|
Users viewing this topic:
none
|
|
Login  | |
|
RE: Medical bills - 7/28/2008 12:54:30 PM
|
|
|
Jenny-Fair
Posts: 6982
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: WA
Status: offline
|
The doc's bill has definitely been given to a collection agency. So I will read your links prior to calling them. If they haven't tacked too much onto this one, I should be able to pay it just as soon as I have my rent and stuff caught up--they will have to live with a small monthly payment in the meantime.
_____________________________
Tony: Ziva, did you kill Houdini?
Ziva: It is possible. I do not remember all their names.
My Blog
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Medical bills - 7/28/2008 1:01:32 PM
|
|
|
Covaan_Meshuga
Posts: 3509
Joined: 6/8/2005
From: a mother who let me live
Status: offline
|
Whatever you do, Jenny, don't pay it off using a credit card. Over the last couple days, there have been many horror stories on the news here about people who have done that. Not good. No credit cards. And if you use one of those medical credit cards, never, never, never make a single payment late: if you do, they've got you.
We have medical bills we are trying to pay off, so I understand a bit. It is hard, looking at such amounts.
_____________________________
Abiyah
"Ladies and gentlemen, there are things that you will only be able to learn by the weakest among us, and when you snuff them out, you are the one that loses." ~~Gianna Jesson, 1977 LA, CA, saline abortion survivor
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Medical bills - 7/28/2008 1:08:14 PM
|
|
|
Jenny-Fair
Posts: 6982
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: WA
Status: offline
|
I don't have a credit card except for a medical credit card, which my mother paid off this morning (because she co-signed and didn't want a negative effect on her credit record since I have been unemployed so much this year). I can pay my mom (she said she knows I am good for it, lol, which I thought was funny under the circumstances).
I don't use credit cards other than that, though, haven't since I was divorced 12 years ago. I am glad for it, too!
I think I will stick to checks or money orders for this particular debt.
_____________________________
Tony: Ziva, did you kill Houdini?
Ziva: It is possible. I do not remember all their names.
My Blog
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Medical bills - 7/28/2008 1:44:31 PM
|
|
|
Jenny-Fair
Posts: 6982
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: WA
Status: offline
|
Ok, I still don't understand why I can't call them (and that website hasn't explained it that I can see). Should I just wait for them to call me?
_____________________________
Tony: Ziva, did you kill Houdini?
Ziva: It is possible. I do not remember all their names.
My Blog
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Medical bills - 7/28/2008 1:58:14 PM
|
|
|
stellaluna
Posts: 3913
Joined: 4/11/2005
Status: offline
|
Why you can't call the CA? Because they will attempt to do a "hard sell" and get you to make a verbal agreement to do something you shouldn't necessarily do. Also, part of you writing to them is to tell them not to call you, so that you aren't bothered with phone calls. And often, CAs use scare tactics that are lies to try to get you to pay.
(And never put your signature on anything because CAs have been known to take signatures from one document and conveniently add them to another!)
_____________________________
I'm tired of signatures.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Medical bills - 7/28/2008 2:36:11 PM
|
|
|
Jenny-Fair
Posts: 6982
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: WA
Status: offline
|
Bridgitt, that was not true, helpful or constructive. Did you miss the part where the hospital forgave 100% of my bill? And gave extremely good service even though they knew when I walked in that I had no coverage and might not be able to pay?
_____________________________
Tony: Ziva, did you kill Houdini?
Ziva: It is possible. I do not remember all their names.
My Blog
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Medical bills - 7/28/2008 2:54:40 PM
|
|
|
garsyt
Posts: 2261
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: the bottom of the laundry basket
Status: offline
|
This has been pretty helpful for me.
You see we have some pretty hefty medical bills from when my hubby was in the hospital in June. We too had no insurance at the time as he was unemployed. The hospital bill alone was nearly $8000! Thankfully the financial office at the hospital was able to find some grant funding and reduced that by 80% down to about $1600. Then we got the cardiologist bill $1050, the er docs bill for $786, and the pathology bill for $77. There is another bill for 30 something too. I think that one was radiology or something like that. So total we owe $3543. OUCH! Hubby is now back to work, but he is also the sole support for our family. I'm looking for work, but it hasn't worked out yet. The hospital has agreed to small $10 payments for what could be the rest of our lives, but hubby hasn't spoken to the cardiologist office nor the ER doc.
My guess is that we pay the smaller bills off ASAP and then just start chunking away at the bigger bills.
Anyone think it would be a good idea to contact the cardiologist and the ER doc and see if they would be willing to cut the bill a bit?
What gets me is that the Cardiologist didn't even come into the hospital on discharge day and STILL charged us $150 dollars for Discharge day management - or what amounted to them looking at his final vitals that were faxed to is office and then fax back that he was to continue with his blood pressure meds. In fact hubby was in the hospital Friday through Sunday noon and the cardiologist visited him ONCE on Friday, ordered a couple of tests - of which we STILL don't know the results, and never returned.
The ER care was great! Although the dr. there didn't do much either. It was mostly the nurse there who was absolutely amazing!
Blessings,
Garsy
_____________________________
My Blog: www.moredayslikethisplease.wordpress.com
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Medical bills - 7/28/2008 2:59:28 PM
|
|
|
Jenny-Fair
Posts: 6982
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: WA
Status: offline
|
Hi, Garsy! I am glad you can benefit from this thread, as well.
_____________________________
Tony: Ziva, did you kill Houdini?
Ziva: It is possible. I do not remember all their names.
My Blog
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Medical bills - 7/28/2008 3:40:25 PM
|
|
|
Jenny-Fair
Posts: 6982
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: WA
Status: offline
|
Thanks, Janine. I love the pic of your sweetie!
_____________________________
Tony: Ziva, did you kill Houdini?
Ziva: It is possible. I do not remember all their names.
My Blog
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Medical bills - 7/28/2008 4:20:59 PM
|
|
|
Jenny-Fair
Posts: 6982
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: WA
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: stellaluna
Why you can't call the CA? Because they will attempt to do a "hard sell" and get you to make a verbal agreement to do something you shouldn't necessarily do. Also, part of you writing to them is to tell them not to call you, so that you aren't bothered with phone calls. And often, CAs use scare tactics that are lies to try to get you to pay.
If I don't call them, they will certainly call me, and it won't be to say nicer things. I think I had better call them and at least find out where I stand (what fees are added, who exactly 'owns' this debt, etc.) All I can find in my corrospondence is a letter from the physician's billing office saying it is going to be turned over...so I don't even know who the CA is in this particular case. I think that's something I need to find out.
_____________________________
Tony: Ziva, did you kill Houdini?
Ziva: It is possible. I do not remember all their names.
My Blog
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Medical bills - 7/28/2008 5:03:33 PM
|
|
|
Jenny-Fair
Posts: 6982
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: WA
Status: offline
|
Allrighty...I called the people that sent me the doc's bill, and they said it had been turned over to a CA and they would not recall it. They gave me the name and number of that CA. Should I call, or try to find an address and write them or what? The bill was originally for $220.
_____________________________
Tony: Ziva, did you kill Houdini?
Ziva: It is possible. I do not remember all their names.
My Blog
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Medical bills - 7/28/2008 5:23:36 PM
|
|
|
stellaluna
Posts: 3913
Joined: 4/11/2005
Status: offline
|
I would first check your credit report and see if it's being reported and to which credit reporting agencies and by whom and for how much, etc.
Your credit report will have the contact information on it.
_____________________________
I'm tired of signatures.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Medical bills - 7/28/2008 7:19:15 PM
|
|
|
Jenny-Fair
Posts: 6982
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: WA
Status: offline
|
I have never gotten a credit report.
_____________________________
Tony: Ziva, did you kill Houdini?
Ziva: It is possible. I do not remember all their names.
My Blog
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Medical bills - 7/29/2008 12:04:37 AM
|
|
|
Jenny-Fair
Posts: 6982
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: WA
Status: offline
|
Don't pass out on me, Stella, I am not done with you yet!
How does a girl go about getting a credit report?
_____________________________
Tony: Ziva, did you kill Houdini?
Ziva: It is possible. I do not remember all their names.
My Blog
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Medical bills - 7/29/2008 9:22:52 AM
|
|
|
stellaluna
Posts: 3913
Joined: 4/11/2005
Status: offline
|
There are two ways.
1) Go to the website of one of the three reporting agencies: Experian, Transunion or Equifax. At each site, you can pay for that site's particular report or all three.
2) Go to Annual Credit Report. You can get copies of all three reports for free once a year. (This is gov't mandated.) You can get them all at one time or one at a time.
Be aware that if you choose to dispute something, it takes longer with the free reports. (There is a longer deadline.) That may or may not matter to you. If you aren't looking at getting a mortgage soon or anything, then you probably don't care.
_____________________________
I'm tired of signatures.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Medical bills - 7/29/2008 10:29:09 AM
|
|
|
Jenny-Fair
Posts: 6982
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: WA
Status: offline
|
Houston, we have a problem!
I was unable to get my free report because I was unable to verify authenticity...because I had no idea where my mortgage and car loans were from...of course, the reason for that is that I have never had either!
So does this mean someone is using my info?
I printed off the mail-in request, but that will take a while, so I am just going to have to go with calling the CA.
_____________________________
Tony: Ziva, did you kill Houdini?
Ziva: It is possible. I do not remember all their names.
My Blog
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Medical bills - 7/29/2008 10:51:08 AM
|
|
|
stellaluna
Posts: 3913
Joined: 4/11/2005
Status: offline
|
No, it doesn't mean someone is using your identity. You'll just have to wait until you get authenticated. I would still wait to call the CA until you get those reports. If you know for a fact they are reporting your account on your CRs, at the very least you can negotiate a pay for delete. (You pay them money, they stop reporting.)
_____________________________
I'm tired of signatures.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Medical bills - 7/29/2008 11:11:09 AM
|
|
|
Jenny-Fair
Posts: 6982
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: WA
Status: offline
|
I really want to pay the bill-I am not disputing it in the least.
_____________________________
Tony: Ziva, did you kill Houdini?
Ziva: It is possible. I do not remember all their names.
My Blog
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Medical bills - 7/29/2008 11:20:01 AM
|
|
|
BlueAdept
Posts: 96
Joined: 4/18/2005
Status: offline
|
Again when you are dealing with the CA, make sure ANYTHING you agree to is in writting. Have them email a PDF document to you, or even use a fax service. (You can find some on the net, for a small monthly fee they convert a fax into a document and email it to you.)
If they agree to some plan and will not send something in writing; it likely means they had no intension of following the agreement.
For example, if the bill was 220.00 and it is now 300.00 because of fees, and/or other reasons. You could agree to pay the original amount 220.00 in a lump sum, but with the understanding that it clears the account in full. You would also want to make sure that the account is reported to the credit reporting agencies as paid in full. You would want that clearly spelled out in a letter from them. If they claim they can't do that, it is a scare tactic or a negotiation method. Politely tell them what you want, if they can't do it then go up the food chain (ask for a supervisor) until you get someone that will get you what you need.
Always be polite, always stay calm, don't give them too much personal information. (Like I am a christian) they will use that to make you feel guilty and attempt to twist it. Tell them what you can do, then do it.
I am not working right now, but I expect to start a job in 2 weeks. At that point I will be able to pay, 10.00 per week or X dollars. Again don't tell them you can send money, and then not do it. They hear that all the time.
And to answer your previous question, yes they have your banking information from your check. However they likely will never see your check, since it goes into a lock box. You giving them the information is like giving them a signed blank check. They can (and will) process for as much as they can get. They may claim it was an error, but it likely was not, and you will NEVER get it back. They can not use that information without risking trouble, but when it is given over the phone..... it is open season on you account.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Medical bills - 7/29/2008 11:24:18 AM
|
|
|
Jenny-Fair
Posts: 6982
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: WA
Status: offline
|
quote:
You could agree to pay the original amount 220.00 in a lump sum I have said this several times--it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to pay them a lump sum. IMPOSSIBLE unless we don't eat for two weeks, ok?
Should I at least call and ask for a statement? I have not seen anything in the mail from them.
_____________________________
Tony: Ziva, did you kill Houdini?
Ziva: It is possible. I do not remember all their names.
My Blog
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Medical bills - 7/29/2008 11:43:14 AM
|
|
|
BlueAdept
Posts: 96
Joined: 4/18/2005
Status: offline
|
Jenny,
I am not saying you should not eat. I am talking about negotation. What CAN you afford? Can you pay 50.00? Can you afford 100? When you come up with a plan, follow it to the letter! If you don't, you will find they don't have to do what they agreed to either.
It would be a shame to have paid all but the last payment, and then have something come up that caused you to default. They could then come after you for the full amount on the books now, plus interest and hassle fees.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Medical bills - 7/29/2008 3:38:12 PM
|
|
|
Jenny-Fair
Posts: 6982
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: WA
Status: offline
|
The CA called. My balance is still at the original balance and they said they are mailing a statement today. I told them that I was unemployed and would be waiting for the statement and would be in touch. They said they had already mailed one out but I have not received it. They weren't mean and did not try to press the issue or make me agree to anything.
_____________________________
Tony: Ziva, did you kill Houdini?
Ziva: It is possible. I do not remember all their names.
My Blog
|
|
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
 Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts |
|
|
Forum Tools
Printable Version
Moo! 
