there telling me its going to collections even thou i send something every month, going thru divorce and have nothing got 6000$ in medical bills...there gonna ruin my credit. now they want 20% down. dont know what to do. i could be dieing and will never goto hospital again.
2007-10-22 05:40:32 · 18 answers · asked by joe u 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Insurance
set up a pymt plan
2007-10-22 05:42:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I find the toughest part of negotiating claims that has lapsed since the original date of service is that you deal with a foreign collection agency that does not have the authority to alter your bill, nor the interest to do so. They are immune to people's pleas and often indifferent. Although the above suggestions are the right thing to do, I doubt a collection agency will do anything but give you some time. They cannot change the fee billed.
Call the number on the bill first. As the collection agency for thirty days to arrange payment. Try to ask for a discount or any other help they can offer. Then call the hospital. Explain your situation. Be sympathetic. Sometimes bills go into collections automatically if they've been open too long, even if the hospital intended not to send you to collections. So make sure that's not the case. If they do indeed decided to forward your case to collection, I'd pursue the hospital/provider for a break. From experience, you're more likely to get help from them.
Feel well.
2007-10-22 17:33:07 · answer #2 · answered by Size 2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Contact an attorney. It sounds like an idle threat. As long as you are making payments, they can't ruin your credit. To ruin your credit, they'd have to first take you to court, sue and win, and get a judgment against you. Before this could happen, you'd have a chance to explain your predicament to a judge, who would almost certainly allow you to set up a payment plan.
Gosh, $6000 is not that much money. Pay it off!!! $100 a month for five years and the debt is gone. You could easily make that working 4 hours a week part time on a Saturday. THINK of a solution. Do you have any relatives that would give you a loan? If your credit is good, why not borrow money from the bank?
Honestly, if you're dying, why are you worried about your credit anyway???
2007-10-22 05:50:07 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
UGH ! There is no such law which indicates that, if you send a $10 payment and they accept it, you can continue to pay that amount until the debt is retired. That's an ancient (and untrue) old wive's tale.
Contact the accounts receivable department at the hospital and try to reach an agreement on a payment schedule. Don't try for any paltry payment, since they will most likely reject your offer.
You CAN negotiate charges downward in some cases, but normally hospitals will want payment in full immediately in return for such an agreement.
2007-10-22 05:47:14 · answer #4 · answered by acermill 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Contact the providers (the hospital) directly and see if they have any financial assistance available. Most do. You will have to see if you qualify for it by meeting financial guidelines. Where I was employed, patients who qualified either got all or most of their bills written off, and the doctors also accepted the write off because they knew there was no hope of being paid. I don't know where you live, but you might look into Medicaid as well.
2007-10-22 05:52:44 · answer #5 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some hospitals have finical aid programs for people who cannot afford medical help. If the $6000 is from a hospital contact them and apply for aid if they have it. It could be retroactive and may cover some of your past bills. If you do this make sure you understand what it covers and what it does not cover.
2007-10-22 05:47:56 · answer #6 · answered by jaws65 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
call your state's consumer protection department to find out how to stop the collections activities that are most intrusive. Then call the hospital and negotiate what you are able to pay, and also negotiate the amount of the charge. they will commonly reduce the bill for people who are in difficult financial circumstances. They would rather get some money from you than have you file bankrupcy and perhaps get nothing. be calm, and ask them to reduce the balance and accept less each month, and in return commit to making the payments.
2007-10-22 05:45:32 · answer #7 · answered by John M 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You go to family and friends for financial help. You can also ask the hospital to reprice to a cash rate, but it's probably too late for that if it's in collections.
Just because you pay them something every month, it doesn't mean that they can't COLLECT from you legally - that's a myth that some people believe. They have to AGREE to the repayment plan.
2007-10-22 08:20:59 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My son is working 3 jobs to pay off medical bills that his insurance did not cover. He has 3 kids and his wife works full time. He is working many extra hours to pay these bills, rather than asking anyone for assistance. Have you tried working an extra job?
2007-10-22 05:51:48 · answer #9 · answered by doris s 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
workout a payment plan with the collection agency and tell them what you can afford to pay each month them and your credit won't be ruined. This happened with the birth of my first son since insurance didn't cover anything for him. The second baby I had I made sure to get a discount with the hospital and a payment plan to pay them back they gave me an 80% discount on the bill.
Healthcare sucks in this country the government needs to look into how other countries offer free medical to everyone and take action!! Good luck to you.
2007-10-22 05:45:09 · answer #10 · answered by cutiepie81289 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Have you tried talking to the billing department at the hospital and explaining your situation? I have heard that they will sometimes give you a break. I have never tried it, but a friend of mine has.
2007-10-22 05:43:13 · answer #11 · answered by Jessie H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋