what can i do about medical bills?

Question

i work in a deli in a supermarket, a few months back a had to go to the hospital for back problems and chest pains because of their being no employees, so constantly working on my own almost for 4-5 hours with no break, breaks are 15 minutes. also i needed to go to the hospital earlier this year for broncitis since we had to work in cold constantly. i have no health insurance. i was told by my union representative thats i'd have health insurance from them after a year, i call and they tell me no, so my representative was wrong. what can i do, i make $130 a week and owe $1100 in bills

Answer 1

Well, you have to pay the bills. Ask the hospital to reprice to a cash rate, try to get a payment plan.

Then ask your union rep about the health insurance again.

And personally, I've done LOTS of manual labor jobs in my youth, with no break until six hours into it . . .and one, at a Kodak Processing plan, with nine hour days, and a half hour lunch. Working as an agent, I NEVER took the 15 minute breaks. People who take the breaks all the time, just don't get the same promotions.

Answer 2

Alot of times, if you contact the billing department at the hospital, they will lower your bill and you can agree to monthy payments. Don't let them bullcrap you either into NOT accepting like 5 dollars a month for a payment. They HAVE to accept what you can afford. Even if you get a hardbutt that won't do it, as long as you send in even a dollar every month, that will keep your bill out of collections. Because there is an effort being made to pay the bill.

Contact your work and get aggressive about finding out about your insurance.

Answer 3

You have to make payment arrangements. NOW. Call the hospital's billing department and ask for a payment agreement. Tell them you can only afford to send them $5 a month, on a certain day of the month. Then, you must send them that $5 a month so it's received that day of the month, every month. (If you don't, they can send you to collection -which will screw your credit.)

Answer 4

Sounds like your injuries are work related. Strongly suggest you file a workers compensation claim, hire an attorney, usually you pay nothing or next to nothing for representation, get out of that union as from my opinion most Unions are out for the buck, and do nothing at all for the employee. These symptons sound work related and you are covered immediately for this.. Question, did you contribute any premiums towards a health plan at work. Check your pay stubs.

Answer 5

call the # on the bill and explain your problem.
In some states, not paying can affect your credit score.

In Massachusetts, for example, only doctors office and lab bills can affect your credit. Hospital bills cannot, and are usually written off after a certain period of time with no consequence to the patient.

Answer 6

Generally, as long as you send the hospital money every month - faithfully - every month - they do not report it against your credit and do not charge interest. Try to send them at least 50-100 every month (regardless if you get a bill or not).

At least that is how I have handled bill's I have gotten when I went to the ER.

Answer 7

CALL YOUR PROVIDER AND ASK FOR BILLING AND ASK THEM FOR A LOWINCOM APP THEY WILL SEND YOU ONE FILL IT OUT AND SEND IT BACK WITH A COPY OF YOUR CHECK STUB THEY WILL ETHER WAVE THE FEES OR SUBMIT IT TO DIFFERENT AGENCY'S TO HAVE IT PAID IF IT WAS THE ER YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE CARE GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY TURKEY DAY FROM OHIO

Answer 8

Your question has made me realise that we are really lucky in the UK we get free medical cover, although there are really ungrateful people here who do complain about it!