What is the the statute of limitations on hospital bills in Florida?

Question

I was hospitalized in July, 2000 with a stroke. I received one bill in 200 and called the hospital telling them I could not pay because I could no longer work and was on social security disability,. I never recived another bill after that.

Now, almost 7 years later, I received a notice from a collection agency in he amount of $8,5000. I don't have this kind of money and I'm barely getting by on my disability check.

What do I do? Serious answers only please.

Answer 1

If you were on SSDI, medicare should have taken care of the bill. Contact medicare and the hospital. Find out through them what is going on.
Request from medicare a written statement concerning what was paid or not paid, and if not paid, why not.
Reqest from the hospital a full and complete accounting of your account - medical providers are required to provide that upon request.

If you informed the hosptal that you had medicare and they failed to file a claim or filed the claim inaccurately - YOU are not responsible under the HIPAA laws.

Even if you have medicare, you may still be responsible for the deductible on the bill - but $8500 - no, the deductible would "not" be that high.

If the hospital does not receive any federal or state funding, you would be out of the collecting SOL.
If the hospital does receive any federal or state funding, there may be no SOL as it would be considered the same as any government type of debt.

Answer 2

Able to pay or not, you owe the money and time won't make the bill go away. Not receiving a bill doesn't make the bill go away.

The collection will probably settle for much less than the face amount of the bill.

Answer 3

You can contact the collection agency and inform them of your situation and what happened with the hospital. Most are willing to work with you as long as you don't ignore them. As a last alternative you can always file bankruptcy ~ you won't have to pay that bill but it will be on your credit record for 7 years. Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

Answer 4

expenses do no longer bypass away. interest mounts and the placement receives better. talk with them!!!!!! operating away basically places off the point at the same time as the chasers get their enamel on your **** and by using then they're even hungrier!!! talk with them - you comprehend that's smart!!!!