no health insurance

I'm wondering if there is anyone else out there that has a huge hospital bill with no insurance. PM put in unexpectedly 4 wks ago. No insurance, haven't seen a Dr in years, didn't need to. Now the bill's around 27,000. We were told by many, many people, including hospital staff, that the hospital "would work with us" and "we could pay what we could afford as long as we made regular paymts. This is not the case. The only way they will accept paymts directly is if we paid the entire bill off in 1 year at $1,700 per month. We are middle to low class, one income family. Financial aid may give us 10% off, we're stilling waiting for the final bill. The other option is to get a loan. They will not accept any paymts directly under $1700 or bill will go to collections. Any suggestions?
janet

10 Comments

I wish I could help you more

by pacergirl - 2008-08-23 07:08:15

Hi, First let me say that I am sorry that this situation is causing you so much stress.

Now, If I were you I would request an appointment with the director of patient affairs at the hospital where you got the Pacemaker. I would explain that you had no control over what happened to you and..... you can not pay this kind of bill. Explain that you are now deeply in debt and the stress of it all isn't making you heal any faster. Explain that you are continuing to receive bills and haven't anyway of paying them. Then ask if he/she has any suggestions as to what you might do. Will the hospital and doctors view your pacemaker as a training situation and "write it off". Is your situation experimental? Is there any other way to have the cost written off as a charity/hardship case? You will have check-ups and phone checks coming up so don't forget to ask about those to be included. Is it a teaching hospital? Could you become involved in a study? These are possibly ways to offset the cost and just suggestions as a place to begin.

There are ways to get some help. You just need to ask first. Seems no one will volunteer information until we are at our limit, why not give it a try.

I work for a dr. and I know he writes off a lot of care as "hardship" cases. Helps with his taxes as well.

Good luck to you, blessings... may they begin to come your way.
Pacergirl

ouch!

by Tracey_E - 2008-08-23 07:08:38

I'm no expert but I won't let that stop me from giving my opinion :o) Let it go to collections, they're more likely to work with you and establish payments you can afford. They can afford to be more flexible because you don't owe them the money to start with and they get a percentage of whatever they collect. So to them, anything is better than nothing. I'd give the hospital one more try, maybe ask for a supervisor, and tell them they're going to have to send it to collections if they can't be more flexible because you just plain don't have $1700. They might just be talking tough now to see how far they can push you because too many people walk away from hospital bills. Tell them what percentage of your income that would be and point out that they will get even less if the collections company gets a cut so it's in their best interest to work with you. Good luck!

no insurance

by Pookie - 2008-08-23 10:08:04

I agree with Pacergirl & TraceyE 100%. What great advice.

There is always an answer to any problem, the hardest thing is finding the answer sometimes...that's always a journey.

Try not stressing as they can't take the pacemaker back!!!

Pookie

medical assistance

by Susan - 2008-08-23 11:08:46

Where do you live? If you live in the states, go and apply for Medicaid. Chances are you will not qualify because of your income but you will get a deductible established and anything over that would be covered.
SusanD

Hi Janet...

by bambi - 2008-08-23 11:08:47

I,too, have no health insurance. The hospital asked me to submit my tax returns, gave me 50% off which left me with 40,000 dollars owed. I pay them $50.00 a month, the radiologists $50.00 a month, the same with the anesthesiologists, and pathologists. It will take me the rest of my life to pay them off, but as single woman who works full time, that's the best I can do. They can't squeeze blood out of a rock, although they will try! 1,700 dollars a month is absurd!! As long as you make a payment you can afford, they must accept that. I have been [ and still am ] in your shoes, and I know how stressful having no health insurance is! Try to put it into perspective, or you will make yourself sick with worry!
If you want to private message me, feel free. Take care!
Bambi

bankruptcy?

by elfinbee - 2008-08-24 02:08:47

i had a huge hospital bill about 8 yrs ago. the hospital refused to allow me to pay what i could afford. they wanted somethng like 598.00 a month.
so i had to file bankrupcy in order not to suffer any consequences.

assets

by Tracey_E - 2008-08-24 03:08:29

You can't just move assets out of your name then apply for medicaid or declare bankruptcy. Both need to be done at least two years before or it's considered fraud. Bankruptcy laws changed radically last year and it's much harder to declare now.

one another idea

by Pookie - 2008-08-24 06:08:23

Last night, while watching CNN, (I'm hooked on the Presidential campaign) a TV commercial came on that I actually didn't mute!...it was about eHealth and supposedly it has affordable health insurance.

I immediately thought of you! I am from Canada and don't know how your medical insurance works if you live in the States, but it's worth a peek, don't you think.?

Pookie

P.S. If and when I win the lotto, consider your bill paid!

Bankruptcy

by Cycledoc - 2008-08-24 10:08:29

Before the current mortgage crisis 60% of bankruptcies cited medical bills as the major factor. It's one alternative.

Lots of good advice from the other comments. Can't get water from stone. They will have to negotiate at some time.

It's also time for us to look carefully at the candidates proposals for health care so that this problem can be avoided by others in the future.

you can pay what you can afford

by Elke - 2008-08-24 12:08:09

HI,
we have had no insurance for some years now because we could not afford the payment, plus we never got sick. several years ago my husband had a hernia repair and the hospital insisted we pay a certain amount. as far as I know, on medical bills you can pay what can afford , as long as you make arrangements, even if it is 10.00 a month. Tell the hopsital you lawyer will talk to them, that would stop it. When I had my pacemaker put in last year, the bill was 85000.00 and a social worker in the hospital was able to put me on a temporary medicaid card, which paid most of it.
Right now I'm cut off again. But for those of you with low income, there are clinics in each state that provide free care and even give you your medication free. Put a search in on the web for "low income or sliding fee clinics" or something like that for your state and you'll find them. All you need is proof of income and a copy of your tax return and an ID , if you qualify. In WV there is a free clinic in Charleston which is run by an all volunteer staff. I just got my prescription filled, usually 300.00 a months, came out to 9.00.What a relief :-)-
So just put your foot down, they will tell you anything and threaten you to get the money faster, but the law says that medical bills can be paid by arrangement.
Elke

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