Outrageous Medical Debt

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2004
Outrageous Medical Debt
5
Fri, 08-20-2004 - 8:07pm
Hi, this is my first time posting on this board but I need help. At the begining of the year I had to have 2 surgeries within a month and a half. I had no health insurance and now have over $60k in medical bills. My husband makes $30k a year I was not working at the time and we were turned down for any financial assistance at both hospital because we make to much. Is there any other programs out there that could help with the medical debt. I have been paying $20.00 a month on each bill, but that totals $500.00 each month. Any help would be appreciated, I do not know how much longer we can swing this with all our other bills.

Thanks!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-30-2003
Fri, 08-20-2004 - 10:55pm
Welcome here!

Have you talked to the hospital about this? There might be financial assistance availaible through them if you can show that this is causing a hardship for you. It's worth trying, anyhow. I would think that they would rather try and work with you than have to take a total loss on payment.

I'm not much help here, and I'm sorry. Hopefully someone will have a better answer for you-

Lisa

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-13-2004
Sat, 08-21-2004 - 4:04pm
It's my understanding..and I could be wrong...that as long as you are paying something, even just $1/month they can not take you to court over a medical bill. Get the rest paid off, and take down those other bills to what you can afford! But you might want to check with a lawyer though to be certain!
Avatar for mymartes
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 08-21-2004 - 5:41pm
you may want to speak w/a social worker at the hospital. if not, trying applying for medicaid to cover this bill. while you were in the hospital, a social worker could have helped you applied for medicaid to cover the bill.

I live in NYC, and usually if approved for medicaid they will pay for the past 3 month of medical bills.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

MYM

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-21-2004
Sat, 08-21-2004 - 10:29pm
Hello,

I don't have any way out, but I am going through the same thing as you. My husband and I have about 25,000 in medical debt. Along with our other bills we are aving a hard time keeping up with everything. If i here of anything that could help us I will let you know. Hopefully someone might have an idea.
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-14-2004
Sat, 08-21-2004 - 11:13pm
There was a decision made this year that a hospital can offer discounts to those without insurance, and it is something you should ask for. When we get hospital bills, I ask for a discount on the basis that the fees are overinflated and that is discrimination for the uninsured. Result? A 30-40% discount, every time. The other option is this: stop paying all together and allow it to go to collections. Then inform the collections agent you will start making payments if they can negiotiate a 50% or so discount on the total. That often works as well. You hate to be manipulative, but really, the charges are horribly overinflated.