New here! In trouble please help

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-21-2004
New here! In trouble please help
17
Sun, 04-17-2005 - 10:44am
Hi my name is Jennifer. I am a single working mom. I work two jobs and I really frugal. I have to be we don't have a lot of extra money. In Nov. my daughter had to go the the Childrens hospital. Thankfully she is fine now! but I have some bills my insurance wouldn't cover in the amount of 2500.00 which isn't much I know but I have no extra money and they gave me only two weeks to pay in full or I need to take out a credit card through 5th 3rd which works with them to pay it off. It makes me sick to take out a credit card for doctors bills when I am struggling to pay all my credit card bills. But at that time I got behind on my mortage payment. So I am now a month behind. Just about a week and half ago I sent my payment for last month and I was planning on by the first sending this month and hopefully getting caught up. But I recieved a letter in the mail saying I could no longer send partial payments when more than one month was due and I needed to remit the full amount or I may go into forclosure. I haven't been able to sleep all night. See in NOv. my mort went up by 300 dollars because they didn't figure enough in my escrow to pay my taxes. Ever since then it has been a struggle. I have no one I can ask for help. To loose my house would be devastating. I bought the house I grew up in.
I guess my question is if I pay the full amount in a few weeks and get caught back up do I still have the threat of going into forclosure? Is there anything I can do. I have called and told them my situation previously?? There is nothing more scary then the possibility of someone taking my house I worked so hard to get.
Any advice would be great. Thank you!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Thu, 04-28-2005 - 7:56pm

You can have your medical bills reviewed for charge errors. There are several companies out there that do this. Usually they get a percentage of what they reduce, but it is much less than what you have to pay to the hospital. I have seen bills reduced anywhere from $350 to $18,000! It all depends on what the hospital charges you.
When I review a bill I go line by line and see if it is a true charge. If you have any questions on your bill, I would be glad to see if I can help you.

Gina

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-22-2003
Fri, 04-29-2005 - 8:45am
Whoever you spoke to in billing or account receivables is obviously new. I have never heard of such a thing. You need to speak to someone else and offer monthly, not weekly payments. When I had medical bills I called the billing dept and spoke to the supervisor. I let them know my financial situation and told them all I could pay was X dollars a month, some as low as $10. That was that. I also set a date for the payment. 1st of the month. I don't think they can send you to collections if you are making payments, but can't say for sure. Also I pay no interest. That's the worst doctor I've ever heard of, and if it's a PCP or anything would seriously consider changing them.
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2005
Sat, 04-30-2005 - 2:09pm
Hospitals don't require you to pay your bill by a certain time. They are required to allow you to work something out with a payment plan. I don't believe you, sorry.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sat, 04-30-2005 - 5:10pm

Merie_m, I may be out of line here, but I feel that your post here is unnecessarily angry. We all have our own struggles on this board, and we all have different situations. The goal of the board is to offer, and receive, support. No one wants to come here and feel attacked. That's not what the board is about.

It sounds like you know a lot about hospital billing laws. I'm sure mayasmom2004 would be grateful for your insight! Perhaps her hospital reads the law you refer to to mean that they can work out a "payment plan" with patients using their affiliated credit card. Perhaps you could help mayasmom2004 work out the legal end so she can work with, or fight, the hospital, and get straightened out and back on track.

Or, if you find her story so implausible that you feel angry about it (though I'm not sure why you would--it's not like she's asking us to send her money to help out), you can simply ignore her post.

But let's keep it friendly, so we can all continue to enjoy the friendly, supportive atmosphere on this board! Thanks,

Heather

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2005
Sat, 04-30-2005 - 7:08pm

It wasn't mean. I simply said I didn't believe her. And I still don't.

I do know a lot about hospital billing. This woman has received many smart insights from people on this thread. In real life, she probably has a ton of people trying to help her out, if her story is in fact true.

I know she isn't asking for money, but she is sure demanding our sympathy isn't she?

Avatar for cl_phocid
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 04-30-2005 - 7:16pm

Merie_m - I encourage you to please read the DSG Rules of Play prior to posting on the board:

All my best,
Danni

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Sun, 05-01-2005 - 8:36pm

merie_m,
All the hospitals I have ever worked for or reviewed bills for had it in the Agreement that is signed at the hospital that the payment be made within a certain time. Can you give me any more info on them being required to work something out?

Thanks,
Gina

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