She just came here to visit and needed an Emergency Room care. I called the hospital and asked how much it would cost,explaining she is uninsured here and they said 50$. They wanted to keep her overnight and I asked again how much will be the charge,this time they said a few thousand! We asked permission to go home , without waiting for any more care. Now we got the bill 3000$ (on my address-I am the daughter) but on her name. Somebody told me they can't make me responsible for her bill , but since she has only $100 in Romania, who should pay it? We have 3 young kids , I am a stay at home mom and of course can't afford to pay anything,we hardly can pay our bills. I called Medicare,Medicaid, she is not eligible being a tourist. What can they do if my mom can't pay?
2007-03-12 15:24:46 · 6 answers · asked by sobusy 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Whereas your mom is not a US citizen, there is nothing they can do to make her pay, nor any repercussions agaisnt her. Just ask all the illegal aliens here. They use the emergency room as their normal doctor visits realizing most states have laws that do not allow hospitals to deny ER visits. Then they walk away without having to pay anything and there is nothing anyone can do about it.
I would not worry about it. Especially if you did not authorize the over-night stay. Hopefully you did not sign anything saying you'd be responsible for the bill, if so, sorry, good luck.
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2007-03-12 15:33:11 · answer #1 · answered by ric9757 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no kidding. thousands of illegal aliens stick it to the hospitals every day, what's one more? Who will pay if you don't? Everyone that has insurance and can afford to pay their own bills will, no doubt. They will just jack up the prices to make the money somewhere. this is one of the main reasons health care costs are spinning out of control.
I think the ethical thing for you to do is to pay the bill. Send them $20 a month if that's all you can afford. Would you be happy after a day's work if your boss said, "you know what, I can't afford to pay you this week, tough luck?" They did their job. Pay them.
2007-03-12 22:43:22 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Honestly, nothing, federal law requires all hospitals to grant immediate access to their emergency room regardless of financial support.
2007-03-12 22:39:12 · answer #3 · answered by slickny8111 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Call the hospital and ask for their CHARITY CARE..they normally have one if not asak about indigent services....if you cant work it out...let her go home..they can only write it off..many people unfortunatly do not pay...if she cant....she cant...what will the do reposess her body?
2007-03-12 22:36:32 · answer #4 · answered by Real Estate Para Legal 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your mother can afford a plane ticket but not the hospital bill? hmmm.....perhaps she should not be traveling with her health as it is,
2007-03-12 22:42:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
not a damn thing.
2007-03-12 22:38:50 · answer #6 · answered by to tell ya the truth........... 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋