What happens if I don't pay my hospital bill, from an emergancy visit.?

Question

What happened was: I was kneeboarding and I wiped out. The board shot straight up and lacerated my lip, resulting in stitches... as well as about a 4.5-5k $ bill.

They ran cat scans on my brain and jaw.

Now, as you may assume, I've no health insurance. I've just started my new job... part time.

I have really good credit (721 as of earlier Aug. '07) and I don't want to lose it at all. Nor do I want collectors bugging me 24/7, but I really just can't afford to pay all that.

Now, I was told that if you don't pay the bill, it doesn't affect that credit. Is this true? If not, what's my best bet? I've requested a "financial aid form" to see if it'll "help," or whatever.

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

I would definitely try to make arrangements with the hospital. Some Hospitals will provide financial assistance and lower your bill considerably.

Then make payment arrangements to pay the balance, some will let you pay as little as $25 a month.

Don't forget that the Radiology Bills, and Emergency Physician Bill will be a whole different deal. Sometimes they will cut you a deal if the hospital has. Then make arrangements to pay them a small amount every month too.

Keep proof of all of the above and of any correspondence or payment arrangements made.

How do I know all of this? I have been there! I am currently paying on 2 emergency room visits, and just lately the Emergency Physician Billing place has been giving me a hard time, even with me making payments on time. Luckily, I have proof of my payment arrangements, so the situation has been cleared up.

Not paying a Doctor/Hospital Bill can ruin your life, your credit, everything!

9 years ago, I was in the hospital for a week; I had cat scans, iv drugs, the whole shebang. No insurance and about a $8,000 bill.

I thought I could get away with not paying it, and no one ever called me, or sent me collection notices or anything. Out of sight, out of mind, right?

6 years later I get served with a Garnishment Suit, and risked losing my job over it!!!!

I had no choice but to file Bankruptcy and now I am having to completely rebuild my financial life! Please don't make the same mistake!

Hope this helps! Good luck!

Answer 2

1st the debt is yours as a result of playing dangerous. You can not pay the bill and then your credit will be hurt, and later payment of the bill will not recover the damage done. You stated you don't want that route to happen. Contact the department listed on the bill in person or by phone and set up a payment plan. Most hospitals and emergency treatment centers will do this rather then have to lose the account to a collections firm. I wont go into the financials as to why here. This should allow you to make a small payment without suffering severly in the wallet and it saves your credit.
2nd if you start a payment plan you must stick with it until the debt is payed off, otherwise default is just like a loan default and will lower your credit score.
3rd some states do have help with health care. contact your states welfare or health services office to see if they may help you.

Answer 3

A hospital will report an unpaid bill to the credit bureaus. I read somewhere that hospitals do not garnish wages (not sure if it's true). It will last on her credit reports for 7 1/2 years. She needs to call the hospital and get put on a payment plan. They will give her one year to pay, hopefully 2. She can also try to negotiate a smaller amount if she later comes accross some cash and try to settle this account. Note: Medical bills are the #1 reason for bankruptcy. You guys are not the only ones. Never feel ashamed. ---------- One answer stated $10 a month. They would accept this if they knew they would get paid in a year. In your case you would have to pay $500 a month to keep them at bay. Perhaps $250 a month could be considered an effort to pay, if you are lucky...

Answer 4

The Financial Aid form - or - charity care form was the right first step. Be sure you maintain contact with the hospital and don't let the matter pass. Be a pain in the butt! If you fall off the face of the earth and they report it to the credit companies as a collection or judgment it WILL destroy your score.

Hospitals are not considered private parties so that gives you a couple of advantages. They cannot add interest on to the balance and they cannot garnish your wages. If all else fails offer to send them $10 a month and they have to accept it.

Ignore the problem and it can get hairy. I've known of instances where hospitals have been allowed to intercept and freeze tax refunds if a bill is not in repayment.

Answer 5

Hospitals can be very lenient when it comes to these kinds of instances. First you'll receive notice to pay or else you'll be taken to court by a "bill collector company" (the hospital will give them the cases). When I say lenient, the bill collector or hospital itself should have a policy where you can make payments monthly (although with interest rates and fees seeing as it'll have to go through ANOTHER agency). That's your best bet right now if you can't pay it off. This way it won't ruin your credit or get lawsuits. Be straight forward with them and tell them you can't pay and what options you have. They would be more than willing to help (because transferring your case to the bill collectors costs them money). Good luck.PhantomGames.net

Answer 6

Sorry but unless you make a deal with the hospital to try to pay them, they will turn you over for collection and file with the credit bureaus. It will affect your credit. You have done the right thing looking into the financial aid. Hospitals will usually work out a long term payment plan. You should at least try.

Good Luck.

Answer 7

This has happened to me. Twice. One was a billing error and I was able to let my insurance handle it. The other hospital emergency visit was something that I did owe and was not able to call them and set up a payment schedule.
Unfortunate, but that's life. Anyway, they did not bug me with collector letters or calls but after 3 or 4 attempts to get me to call, they simply put the unpaid debt onto the 3 major credit reporting agencies: equifax, experian, and trw. If good credit means something to you, make a payment schedule as soon as you can.

Answer 8

It will eventually go to a debt collector if it's not being paid. Just try to work with them and ask for a payment plan. As long as you make some sort of payment to them whether 50 dollars or more it's still something and won't hurt your credit.

Answer 9

Finance it with them, do monthly installments.

I went to the hospital in 2005, and I found out recently that I forgot to pay it. I was in the military shortly after until May of this year (base closed, long story). Anyway, I forgot all about the medical visit and it was just bad credit sitting on my credit report thanks to my negligence. I just found out about recently and paid it off, but it had hurt me for a while and I never knew about it!

Just do what you can. They will work with you.

Answer 10

The bill will go to collections, just like any other. Doctors have as much right to pay as you do.

They should set up a payment schedule for you, you don't have to write the check all at once.