you set up funds to cover something).

Answer 3

Look the best thing for you to do to get out of this mess is to find a good attorney who will help you file bankruptcy. You will probably have to work out a payment plan with him. He will not do any of the work until his fee is completely paid. So find a good attorney, find out his fee and then go from there. Really you have no other choice. Looks like you have no assets, so the hospital cannot get any assets. So file bankruptcy and move on in life.

Answer 4

Make a reasonable offer, even if its five dollars a month, submit it to the finance office of the hospital in writing, with your income information (keep copies for yourself). Legally, if you are making a good faith offer, they cant do much. It is sad that medical institutions terrorize patients like this, but they do, I know, I work for the surgical billing dept of a hospital. All emergency rooms must treat all patients, regardless of ability to pay. And they must be treated with dignity and respect whilst there. MDs and medical institutions do go to extreme lengths to try to recoup monies. Stick to your guns, dont get angry with the financial reps ( catch more flies with honey) and research your rights as they stand in your state.

Answer 5

tell me about it, all this sucks, i have been turned in to collection agencys for medical bill because i dont have insureance either. i couldnt afford what the hospital wanted so i pay 60 a month to the collection agencys. not much you can do with all this, sorry to hear about all this

Answer 6

As long as you send them some money each month (even $5 a month) they can't do anything bc you are attempting to pay them. They'll bi*ch pi** and moan about it but I was told that as long as you're paying them SOMETHING they have to deal with it. Or if all else fails and that won't work and you have ABSOLUTELY no other option file bankruptcy.

Answer 7

Tell them to F off, tell them how much you can pay and if they refuse just tell them to go sue then. You have no money or assets they can take, screw them. In fact if they sue, they will win, but the court will decide how much you pay and they will take your finances into account.