My friend was taken to court because she had no insurance but had to be treated and owes a lor of money. She makes very little money and supports her mother together with her sister. She barely makes enough money to live. They are trying to force her to take a loan to pay the bill. What can she do besides declaring bankrupcy?
2007-03-26 16:19:08 · 8 answers · asked by rmrndrs 4 in Business & Finance ➔ Credit
First have her check with her local Family Service center, a place that handles medical cards and food stamps. If she is low income then she may be approved for a medical card that would cover her bills, especially since she takes care of others. Also have her check with the billing offices at the hospital on what programs they have available for low or no income. They pretty much all have them, but hardly no one knows about them as if they are the hospitals little secrets. I know Kentucky has the D.I.S.H program in most of it's hospitals that covers the patients bill 100% ...so check, it is worth it.
2007-03-26 16:27:47 · answer #1 · answered by KaT 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can't force her into taking a loan, unless it was written in the court order.
If it was not it shows as a judgment, unless they have tapped into her income with the judgment. If they did that, then leave it at that. If she has a checking account, open another, theres a lot of room here but without knowing the whole story, we can only give advice on what we know from your paragraph.
She may have to declare bankruptcy if things are that bad.
I agree with one of the recommendations above, she needs to go out and apply for food stamps, utility bill help, and everything else out there. Because if they are successful in taking most of her money she will need all that help. She may even have to go on Section 8 housing assistance.
Good Luck.
2007-03-26 23:40:24 · answer #2 · answered by Julie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your friend has no money or assets, it is highly unlikely she has seen the inside of a courtroom in regards to a medical bill. It is however likely that a bill collector is threatening her over the phone to sue her. Which is not likely to take place.
There are laws that protect the consumer from frivilous threats that cause undue stress. If the calls are coming from a collection agency, she may have a case.
No one can 'force' another to get a loan. If your friend is in the situation that you say that she is in, no creditor is about to spend the time or the money to file suit on someone that does not have the resources to pay.
I suggest that your friend submit a letter to the creditor and declare indigency and request assistance from the county. Applying for medicare and medicaid should also be explored if she is low income.
2007-03-26 23:34:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i can offer my advice, but it is up to you to tell her and her decision to accept it or not.
i became disabled 13 years ago. when i tried to get all my bills paid, all i heard from most was that they wanted their money right now. i laughed at them. ok, i knew my credit
was going to be ruined and i had triple a+ credit at the time.
i could have filed bankrupcy, but then i would be under a courts control, meaning the new credit cards and such that
i got because of the other creditors being nasty and so selfish that i used their credit cards and loans until they started to report me and cancel my cards and loans.
only discover card worked with me.
the thing is that now if you file bankrupcy, you still have to pay them back. the new laws on that sucks. with all the taxes we pay, there should be more help for our citizens.
ok, here is what i did and i suggest she does. just don't pay them. after ten years all of it goes away. that is the law. i knew there would be no way to pay off my debts and still be able to eat, get gasoline, have shelter.
that is my suggestion. if she likes, she can get hold of legal
aid where she is and talk to them. there is no charge for this.
i also want to add that there is no debtor prison in this country and any court decision can't make her pay. they can't make her take a loan. yes, they place a garnishment on her wages, but that is only with the one that takes her to court. also, they won't garnish the wages if it creates undue hardship.
with medical bills, if you can't pay, they get it somehow or write it off. she also can't be turned away if she needs immediate help.
tell her i wish her the best.
2007-03-26 23:41:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell her to call or go to the hospital and ask for an itemized statement. Some times they find "mistakes" when the bill is itemized.
Hospital have programs in place to help pay medical bills. Go to the business office or call and request a financial application. She will have to give them her income information but she may be able to get some or most of it payed for her.
If that doesn't help tell your friend to pay $5 a month and they can't do anything because it looks like they are trying.
2007-03-26 23:26:10 · answer #5 · answered by MS. O 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My father was able to talk a hospital down from thousands of dollars. They WILL bargain with you. And yes, if you are making some kind of payment monthly, there's NOTHING they can do. If they have been accepting the payments that can't now decide not to accept them.
2007-03-26 23:30:12 · answer #6 · answered by Sasha 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know if this is true but I heard if you pay so much a month, there is nothing they can do. Call your county attorney (it's free) and see if he can tell you if it's true or not.
2007-03-26 23:23:56 · answer #7 · answered by DOT 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
declare bankruptcy.
she'll be happy she did.
why didn't the hospital find a doner for her to make a charity out of her? most do that... and you're writen off.
2007-03-26 23:23:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋