huge medical bill in TX. What can I expect to happen?
Date: Fri, 09/14/2007 - 08:49
I will shortly be receiving a hospital bill for approx $47000. We have really bad insurance because I have started a new job and it's really basic coverage for the first year.
Has anyone had any experience of dealing with this sort of medical bill? What will they accept as a monthly payment?
I have been doing some research incase it gets ugly. We can only realistically afford to give them $150 - $200 a month. I am under the impression that if they were to sue somewhere down the line they wouldn't be able to get a whole lot more. There is no wage garnishment in TX, except for federal debt. They cannot take the car under TX law, which we don't own anyway as it's on a note. We rent our house, have no assets, no money in the bank.
Any thoughts?
Thanks!
That's quite a large bill to deal with! In some states, you can
That's quite a large bill to deal with! In some states, you can file, it's Title 19 here, I think, for people that cannot pay the bill.
My sister-in-law had a stroke a while back at 45 years. They had insurance-not good insurance and they will have probably 3 times that amount.
They have no means to pay, even a settled amount,usually half. He has been talking with a bankruptcy attorney about this. I am not an advocate of bankruptcy- but when there is no way out- you do what you have to.
Speak with them at the hospital, tell them your circumstances, and see what they say.
A oggd friend of ours is a Doctor, and he told us that Doctors and hospitals write off alot of debt-
Keep us posted and feel free to ask questions..Good Luck..Karen
Thanks for the quick response. I am dealing with Methodist Heal
Thanks for the quick response. I am dealing with Methodist Health. We applied for charity from them. We had a letter in the mail yesterday denying our application. The woman I spoke to this morning said we weren't "indigent".
Ask her to provide you with what they are saying the requirement
Ask her to provide you with what they are saying the requirements are for being indigent. If you don't own your home and have no assets, I don't understand- unless your pay at your job is what is keeping you from this..Karen
I guess on paper we make too much money. The way I understood h
I guess on paper we make too much money. The way I understood her was that if we were both on welfare we would have got help. We are just ordinary working people. It's very frustrating. We don't have much left at the end of the month.
I understand! They told me we made to get help for my prescripti
I understand! They told me we made to get help for my prescriptions- I asked the lady-if we made so much money-how come we can't buy them!!
See what you can do with the hospital, wait until all the bills come in and go from there. Even with a settlement, It would be a very large debt.
You are welcome to speak with a credit counselor, and see what they may have to offer, or if it would suit your needs. If you registered for the free counseling, someone will contact you from your area- check your e-mail.
Let us know if we can help..Karen
Let's say I offer $200 a month but they want $500. We can't pay
Let's say I offer $200 a month but they want $500. We can't pay $500. They sue and get a judgement and the court orders us to pay $500. We still can't afford to pay the judgement. What happens if I fail to pay the judgement? Will I be arrested? I'm really worried.
No, you can not be arrested for debt. It is not a criminal case.
No, you can not be arrested for debt. It is not a criminal case. You didn't steal anything or break any laws.
