Financial troubles paying hospital bills help

[bubazoo]

financial troubles paying hospital bills help

Hey guys,

As I'm sure most of you know by now, I've had Crohn's Disease for the past 9 years.

During that time, I have had 5 rectal surgeries, a years worth of Remicade treatments, and other misc times where I've had to go into ER to get Crohn's related symtoms under control, during emergency situations where a doctor was not available at the time...

During this time, I have managed to wrack up a stack of unpaid medical bills, that are literally in the hundreds of thousands of dollars range..

Doctors visits, I only owe maybe $20-40 here and there, because of portions I have to pay out of pocket that my insurance doesn't cover. They usually cover 80% of my expenses, but when the Remicade treatments are $12,000 a piece, plus $1,500 for them dispensing the medicine to you, well as you can immagine I owe quite a bit of money to both KCH and Luteran, both under the Lutheran health network.

Anyway, I am at a loss as to what to do about these bills..
The hospitals want their money "right away" well, within 6 months, and there is no way I can pay hundreds of thousands of dollars at the drop of a hat like this..

The lady who gives me my Remicade treatments, was telling me, there has GOT to be something people do, because she was telling me people with more serious conditions (like Cancer for instance) have higher bills then I do, and she was asking me how I do it one time, because she knows people have high expenses.

I have no idea I told her, I've had 3 past bills already turned over to collection, more are being turned over every day, and all thats doing is hurting my credit rating... I owe my rectal surgeon $40 for the last few visits on top of that.. In the meantime, they got me on this H.E.L.P Financial services thing, its basically a loan at 9% intrest, but when the total amount goes over $1,000-2,000 they don't have any assistance whatsoever

so I was just wondering, what do you guys do about your unpaid medical bills?

Its been getting so bad, I've been considering quitting my job and going on Social Security, least that way they can't garnish my wages or something like that.

I only make $160 a week, at my job, as it is, raising a family of 3 and a mortgage,
so that's not a way out either really.

What do you guys suggest? ...because I just don't know what to do anymore to keep these creditors from constantly calling and harrassing me about it..

in the meantime, I figure, I don't make enough money at my job for them to take me to court over it. Law requires that in order to garnish my wages they have to leave me at least $150 a week, and thats all I make now, so I don't have anything for them to take, but in the meantime, I gotta get these bills paid somehow.

I've tried signing up for Hoosier Health wise, Social Security, and those other services, but as long as both my wife and I are working, they won't do anything to help us.. My wife makes less then I do (if you can immagine that) so what do they expect us to do? Last year, we filed with our taxes, $26,000 total household income, and this year it will be less then that because we've been down to 4 days a week at work, and I've had to miss work alot this past year for doctors visits and such.

I literally owe KCH and Lutheran combined, alot more then $26,000 so I don't see what they expect us to do?

any help would be greatly appreciated,
thanks

 

[picsiechick]

move to Canada?

Sorry I can't be more help and tried a little humour....

Does the CCFA offer any financial assistance?

Maybe someone needs to contact Ty and the Extreme Home Makeover crew.

I'm hoping for a miracle for you, bubazoo.

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

 

[bubazoo]

Hey ~T~

yeah well, a little humor sounds like great medicine to me right about now hehe

I guess The lastest news, is my GI is taking me off Remicade because he feels the risk of me getting Cancer is increasing, which is ok I don't want to get Cancer, but in the meantime, he wants to push for additional surgery (what kind he expects the surgeons to perform I have no idea) while the surgeons say there isn't anything more they want to do surgery wise, because the Fistulas are located thru the sphincter muscle, and the doctor doesn't want to cut that muscle, which I understand too

so in the meantime, I feel like I am being pushed from one doctor to the next, with neither one of them really doing anything.

My concern is the pain, these Fistulas hurt "soo" bad its just indescribable, and I can't seem to get these doctors to understand how bad this pain is.

so its just been the usual fight between GI and Rectal surgeon, nothing too new really, hehe

Its just in the meantime, my medical expenses are getting out of control is all. I have no credit, so I don't have Credit Cards to put expenses on, and my insurance doesn't cover all of it, I still owe hundreds of thousands of dollars.. I wouldn't worry about it, not anything I can do about it anyway and I don't make enough for them to sue me, except that the hospitals keep calling and calling me harassing me about it

thanks guys

 

[Skinsfan1229]

I dont have time to read all this thread right now, BUT you can delay paying hospital bills. By law the hospital cannot turn it to collection agency, because they are non-profit. This is also a HUGE reason you see packed ER's because people know this, and instead of going to a PCP which can turn over to collections and hurt your credit, a hospital cannot.

99 percent of the time you can call the hospital billing dept, and set up a payment plan....whether you ahve insurance or not. I'm paying right now on a bill, because I chose a private room isntead of a shared room, well insurance companies dont pay for that, because its an extra, "i dont need", but i'm sorry when you have an ostomy, i dont think its fair to have to share a bathroom, but anyways, you can set up to pay as little as 5 dollars a month, which is how much i pay on a bill that is a little over a 1000 US dollars, just 5 dollars a month, and they cant do anything, dont let this stress you out...please, its the least of your worries if you've been tot he hospital, worry about being sick and your health, not a bill that is nothing compared when you look at the pros and cons.

 

[daylon80]

I have not racked as much as you but can relate I think at present time I owe around $25,000... I have collectors who try to hassle me and the whole nine yards, recently I was denied a life insurance plan because of my chrohns but back to the subject at hand do what I do tell them you will pay what you can and if they dont like it to go fly a kite(kinder than what I have said)... the cost of health care to me is the single biggest problem in our country I have suffered many times rather than go the to the doc when I knew I should have... until our country changes the policies we are up a creek with no paddle

 

[Maggie-Muffin]

hello, I can't really give you any advise as I aslo live in Canada. Hopefully something will come up for you. Try not to worry to much over it. Good luck
~~~~HUGS~~
anda:

 

[btcrv]

I am kind of confused. Do you have any insurance at all? If you don't you may be able to get the hospital to write your bills off to charity. I was able to do that. The doctors are another thing. My surgeon cut me a break but I still owe ridiculous amounts for anestheologists, lab work, etc.

 

[DanSJVDavis]

By law the hospital cannot turn it to collection agency, because they are non-profit.

Hm, not that way here in Ohio. Hospitals turn bills over to collections all the time. I used to work in a hospital billing department and also have had places like OSI collection agency calling me on my own unpaid hospital bills quite frequently. Not the doctor or anesthesia bills, but the actual hospital bills.

One thing to check on if you are too strapped to pay the hospital bills is that some hospitals have charity plans and if you ask their billing department they may send you out an application for it. Can't remember what it's called, but I used it myself a couple times. Yeah, ask the hospital if they have some form of charity or assistance program. Some doctors may even have it too. Doesn't hurt to ask.

I was without insurance for a while and even when I did have it, my gastro frequently either discounted my bill or occasionally even wrote it off because he knew my financial situation. If you have a good rappor with your gastro and mention that you have a poor financial situation they might just help you out a bit.

 

[Cloud966]

I know most people don't like it but have you checked into Medicaid? If you meet the income range and with a family you might.Some of the programs are risk-based, and income to outgo based. It is the only way I have made it through surgery after surgery. No insurance will touch me.
Just an idea.

 

[Drkangel050486]

Hello, I am new to the forum, but I was only diagnosed with Crohn's disease in March 07, and sinse then my health is deteriorating more and more with each day that passes. I have been hospitalized at least four times, had multiple surgeries done and the doctors are still experimenting with meds, I am in constant unbearable pain....but anyway to the point, I cannot even imagine how expensive the medical bills must be when you have had the disease for years, I have only had it for 8 months and i am already in debt for more than 5 grand. Bill upon bill they just keep coming.

 

[D Bergy]

I would see a bankruptcy lawyer and go that route if possible. There is no way the average person can pay the medical bills incurred during a long running illness and multiple hospital stays in the U.S. Medical bills are the number one reason people file bankruptcy.

If you ask the collection agency not to call you anymore, they have to stop by law. At least in my state they do. That is not known to most people. We work with medical providers and medical billing in our business so we have some knowledge in this area.

I know of something you can take that may help your Crohn's. It is not approved and certainly has not been tested as well as it should. It has helped me more than anything else I have tried, and I have tried a lot of things. Costs about $30.00 for over a years supply.

I have a bit of a moral dilemma, because I know how it works and think I know why it works for Crohn's, but it is not proven safe, although I am quite sure it is due to its chemical make up.

So, do I just not say anything about a potentially helpful chemical if it has not been totally proven safe, based only on my own results? Or, do I put it out there with a warning and maybe it helps some people as much, with the risk of a bad unknown effect since it is so new to most people? I am the first person who has used this chemical for Crohn's that I am aware of. Moderators, feels free to weigh in on this.

I do not have the answer to the moral problem, but if you are interested I will send you a private message. You do not seem to be getting any help using the standard methods so it is up to you if this one is something you should try. I make no guarantees, but I have not found one for this disease yet.

I have my wife using the same treatment for a different disease, so at least you can be assured that I am convinced it is safe. It is working well for her also.

Best Regards

Dan Bergman

 

[Kev]

Wish I could be of more help, but being Canadian does carry some privileges. The best piece of advice I seen here is to just ask for assistance at every opportunity. Canadian health coverage has some nasty 'gotchas', like it doesn't cover drugs. I frankly told the docs at my hospital clinic, and my private GI I couldn't afford them, and they've provided them to me for free by working a deal with manufacturers. I don't know the laws regarding bankruptcy in your part of the world, you may want to look into it first before declaring same. Why? cause in some places, you can only declare personal bankruptcy once. no more.
you may be in debt now, but how much further can that go? todays bills may be a drop in the bucket from where you could be a year, or 5, or 1o from now. I'd check into that, see if similar restrictions apply where you live, then decide if you want to file now, or wait until you have absolutely no other recourse left. In the interim, see if there are any non profit financial counsellors you can turn to for advice.. some might be able to cut a deal with creditors to lower interest, or to write off some debt, or restructure what you owe and how much you pay. It certainly doesn't hurt to ask around... worst they can say is no, right?

and as for dan and your moral dilemma, just this moderators humble opinion. I dont' have an issue with any of us suggesting potential solutions we've tried for ourselves to other forum members. Just think we have to tread cautiously when dealing with younger/junior members.. kids are so easily influenced, but I think we adults can assume responsibility for our own actions.. like, no one is holding a gun to our heads if we take advice from someone who isnt' qualified by a medical board, degree, what have you.. no offense intended Dan, and I think you know that. I personally have great respect for you, and wouldn't hesitate to take your advice relating to this disease. It's not like you're a 'new' member touting a cure-all that you make in your basement, or whose employ you are in. think that's pretty much the deciding line in dealing with advice on a site like this.. that's just my 'un-official' personal take on the situation, and the other moderator, or the forum administrator, may feel otherwise. sound okay?

 

[Sojourn]

For most people, this disease is kind of an up and down situation where you'll have bouts of hospitalizations and then long periods where you'll be able to get by on maintenance medications. If you can do this, you can use the times when you're doing better to pay off your bills and prepare for the next onslaught.

When I was first hospitalized, and diagnosed with Crohn's, I didn't have insurance and was immediately $10,000 in debt. After that I was able to get by on maintenance medications and then tried my own natural healing approach before being hospitalized again. During that time I paid off all the $10,000 and avoided going into bankruptcy. This time I have insurance so my bills are not as bad but I'm already about $5000 in the whole. Bankruptcy for me would be a last option and I would wait as long as I could to get as much covered by it as possible. I don't know how many times one can file medical bankruptcy, it may vary from state to state.

But I wouldn't worry about it right now. Just focus on getting better. Those bills can pile up for a good while before any drastic actions are taken. I think was three years after my first hospitalization before the collection agency was threatening to take me to court. I got it paid off just in time or I would have had to file bankruptcy.

 

[srowe]

The makers of remicade will pay for it if you qualify. You can sign up for it through johnson and Johnson (the makers) The only reason I didn't qualify was because I have medical (which is worthless) but its worth a shot, remicade here is 7,000 per dose....I've read that its only $600 retail, but it's impossible to find it at that price where someone is willing to supply it or a private practice doc to give it.
good luck, my med bill's aren't nearly that bad but i'm still paying for whatever they can squeeze out of us and it can be a huge burden.

 

[Jvstin]

my girlfriend and I recently had to contact our Salvation Army for help with our power bill, cause we have over a month 1/2 of just her paychecks. try to get help on your personal bills first to help tackle the medical bills. and of course hospitals offer their own assistance.
plus, remember medical debt is supposed to be wiped off in 7 years, which is sometimes worth the wait. my debt is so bad I'm counting down the days like Christmas. just be happy to be alive. and perhaps play the lottery if you have a few extra bucks, it's not like they don't deserve to be paid, but they are there to help too.

 

[Kev]

Take this as a rant from someone who was once too close to a person who had a gambling addiction if you want, but... lottos are just a hidden form of taxation. The odds of winning anything substantial are really stacked against you, in favor of the outfit putting out the lottery. And many people think that purchasing multipe tickets will substantially increase their odds of winning... it really doesn't work that way... esp. in the case of numbers generated @ random... Vs tickets purchased where only those sold can be drawn from, OK?
so, if one wants to toss in a few $$ a week on the chance to win the big prize, by all means go for it (I won a substantial prize that way myself years ago) but if folks struggling to beat down debt get the notion that putting aside a portion of the spending cash towards winning it big, then the sad news is that they're only digging themselves in deeper... OK, I've said my piece... rant is over, OK?

 

[Jvstin]

I was just joking about the lottery thing, I know someone who is in debt now because they won a little in a lottery. didn't bother to pay off bills they had and bought things they couldn't afford. now I'm more financially stable than she is.

 

[Kev]

Don't mind me Jvstin.. It just hit a nerve. No one who hasn't lived with a gambling addict can know what it's like. And the sad part is that people who buy into those government run lotteries don't realize, or don't care, that its just another tax. OK?

 

[Jvstin]

I've only bought one lottery ticket in my life, and out of like 6 number choices I had zero matching. but it does suck to know that it is an addiction to some, I find it hard to understand how a game could be addictive, but with millions on the line, I suppose your hope carries a bit to far, but your compassion is left behind.
that made sense to me, sorry.

 

[katiesue1506]

Well if you win a little... it makes you wanna put that towards winning more... and then more and more and more... and that = addiction.

 

[D Bergy]

This may not help you out, but it is something that could come in handy for those in certain situations.

If your owe, say $10,000 to a doctor or hospital and are struggling to make monthly payments and on the verge of being turned over to a collection agency, you have an opportunity to lower that amount.

If the doctor turns that debt over to a collection agency, they are going to get about 2/3rds of that $10,000, or about $6,600. The collection agency is going to keep the rest. And they may never collect the balance depending on the circumstances, so the doctor risks collecting even less than that or nothing at all.

Now, if you have some way of giving them $6,600 in one payment, by borrowing the money or however, they will quite often accept that as payment in full. Of course, you have to get that in writing from the party you owe the money to.

The advantage to you, is you have paid off a debt of $10,000 for only $6,600.

The advantage to the doctor is they would only have collected that amount anyway if you had been turned over to a collection agency. And that is only if they were able to collect anything at all. You are simply cutting out the collection agencies fee.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Hope this helps someone.

Dan Bergman

 

[Kev]

Well, not to hijack this thread, and I think I may have told this story before on here, ... but when people are in financial straits, the temptation of 'easy money' from a lottery can lead to even bigger problems... so i'll tell this story again, just in case.. Long time ago, I, as a struggling college student, who had just stopped working full time to go back to school, won on the lottery. Had 5 numbers out of 6. Thought my financial worries were now behind me forever. but, even with 5 out of 6, the payoff wasn't that big.. between 3 & 4 thousand tax free. nice, but no retiring to the Bahamas.. The lotto ticket had a bonus #. If that had come up too, then my win would have been 100's of thousands. My bonus number was off by 1... took it as symbolic that I'd got as close as I ever would to hitting the jackpot. So, I never bought another ticket. sometime later I became involved with someone who had a gambling issue, unknown to me at the time. that lesson ended up costing me much more financially than I'd ever won, and as for personal loss, never been able to calculate how much I lost in the process... discovering the problem, trying for years to deal with in with any number of therapists, finally realizing that some problems just can't be fixed, and cutting my losses and moving on. Regardless of which side of the issue a person ends up on, it literally is something both extremely painful and ruinious.

OK, end of story, end of sermon. If you, or someone you know, has it, then its a case of get help, and if that doesn't work, then get out of the situation ASAP!

 

[ricemichelle5121969]

Medical bills in tennessee

I have had crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis since 2003 at age of 34. I have had the same problems as most of you, financial, emotional, loss of income, veins are shot, etc.

About the medical bill thingee, a bill collector (of course, as usual) called me yesterday and actualy was calling about an old payday loan i did many years ago and unable to pay back. But, the lady was very nice an dinformative when i just started crying and pouring out my past and current situation to her. She did tell me that medical bills are non-profit and they should not have a collection agency on you. I live in Millington, Tennessee outside of Memphis, Tennessee and Methodist North Hospital has threatened garnishment, etc. and we must pay them $25 a week but when you do that with many other large bills, u have no food. I am sure all of you can understand that and have been there.

She asked what my bill was and I told her close to 20,000 and she said they cannot put me injail or even make me pay it. She said that I need to tell my story including all the sadness and everything in a letter to the administrator of the hospital and they are the people, who if have a heart, can write this bill off for you. I told her I have seen some of my medical records at the hospital and they document everything i say; which is shocking to see when you wake up from all the medication and are out of the hospital... the things u actually say.. ANyway, I am going to start composing letters to administrators and others at the hospital to try and get them to understand that I did not want to be there but was so sick, in pain, white, pale, and extremely dehydrated and weak, with up and down temperatures due to so many symptoms mainly diarrhea and vomiting associated with crohns and colitis. I cried and cried and told them i had no insurance and they were very sweet, took care of me, made me better and sent me home. But, i did get a bill and cannot pay it. So, wish me luck and I hope some of you try this method and can get some medical bills off of you, too. Good luck, write back and take care.

 

[lj3]

im with the guy from ohio they can and will come after you if you don't pay. the good thing is you just need to get them to work with you. call the billing dept and ask them to apply for financial assistnace due to the limited amount of income you bring in annually. that should help first off. also you can pay a hospital 20 dollars a month forever they just want you to be paying them back in some capacity so set up a payment plan and tell them 20 is all you can afford monthly. be sure to make that small payment and they will stop blowing up your phone.

 

[25times]

This thread is like, years old, but I know that people are still struggling with the same problem. I really hope the OP found a solution.
A few years ago, I collapsed at work and they had to call an ambulance. By the time they got there I had woken up, and they brought me down to the ambulance. They checked my vitals but I decided not to use their services and my boyfriend drove me to the hospital. About a month later I recieved a bill for that ambulance "ride." Really, I had sat in it for about 7 minutes. No medications were administered, and I refused to be driven by them. The bill was for $400. I sent an email to whoever was in charge (don't remember) explaining that i was very sick (with crohn's, just undiagnosed) and I couldn't pay the bill. Also, I had never been transported by the ambulance so I didn't think it should count. The bill was removed from my file. I know that probably won't work for large debts, but people are willing to help, at least here. My Imuran is paid for by the government. Unfortunately they don't cover entocort, but every little bit helps when rent is coming up and you can't really work.