If you have a bill, and cannot afford to pay the amount they tell you to, can you pay what you can each month without them taking you to court/jail? The hospital is wanting me to pay 250/month for the procedure, which cost way more than they said it would, but that's a whole other issue. I plan on paying but I cannot afford to pay that much, can they legally make me pay that amount of money? Or can I just pay what I can... say.. 100/ month? Can they take me to court if I pay what I can afford? TIA

By Angellew on Friday, April 1, 2005 - 04:18 pm:

I believe most hospitals have some kind of payment plans that you can sign up for. As long as you don't avoid them and call them, and explain the situation.

By Colette on Friday, April 1, 2005 - 04:21 pm:

Ditto Angela. I think as long as you give them something every month you are ok.

By Karen~moderator on Friday, April 1, 2005 - 04:21 pm:

Call their billing office and tell them what you can afford to pay. You should be able to work out a payment plan with them.

I have been in that situation before. They will try to pressure you because hospitals like to settle accounts in roughly a six month time period. BTDT Just be honest with them, tell them what you can afford to pay, assure them you wil make monthly payments, and stick to your payment plan. As long as you are making the agreed monthly payment, they can't touch you.

By Pamt on Friday, April 1, 2005 - 04:23 pm:

You can set up a monthly payment plan with them. If you are paying on it they can't take you to court. They wouldn't do that anyway. They would turn you over to a collection agency for non-payment as the first step.

First of all, go over your bill with a fine tooth comb and make sure that are no extra charges on it. If they didn't give you an itemized bill, then ask for one. Call the billing department and ask them about setting up a monthly payment plan. They may suggest an amount, but if you can't afford it, then you can negotiate it down with them. My youngest son and I have had several procedures and surgeries over the past few years so I am a pro at doing this.

Also, if it costs more than they said did you get the initial quote in writing. For future reference, you can shop around hospitals just like with anything else. Also, get an itemized estimate beforehand. Sometimes it will be necessary to go above the estimate due to a medicine allergy, a change in procedures, etc.

By Ginny~moderator on Friday, April 1, 2005 - 06:12 pm:

Fact of life, anyone can sue anyone for anything. Whether it gets past the first filing is another issue.

Yes, the hospital may turn it over to a collection agency, and you want to try to avoid that. The collection agency will add legal fees and collection fees on top of what you already owe.

I would sit down and work out what you can afford each month and tell the hospital that this is what you will pay each month until the bill is paid, so long as they don't turn it over to a collection agency. And, talk to the social service office at the hospital and see if there is any form of assistance for hospital bills for uninsured people.

And do also sit down and go over your ITEMIZED bill and if there is anything on it you don't understand, make them explain it. If you think there is something billed that didn't happen (all too common), tell them it didn't happen and should be removed.

I know when my son was last hospitalized the bill contained about 6 listings for services or medications, some of them very pricey, that he had not received.

By Missmudd on Friday, April 1, 2005 - 06:29 pm:

And no they cant put you in jail, ever, for non payment of a bill. They cant put you in jail for a non criminal act.

By Reds9298 on Friday, April 1, 2005 - 06:34 pm:

I agree with Ginny that you should see the social services area of your hospital. They can help you find assistance to pay hospital bills as well. My friend is using that right now for her new baby who had surgery right after birth and will be in NICU for over a month.

I think as long as you call them and tell them what you're going to pay you'll be fine.

By Annie2 on Friday, April 1, 2005 - 08:44 pm:

Call them and set up some payment plan. As far as I know, medical bills can not be forwarded to collection agencies if you are at least paying something each month. I may stand corrected but a good friend of mine who is an OT in MA told this to me last month.

By Palmbchprincess on Friday, April 1, 2005 - 08:55 pm:

Ginny, is that common to see errors on hospital bills? Madison's bills from her broken leg came itemized, but insurance paid all of it. However, when looking over it I kept saying "Nate, did she get X medication? What about this? I don't remember her getting these things!" Basically there were only 3 meds given to her the whole time, but they had a couple others listed as given in the ER. Candis, in addition to talking to hospital services about payment arrangements, try not to worry. Generally they are happy if you are at least trying, because so many people just shrug off paying anything.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Saturday, April 2, 2005 - 12:12 am:

Crys, just like with anything else, it is VERY common for places such as Hospitals to add to their bills. I believe they do it to hedge the money. Insurance's have a set amount they will pay the hospital, generally an amount much less than they feel they should be paid for their services, so they add little cost that can't be questioned to the bill so they can make sure they recoup an amount close to what they thought they should have gotten originally. So pills that you can't prove you weren't given are added or the charge for them is some outrageous price. I paid 10 a pill for tylenol during the birth of oldest dd. Regular tylenol. I was also billed for things that I wasn't informed I could take when I left.

And in some cases the person that does the entry for the billing doesn't key the right codes in and you get charged for one thing when you got another.

All this plus the cost of malpractice insurance has lead up to the rising cost of medical care and insurance premiums..

By Palmbchprincess on Saturday, April 2, 2005 - 02:07 am:

That's why I didn't make a fuss, TriCare pays so little of the actual costs I figured the docs were just trying to recoup. I probably wouldn't even have noticed except it was Maddie, and they needed my permission for EVERYTHING they gave her or did to her. If I was paying out of pocket I would definitely have been upset.

By My2cuties on Saturday, April 2, 2005 - 03:30 am:

I have spoke with them several times about Financial assistance and I filled out a form and they have denied it. I have told her we can not do 250/month, but she has basically told me look, you can pay 250/month or a settlement offer in a lump some with 20% off that's all I can do. (well, in this case 20% didn't touch the price) I can't pull that amount of money out of the air. I just spoke with DH tonight and he said we need to bite the bullet and just pay the money they want...even if that means not going out as often for a while. I just worry alot and didn't think we could do that just buying the van and all, but DH knows and he says we can if we "crunch". Thanks so much for all your advice, I surely do not want them to take us to a collection agency that would go against my credit! No more extras for a while, I guess I can live with that.

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, April 2, 2005 - 10:08 am:

Seems like they could compromise a little bit! The company I work for, paid out $70 million in charity care in 2003, so that's a lot of people not paying their bills.

http://www.aurora.org/aboutus/notforprofit/index.asp

We care about not only the health of individuals but also the health status of the population as a whole, using our care management initiatives to save our communities more than $24 million in avoided medical expense in 2003. We are the state's largest provider of charity care, exceeding $70 million in 2003. And we provide more than $20 million in community outreach and free preventive services. Finally, because our communities are counting on us, we feel an obligation to look ahead, preparing ourselves, our programs and our facilities to meet the health care needs of tomorrow.

We were lucky that we were able to pay our share of the bill for Emily's appendectomy.

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, April 2, 2005 - 10:44 am:

Seems to me if your choice is between paying $250 a month and "even if that means not going out as often for a while", that is an easy choice. Pay the $250 a month and go out less = as uyou said, "No more extras for a while, I guess I can live with that."

Be glad your choice isn't between food and hospital bills or heat and hospital bills. Those are the choices thousands of people face every day.

By My2cuties on Saturday, April 2, 2005 - 11:05 am:

I know Ginny, I was kind of being selfish, I like extra things but bills come first and if we can afford it, we should do it. Thanks so mucha nd thanks for the reality check, I realize I could be faced with all kinds of other problems like you said "food and hospital bills or heat and hospital bills". I appreciate your input, all of you.

By Tonya on Monday, April 4, 2005 - 12:32 pm:

I just send in what I can and they have never turned it away so far. If they cash the check then theyare agreeing with you that that is all you can pay. Godo luck. Mail in what you can and see what they do!!

By Kim on Monday, April 4, 2005 - 01:12 pm:

GO TO CATHOLIC SERVICES even if you are not Catholic! There are programs for people in your position where you can get one time help paying a medical bill!!!!! BTDT! Start looking for services in your area, some may be non-religious also.

I used to work for hospital collections. They do not like to go to court over small issues as it ends up costing them money that's not worth spending. We were always told that as long as they sent in SOMETHING every month that we could accept it. Have you spoken to a superviser? Don't they realize that you are WILLING to pay and they can get their money, just in smaller amounts? That boggles my mind. Is it a religious hospital? I have also ignored threats as Tonya has and sent in a monthly amount that *I* determined I could afford. Sometimes they don't do anything except accept the payments! Don't give up so easily. There are other options for you!

By My2cuties on Monday, April 4, 2005 - 01:52 pm:

I called this morning and they went down on the price $50/month..without me even saying anything. I am happy with that and I DO want to get it paid off faster so I guess it works out this way best. Thanks for all the input you're all great!