Is it legal for a hospital to bill you after you paid in full the total that you were quoted?

Question

I was told my hospital bill was a specific amount. I even got a print out of it, and the first bill that came was itemized and showed the quoted amount. After I paid it I started to receive bills saying I owed several hundred more dollars.
Is this legal?
I tried contacting the hospital, but I'm not getting a response, and they're saying they're going to send the bill to a collection agency.

Answer 1

It is unfortunately legal for them to bill you more If the bill didn't state "Final bill".

You could have written "Payment in full for all services" on the check and that would have most likely protected you.

As it stands, they have the legal right to add additional charges that were omitted from a bill.

I do suggest that you write them, keep a record of every contact in detail, and make an offer to sell with them.

If nothing succeeds, set up a payment schedule with them of they agree to not sell the debt to a collection company. You DON'T want to go into collection. The long term harm to your credit rating could cost you significantly more...

Good luck,
Mike

Answer 2

Before addressing the legal situation -- which will involve your time, energy, and psyche, tell the accounts payable people that you will only be paying the hospital estimate and that your are unable to pay the rest. If they resist, write a letter stating your case to the president of the hospital or to the chairman of the board of directors. If that doesn't work, appeal to the state regulatory body that oversees hospitals.

If that doesn't work -- and particularly if they say that the extra costs involved tretments that could not have been foreseen, make a deal. Offer them 20 per cent. Settle on 50 per cent. This is costing the hospital a lot of money to collect. The collection agency may or may not succeed in collecting any money from you. Hence, it -- and the hospital -- will come up with nada. You're giving them the opportunity to get something out of it. Any deal you make would have to include a written statement to the effect it will not affect your credit rating.

The calmer, more determined you seem, the more likely they will recognize that they are not going to get what they want. Be cordial. Don't let them provoke you. Don't hang up on them. If they start to force the issue, tell them you feel we have reached an impasse. Ask for suggestions on how it could be resolved. Suggest to the hospital that there may be a third party who could look at this situation and come up with a fair resolution. If it looks like you're getting nowhere, then declare that it doesn't appear we can agree on this matter and politely conclude the conversation. You always have time to call them back with another offer. Think like the used car buyer. Walk away from the used car lot when you can't reach agreement on a price. You don't know the limits until you have throughly tested the opposition.

Answer 3

I seriously doubt you received an "exact" quote on what your hospital procedure/ visit would cost.
You may have received and itemized statement of services, but as there are multiple billing bodies within a hospital they may not have all been recorded when the first bill was given to you. Specialists, consultants, radiology, central sterile, individual physicians, physicians covering for your primary (if applicable) are all allowed to bill. In addition if you recieved pharmacy services or nursing services those may not have all been included on your initial statement.
My reccomendation is to check your original statement with the new statements being received, if the new ones are not itemized then contact the hospital for an itemized statement.
You will likely find these are services not billed on your initial statement.

Medicine is not car repair, you cannot be told that parts and labor will be "X" amount. Your quoted procedure might be "X" but there is more involved with health care than one thing.

Answer 4

In some places Vets can legally attempt this. in view that dogs are considered belongings then it really is virtually like taking your automobile into the shop and also you signal a paper that can provide them permission to carry the automobile- you are able to also lose it- if the price isn't in finished. So your magnificent guess should be to come across a relative or buddy that ought to charge the completed volume and pay them the seventy 5 % up the front. Then both artwork off the soundness for the buddy or make price preparations with them. i wish it really is an selection for you! I do comprehend that for some, it isn't an selection. then you definitely ought to opt to come across a reporter that comments on public pastime matters and take the money to the newshounds place of work ( the seventy 5 % price) and tell them your tale. tell them you would pay this instantaneous yet they could't launch your dogs with out the completed volume and are in truth charging boarding till bill is paid with an worker in line who needs to shop your dogs! i wish one or the different attitude should be of help to you. The Vet has the right to their money, yet in truth, it really is costing them a lot more advantageous no to take the seventy 5 % and assist you make funds at something. Sorry on your situation.

Answer 5

You call accounts and tell them to stop because you paid the bill already. I hope you kept the receipts and such. If they give it to a collection agency, send copies to them and tell them to bugger off. If it continues get a lawyer and sue the hospital and collection agent.

Been there, did that, won 10 grand.

Answer 6

Disease happens. Pay the bill if you can, otherwise tell the doc to take it out of your SS or medicare.