Medical billing

demonsvx · #1 01-29-2007, 06:52 PM

Anyone have problems with medical billing ie, unfair billing practices, ridiculously short time to pay bills, 15%-30% upfront on your balance or we wil send you to collections no matter how much you pay under those% ? Discuss

dcarrb · #2 01-30-2007, 05:29 AM

I was once on the hook for an emergency room visit and the hospital seemed content with the $25 per month I paid 'til the debt was settled. Of course, I had to sign an agreement, a collection agency was poised to rip me to shreds should I miss a payment, and this was years ago. Wouldn't surprise me to know things are worse now. That $1200 tab I rang-up would surely be five to seven grand today.

Best you can do is be pleasant and totally upfront with them, try to strike an agreement you can afford, and stick to your word. (Whether or not they stick to theirs, well, that's another matter...) Good luck.

dcb

wannarace928 · #3 01-30-2007, 06:51 AM

In my experiance (and sadly I have a lot of it) Hospitals will generally allow you to make payments on your medical bills if they know you cannot afford it. But it usually means exposing all of your finances so that they know more about them than you do and coming to an agreement of how much you can give them weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. But they cannot refuse any payment you offer them (at least in the state of ohio) or you do not have to pay that bill.
Long story made short, my aunt was paying 10$ a week for medical bills and they refused her payment saying it was not being paid fast enough, had collection agencys all over trying to get money out of her and took her to court, the judge said she was at least making the effort to pay so therefore by refusing her payment the hospital received nothing further on the debt owed.
As long as you attempt to pay SOMETHING, you are at least showing that you are making an effort to pay the bills and it will help you in the long run.

DarknessofDeath · #4 01-30-2007, 06:54 AM

yeah,
that's true. actually it's with all kinds of payment.
but sorry i dont have a story to share

demonsvx · #5 01-30-2007, 02:21 PM

Well thats what Im trying to negotiate with them. They either want 10% down so much a month and right know I cant afford that. Im paying something to them regardless of what they are telling me they will do. Also they quoted me how much the surgery would be and doubled the portion I owe. Im paying whatever I feel like paying and with what I make married with 2 kids mortgage etc, it puts a little strain on 12.50hr Friggin criminals

benebob · #6 01-30-2007, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by demonsvx

Well thats what Im trying to negotiate with them. They either want 10% down so much a month and right know I cant afford that. Im paying something to them regardless of what they are telling me they will do. Also they quoted me how much the surgery would be and doubled the portion I owe. Im paying whatever I feel like paying and with what I make married with 2 kids mortgage etc, it puts a little strain on 12.50hr Friggin criminals

Remember its 7 years since they performed the surgery. Why not wait it out.

dcarrb · #7 01-31-2007, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by demonsvx

Also they quoted me how much the surgery would be and doubled the portion I owe.

Not speaking from personal experience here, but if you were to walk-in prepared to write a lump-sum check to settle-up there's a good chance they'd "un-double" the balance you owe, at a minimum. Maybe you should look into borrowing the money.

If you're talking about a truly crushing debt here, you'd probably do well to consult an attorney before they ruin you financially.

dcb