Medical Bills/I need to win the Lottery!

Is anyone else having trouble paying for their surgery/medical bills?

In addition to my 2 surgeries (my part is at $5000, so far, for the two surgeries, 20/80 coverage after deductible, (I had to take out a loan at 18% interest for the deductible), we are also trying to pay for an ER visit for blood coming out of my 3 yr olds ear (ear infection with performation of the ear drum), and two weeks later, the clinic who my DH went to for a cold/flu thought my DH was having a heart atttack (tightness in the chest-false alram, it was a chest cold) and sent him to the ER for over $1000 in costs. Then there is today, the 3 yr old had to have the tubes in his ears removed in same day surgery due to the earlier blood from the ears thing. Originally had them put in just 3 days short of two years ago.

We aren't "rich" by any standards, but two surgeries, Dec and Jan, then 2 ER visits and another surgery today...it all adds up. I'm losing sleep over this....!

The hospital is being pig headed, IMO, and is requesting 10% each month for each bill. I can't do that, I explained that I owed at least 10 providers. They sent me a form for "financial aid" where they either discount 50% or write the whole thing off based on income. I'm going to fill it out but it doesn't include todays same day surgery...so I may call back and have them amend it.

I am now paying at least 10 different "providers" $25/mo. I used our tax refund to pay all of the little bills off (under $100), so it is gone.

Does anyone have any tips/tricks on how to negotiate with medical bills?

Thanks for letting me vent and to any help you all can provide.

Deb

I am not from your state but would look into negotiating for insurance company rates as opposed to a visiting prince from Saudi Arabia, NOT.

Can you work out a payment plan with your hospital? In Massachusetts, such things are prominently posted. Don't know about Tennessee. You need an advocate. Does your hospital provide one?

Random thoughts but do read the posters in the ER.

Susan

I do have insurance, so I don't think I can get additional discounts.

The hospital says that they can only accept the min of 10% of each bill. My dad use to tell me as long as you paid a $1 each month, it showed "intent" to pay the bill. You cant get "blood out of a turnip", but as one bill collector said years ago, "your not a turnip"- is in MO their attitude.

However, I work in a landowner title co, and I see this hospital putting liens on homeowners property all the time, if they are a "no pay " or "slow pay".

DK, about advocate, the hospital is City owned, and our TNCare progam is breaking down, so they are looking for funds from those who have outside insurance.

Is not my dad's addage still reverent?

Thanks for responding,


Deb

I have been through this many times with many different hospitals in several different states. I have had children born with heart problems who had surgery after surgery. Hospitals would be on the phone telling me to sell my home to pay their bills "or else".

This is what I learned.

First, I was glad they were there to give much needed medical attention, and I wanted to pay my bills, just couldn't make the huge payments they wanted.

I talked to a lawyer friend who advised me to ask them to consolidate all my bills together so I was only showing one bill instead of 20 or more different ones.

Then I told them that I would not sell my house, but I would make payments as I could. I gave them a minimum amount that they could expect from me each month (no, one dollar is not enough) and made larger payments when I could.

They told me that was not good enough, and they would take me to court

Lawyer friend told me to tell them to go ahead, but that there would be a jury trial (juries very rarely find in favor of a hospital bill as long as you are trying). Any time anyone takes you to court you have the option of a jury. (I didn't know that)

The hospital still was not happy with this, and wrote the balance off.

Now, for the credit report part. I also worked in finance for quite a few years.

If the rest of your credit history is really good, while a hospital can lower your credit score a little,creditors do not pay much attention to hospital reports. Creditors are human and almost everyone knows how deep you can get in financially. Creditors also know that a hospital bill is not the same thing as a loan. Medical bills are one of the highest reasons for bankruptcy. You can file bankruptcy only against your medical bills.

Ok, having said all of that. If this is a hospital that you would want to use again. If it is the only good hospital in town, or the best hospital in town, you will want to work things out amicably with them. They can refuse to treat you again, if they can show you have a history of not paying them.

I don't know if any of this has helped, the best thing to do is to go in and sit down and actually talk to them. Try to work something out. They are really not your enemies. It is not unusual for a hospital to write off a co-pay or deductible after insurance pays if you really are not able to make payments.

All this info is just my personal experience, I am not an expert in this field. You may want to contact an attorney to find out how it may work in your state.

I wish you luck in getting it all worked out. I know how stressful it can all be. Gather all the information you can, and make the best decision for you. Just make sure you have all the facts right for where you live.

Kay