Debt Collections and medical bills
Date: Sat, 11/15/2008 - 07:40
Submitted by abbytroyer52107
on
Sat, 11/15/2008 - 07:40
Total Replies: 4
I had a job making decent money with a trucking company, then they laid off about 200 employees in Nov. 2007. I had my own apartment my own car and blah blah blah.
Needless to say, i was freaking out. The economy was already horrible that finding a place that was actually hiring ( short of fast food) was impossible. But i tried and tried and tried...
Then February roles around... i still dont have a job so i get out of my lease @ my apartment (luckily my landlord sympathized with my situation and refunded my security deposit.) I am also lucky to have had a boyfriend (now fiance) who would help me with money as much as he could, as well as my amazing family.
But Februay 11, 2008 i had some serious pains in my stomach and was rushed to the hospital to find out i made it just in time before my appendix ruptured.
I had no health insurance and needless to say, hospitals are expensive! So... i had the surgery and i started getting multiple bills... for everything...i mean every little thing that happened in that operating room was a different bill, with its own cost...
So i sent in my letters to ask for a reduction due to not having a job for so long and no health insurance ... And i got little response. i figured oh well, ill send in a small monthly payment and they wont give me a hard time because im showing im doing what i can....
There was one company that didnt send a bill for almost 3 months and then all of a sudden i get a letter in the mail from a collections agency stating that my balance of $947 needed to be paid in full.
I contacted the company and they basically said i was lieing that the bills were sent out and i just didnt want to pay them so there was no way they were taking it back from collections...
So my question is, is there anything to do about that situation or do i just have to suck it up and work out a payment plan with the collections... how is that going to effect my credit? i have heard that medical bills dont hurt it severely, but im not sure... replies are appreciated. Thanks!
Have you tried contacting the original creditor instead of the c
Have you tried contacting the original creditor instead of the collection agency and explaining your situation to them? They are usually willing to work with you. If you can work something out with them, they may be willing to take the debt out of collections.
Every state has some provision for hospitals to treat uninsured
Every state has some provision for hospitals to treat uninsured people. Speak to the hospital about it. You might maybe also speak with your local Legal Aid outfit. There may be some relief available under the federal Public Health Service Act [Title 42 USC, Chapter 6A].
Good luck. I had to go to the emergency room a few weeks ago and
Good luck. I had to go to the emergency room a few weeks ago and the bill is around 2500 dollars. Luckily for me the county I live in provides assistance for those without insurance to help cover some of the damage through grant programs. I hope this gets worked out for you.
After my brothers wife had a stroke, he went to the hospital and
After my brothers wife had a stroke, he went to the hospital and spoke with someone in the financial department. They ended up giving him hardship papers to fill out and eventally wiped out alot of it-it was over a hundred thousand.
Unc is right,our DHS has programs if you qualify for getting help also.karen
