Hospital bills?

Last year I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had the surgery. Turned out that it was 3rd stage so with that, I was in for a lot of treatment. I do have health insurance but of course it doesn't not cover everything. I had to go on medical leave of course which did not cover 100% of my salary not to mention that this was a new job and I had only been there for about 7 months and to make matters worse, I bought a condo all of this before finding out about the cancer.

I'm still going through treatment but now the hosptial is calling me about paying these bills. I have given a little here and a little there but it's never enough it seems plus, I probably even owe altogether about $2000 or more.

I know that we need to pay our bills but under the circumstances, I'm seriously not able to give them what they want. I'm afraid that it's ruining my credit and I have NEVER been hasseled by creditors. Does anyone know how you would deal with the hospital under these circumstances?
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Are there places out there that can help a person financially? I feel that I didn't ask to get cancer and when I was diagnosed, I didn't have a choice of saying "I'll take care of this in a year" I had to do it ASAP and upon being angry that I got cancer in the first place, I feel like I'm being punished again by the people who were to make me better. I need to know how to get them off my back. I'm still being treated and they are still sticking on more bills. Will this affect my credit? Could they take my condo?

Most hospitals won't send you to collections if you communicate with them and send them something every month. You best bet is to talk to the billing department and set up payment arrangements. They will try to get you to pay what they want you to pay every month but when it comes right down to it they have to accept whatever you send as long as you do it every month and communicating with them via telephone once a month doesn't hurt either, at least until you have a payment plan set up with them. My experience with one hospital was that I had to make what they called "temporary arrangements" because they claimed the minimum they could accept permanent arrangements for was $100 per month and I couldn't afford that, so I had to call them every 3 months and make another "temporary arrangement" until it was paid off. Even if they do send you to collections, in most states they have to use a non-reporting agency (it doesn't show up on your credit report as being sent to collections.) A lot of the laws governing hospital billing practices vary from state to state so you should check with your local Better Business Bureau to find out what acceptable billing practices are for health care providers in your state. If the BBB doesn't know they should be able to refer you to another agency or person who does have that information. You shouldn't have to worry about anyone taking your condo to pay off your medical bills. I don't think ANY state in this country allows that anymore. You will feel tons better when you are armed with the facts though!

If they knew you were the famous and utterly undefeatable Shrunken Fro they would back off......heck if the cancer knew who you are it would have never messed with you in the first place! You are in my thoughts and prayers until you tell me to knock it off......

Oh, I just thought of something else, I don't know if you belong to a church but lots of times churches will do fund raisers to help their members out with things like this. Some churches will even do it for complete strangers! It might be worth checking into. Your friends can even hold fund raisers, I've done so for a couple of friends of mine to help pay unexpected funeral expenses and medical bills. It's really easy to do, drop me an email if you'd like details.

GOOD LUCK, YOU DESERVE IT !!

I WORK IN A HOSPITAL BILLING DEPARTMENT, AND JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, THE OLD SAYING IF YOU SEND EM 5 DOLLARS A MONTH THEY WONT BOTHER YOU, THEY REALLY CANT BOTHER YOU. they CAN STILL TRY TO TAKE YOU TO COURT, BUT AS LONG AS YOU HAVE MADE AN EFFORT TO PAY AT LEAST FIVE DOLLARS A MONTH, THEY WILL THROW THE CASE OUT. ANY LAWYER WILL TELL YOU THIS ALSO. AS FOR YOUR CREDIT, YES THEY WILL GO ON UNTIL YOU PAY THEM OFF. POSSIBILITIES OF USING YOUR TAX CHECK TO PAY IT OFF IS A THINKER ON YOUR PART.

I wouldn't worry about them taking your condo. I have owed many hospital bills in the past. Just pay them whatever you can afford. If you don't pay them something they could sue you and seek judgement against you. As long as you are making an effort to pay you will be fine.

I have had a very similar problem after my kidney and pancreas transplant. I owed over 50,000 but agreed to make small payments. They will accept whatever you can afford to pay with the stipulation that they will eventually get full payment. If you can afford $5 or $10 per month, so be it, but do call them and arrange those terms.

I went through the same thing and owed about $3000. I couldn't pay it all off at once so I started to send about $50 a month. As long as you pay something you should be alright.

My Dear Sister, I am almost sure my heart momentarily stopped, and the warmth of empathy, love, and compassion washed over me when I read your question. I am a Senior Registered Emergency Trauma Nurse at The Detroit Medical Center and University Health, our health care team is committed to providing the best options available for patients across the nation, and to countries around the globe, Oh My God, it's my turn to pass along the information that has been ingrained upon us since we made the committment to serve, have you ever heard of Karmanos Cancer Treatment Centers of Detroit? Developed by physicians, nurses, and researchers, Karmanos specializes in the latest, state of the art, cancer treatment and diagnostic studies that are widely believed to be among the very best, most all cancer patients are eligible participation in their clinical trials. Karmanos gains additional support funding from the Department of Defense, The American Cancer Society, Susan G. Koman for the Cure, private trusts and foundations, OK,let's talk money! $$$20 million dollars in research funding comes from The National Cancer Institute{NCI}, nearly $$$18 million additional dollars from peer reviewed funding, $$$9.2 million from non-peer revieved funding, and generous donations from a whole lot of other people with $$$deep pockets, including our staff physicians, NURSES$$${...um, OK, nurse pockets ain't as deep as the love in our hearts is, now, I can at least verify that, girl!, I know all 'bout that, that's straight up deep...}, medical teams, and just a whole bunch of people who really, really care! In addition to all that, Karmanos staff is made up of every day people, including scientists, nurses, social workers, physicians who promote home health care, health education to patients and their families, So, with all that love and money flowing, I AM MAD AS HELL at whoever @ your hospital did'nt include Karmanos as an option for you, we as medical staff committed to community education, as well as the education of ourselves and our own families live for this! Money should be the least of your worries, HELL NAW, THEY WILL NOT TAKE YOUR CONDO!!! OK, do this: email your same question on here to the Karmanos people, I'm gonna send you a link. {Yess, I can link!!!I'm so glad I'm no longer computer illiterate!!} , tell 'em how you're being almost "pimped" for your money by that hospital{they should be ashamed!!}, wonder why they didn't tell ya 'bout KARMANOS {by the way, Karmanos is in Canada, too, alot of our staff commutes back and forth on a daily basis, 'eh? they're our " just thru the tunnel, or over the bridge" neighbors!("Whassup Canada!") lol!}, this is crazy that you weren't referred, I'm not sure at all about exactly how much they will do to help with that bill, only cause hospital billing is not my forte, however, I betcha this: if you decide to{and I hope you do, please, dearheart} consult Karmanos, they will bend over backward to help you, OMG, we have a Southwest Oncology{SWOG}, Children's Oncology{COG}, Radiation Therapy Oncology{RTOG}, Gynecologic Oncology{GOCG}, You know Detroit is always getting a bad rep for being "a bad, impoverished, scary place to live"? well, **** that negative hype, all that does is make decent, loving, caring people with morals, and stellar family values, and visions care more about people, there are really people everywhere that seriously get involved in health care because they are committed, I know tons of 'em, I am truly one of them...You don't have to be destitute to benefit from something you're entitled to, {yes, entitled to}, no health care system should put you in a box and make you afraid you will lose your assets due to circumstances you cannot control that you didn't ask for, there are people committed to your support, I know "life ain't free", neither is health care, however, there is help out there, just gotta know where to flow... I hope this helps, I know it will, love and prayers, "Chi Town", from me, in "The D", email me if you want, would love to talk more, {I added you as a contact without your permission, I hope that was OK, still trying to not break some of the rules on here, I sometimes tend to be long-winded, that's just me!...peace}

Go and see them, or write and work out a regular payment plan.

I just got a surprise bill from the hospital of $3850.00 Just a few minutes ago. I don't owe it and i was telling them to re-bill the insurance company.. so I know what your saying, they told me that they would take $50.00 a month to pay it off. The thing about medical aid is you probably have too many assets to get public assistance. That happened to me about 10 years ago, I could have gotten help paying the bills if I was a lay around the house drunk. So check with them about payments, they just want to get some money paid You can get some help from the American cancer society. free wigs, and cases of Ensure, they also can give you information about programs to help you out. They have chapters all over, give them a call. .My Mom, after her operation to remove a breast and lymph nodes, and Chemo They did help some. Good luck and I hope you find some help.

Pay what you can.

My prayers are with you.

Move to Canada if you can.

Hi Luv, it is true. If you just call all those bill collectors, radiation, anathesiologists, doctors, etc. and make tell them what you have just told us, you can make very small but consistant payments every month. Then your Condo is safe and I believe so is your credit. I do not think medical bills affect your credit.

I understand your concern!
Luck you, you only owe a little over $2,000!!! I am sure that is a mole hill compared to what could be..
Anyhow, from my experience hospital bills are not looked upon in situations where you need credit (buying a car, renting an apartment, etc). Yes, they will go on your credit as not paid but again most people do not include them as they are very common.
Maybe you can set up a payment plan--one you can afford!! That should get them off your back.. you always can try to consolidate your finances too...
Try not to worry yourself though..you need all the peace of mind that you can get...

Call them up and ask them to set up a payment plan.

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