What a joke from hospital bills

**Palooka** · 10-03-2007, 12:21 AM

So I am paying on a few after my delivery. I pay every month faithfully. I get the next bill in the mail from the Anesthesia services telling me that I have to pay 605.96 NOWor they will turn me over to collections.

So I called them and asked about this. Since when do hospitals, doctors offices, etc, expect the difference that the insurance did not cover -for the patient to come up with that full lump some? The lady was so nice and said (almost a chuckle under her breath) "We just send that in the mail hoping that everyone will pay the full amount within a month and we threaten. I laughed and payed her 20 bucks debit over the phone. We both said have a nice day, lol.

So see, I will make these payments faithfully till they are all payed off.

I seriously doubt that anyone of them can turn you over to collections if you are paying on them every month.

Just a little thought if anyone is in the same boat with doctor bills.

**PB&J** · 10-03-2007, 12:27 AM

They CAN turn you over to collections even if you are paying just a little. We had this problem with a bill from my sons birth in 2005. We had a $500 copay and I was paying them $50 a month. They suddenly decided they wanted all of it and sent it to collections.

**druidessemily** · 10-03-2007, 12:35 AM

Then get something in writing saying you will pay $ each month, and have it signed by the hospital.

**Palooka** · 10-03-2007, 12:43 AM

Originally Posted by PB&J

They CAN turn you over to collections even if you are paying just a little. We had this problem with a bill from my sons birth in 2005. We had a $500 copay and I was paying them $50 a month. They suddenly decided they wanted all of it and sent it to collections.

Really? Could it be a state thing? I mean really though it seems people are way better off without insurance. lol. You know what I mean.. I don't get that though.. Usually insurance pays like 80 -90%. Why the fast demand. But then you are saying copay.. that could be the difference. Copay has been payed. This is the extra..

Just think about if you were in the hospital for a week or so with insurance. You got slapped with a 10k bill after insurance payed. How in the world could the average joe come up with this payment in full? So he gets turned over to collections for having insurance and not being able to pay the full amount? Does not seem far at all.

Last November I went to the ER for a bad sinus infection. I payed my bill off in a few months. This hospital was glad to take my payment every month and never threatened me.

So can you share what the final outcome was? Did it ruin you're credit?

**itsahumanzoo** · 10-03-2007, 02:34 AM

I wish I had known that before we put DS's $440 ER bill on a credit card. :/

**Palooka** · 10-03-2007, 02:43 AM

Originally Posted by itsahumanzoo

I wish I had known that before we put DS's $440 ER bill on a credit card. :/

It's okay and I have done that too. I just think it is simple just to put all the bills into one bill and make life easier. lol. That was my thinking also. I am wired like that. But yeah, that interest thing can get to ya.

It never hurts to call and question when in doubt. I called 4 bills today.

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 10-03-2007, 07:29 AM

Be sure to check your bills carefully. I went in for a heart attack last year and got a bill from the doctor for 2 days before I went to the ER. Tried for 9 monthes to get bill fixed as doctor uses a billing service. Finally went into the office. Since doctor knows I'm a self pay he took the bill picked up the phone and called the service himself right then and told them to remove those 2 charges and half the balance. I wrote him a check right there for the new balance.

Here in Bradenton, Fl. our public hospital Manatee Memorial (Public) takes you and treats you regardless on your abilitly to pay. Since we have a huge mirgant population they often never get paid. So when I send in my little payment they are so happy to be getting something I don't get any hassle. But it well known in town that as long as you send $10.00 per month they won't hassle you.

Laurie in Bradenton

**PB&J** · 10-03-2007, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by Palooka

Really? Could it be a state thing? I mean really though it seems people are way better off without insurance. lol. You know what I mean.. I don't get that though.. Usually insurance pays like 80 -90%. Why the fast demand. But then you are saying copay.. that could be the difference. Copay has been payed. This is the extra..

Just think about if you were in the hospital for a week or so with insurance. You got slapped with a 10k bill after insurance payed. How in the world could the average joe come up with this payment in full? So he gets turned over to collections for having insurance and not being able to pay the full amount? Does not seem far at all.

Last November I went to the ER for a bad sinus infection. I payed my bill off in a few months. This hospital was glad to take my payment every month and never threatened me.

So can you share what the final outcome was? Did it ruin you're credit?

Yes, they did put it on our credit. But it does not effect us. We got a home loan last year with an excellent interest rate. The lenders told us they do not even blink at medical bills on credit reports.

The hospital actually stopped sending us bills and statements! I was willing to pay $50 per month, but they wanted it all at once and didn't want to accept it in installments. So I haven't paid on it in quite a while. I kind of figured, why bother? I can't pay the whole thing at once and they won't accept payments.

**PB&J** · 10-03-2007, 10:29 AM

I wanted to add, it just depends on the hospital. We had a huge bill a while back, in 1997, my oldest had meningitis and was in the hospital for a week. Our insurance, we had to pay 10%, which ends up being quite a bit after a week long hospital stay. I think our portion was around $2500. I wrote the hospital a letter asking if I could make payments. They said, Sure and gave us a year to pay it off! They also waived the majority of the bill, I think we ended up only paying about $500. This was a children's hospital. They were very easy to work with.

**midwestgal** · 10-03-2007, 12:10 PM

Here's my little story. After breast cancer, I had the usual check-ups etc. for 5 years. We moved to another state in the middle of this where costs were just exorbitant. I had some blood work done on the initial visit, and it cost over $1200 for 3 pin pricks! Yikes. I called and complained, pleaded, said those costs never came to more than $200 in my old state etc. They wouldn't budge. Our insurance has a very high deductible, so we were to pay for all of this out-of-pocket. I made $10/month payments until they finally sent it to collections. The collections woman then called me, and I read her the riot act. "This is why so many people in our country can't get accesss to good health care. Would you pay this much for 3 pin pricks etc.etc.?" I never received another bill, and there was nothing on our credit report. I don't run away from bills, but let's be reasonable, medical community!

**Nada.Leona** · 10-03-2007, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by Palooka

So I am paying on a few after my delivery. I pay every month faithfully. I get the next bill in the mail from the Anesthesia services telling me that I have to pay 605.96 NOWor they will turn me over to collections.

So I called them and asked about this. Since when do hospitals, doctors offices, etc, expect the difference that the insurance did not cover -for the patient to come up with that full lump some? The lady was so nice and said (almost a chuckle under her breath) "We just send that in the mail hoping that everyone will pay the full amount within a month and we threaten. I laughed and payed her 20 bucks debit over the phone. We both said have a nice day, lol.

So see, I will make these payments faithfully till they are all payed off.

I seriously doubt that anyone of them can turn you over to collections if you are paying on them every month.

Just a little thought if anyone is in the same boat with doctor bills.

Um... that's not a joke! That's not funny at all! I would've been seriously ticked off if I'd called and the person on the other line said, "Oh that's just a joke, don't worry about it!" Um, then why send it in the first place? Boy, someone would've gotten an earfull from me, let me tell you!

**Palooka** · 10-03-2007, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by PB&J

Yes, they did put it on our credit. But it does not effect us. We got a home loan last year with an excellent interest rate. The lenders told us they do not even blink at medical bills on credit reports.

The hospital actually stopped sending us bills and statements! I was willing to pay $50 per month, but they wanted it all at once and didn't want to accept it in installments. So I haven't paid on it in quite a while. I kind of figured, why bother? I can't pay the whole thing at once and they won't accept payments.

Thank you for sharing. That is good to know about your credit. Yeah, it doesn't really make sense to pay if they won't even accept monthly payments.

**ravenmaniac** · 10-03-2007, 06:53 PM

Thanks for posting this info. I've always wondered about paying some every month on doctor bills if they could turn you over to collections. Never had that happen but will keep that mind.

**Jaded** · 10-03-2007, 07:44 PM

This is how it was explained to me. The computers decide when to turn someone over to collections. They just send it in. If you are paying them less than 10% a month, they will turn you in eventually. What you have to do is write a short note with your payment every month saying, '

"I acknowledge this debt, and intend to pay this debt. I am not able to pay this debt in full at this time. Please accept this $xx.xx as a promise to pay this debt in full."

You can send them as little as $1 with each letter each month. They will probably turn you into collections, but if you SAVE copies of the letters, and keep track of when the checks clear the bank, attach a copy of the check (you can print these out on the computer) to each month's letter, when you go to get credit, you send these to the credit bureaus and ask them to add them to your file. You give the creditor you are applying to copies of all the letters, and checks.

This is the thing....if they CASH the checks, they are implicitly accepting partial payment, and you cannot be denied credit for making a good faith effort to pay a debt within your means.

I had a lot of bills when I was in a car wreck and hurt my back, and had surgery, and was out of work. I sent them each $1 a month, with that letter, and when I went to get financing for my house, I walked in with my copies, and proof that I had paid them off in full asap, and walked out with a loan.

**amecoy75002** · 10-03-2007, 09:15 PM

We are paying about $50 a month on numerous medical bills - should have them all paid off in 8-years! Over the last 2 years we have dealt with: Husbands heart attack (3 days in Hospital) followed by emergency triple bypass (10 days in hospital), physical therapy (6 months), both sons have had 2 root canals (no hospital stays but major bills), son # 1 had his apendix rupture (5 days in hospital) and son #2 had to have orthopedic surgery on his knee and ankle (no time in hospital but lvery major bills) WHEW! No wonder I want to check into a physc ward!!!!!

So far all of the dr's, hospitals, therapy centers, etc have been accomadating and very understanding. We have not been turned over for collections yet.