Can a hospital refuse to accept payment arrangements? I had to go the ER on May 23rd for really bad abdominal pains. The Dr there what I say misdiagnosed me. So I paid $50 of my $150 co pay because they didn't want to discharge me until I paid something no less than $50. A week after that ER visit I had to make another ER visit but at another hospital for the same pains. I ended up having emergency surgery for gallbladder removal. So now I have to pay the 2nd hospital for what the 1st hospital should have diagnosed. I called the 1st hospital and told them I could pay them $10 a month so that I could pay the $100 off since I now have a bigger bill to worry about. They refused to accept the payment plan. So what can I do?

Yes, just like any creditor the hospital can refuse a payment plan. They could get a Judgment against you and enforce it by any means legal in your State (wage garnishment, property lien, bank account lien).

Have you made an appointment and gone in and spoken with them, asked them what they find reasonable payments to be in an effort to keep them from filing against you and obtaining a Judgment? An in person visit often works.

Legally a hospital cannot refuse to discharge you because you have an unpaid bill - need more info about that.

If you were misdiagnosed you should speak to an Attorney about a medical malpractice claim.

Before I got discharged the guy told me I couldn't be discharged until I paid my ER copay and I told him I didn't have enough to pay. That the only thing I could pay was $50. And then he told me that I had 3 days to pay the rest. The care I received at this hospital was awful. :(

Before I got discharged the guy told me I couldn't be discharged until I paid my ER copay and I told him I didn't have enough to pay. That the only thing I could pay was $50. And then he told me that I had 3 days to pay the rest. The care I recieved at this hospital was awful. :(



It is, in fact, illegal to hold you in the hospital. I'm shocked! I know a little about this because one time when my husband went to the ER he was taken from work and his wallet was locked in his work safe. He basically had no ID, credit cards, cash on him. I got the call and ran out of the house, didn't take my purse. Stupid, yes, I know BUT the ER made all kinds of noise both before and after treating him. He was to be transferred to another hospital which they said they wouldn't do until I provided information concerning health insurance and gave them the money for the co-pay.

Needless to say I was rather adamant that if they held him without necessary medical treatment OR if I was forced to go home to get the information and come back instead of meeting him at the second hospital they would be sued.

He was transferred, I followed in my car, I then went home and got the info, faxed it to the ER hospital and that was the end of it.

(After that I photocopied all the relevant info and put that photocopy and a blank check in the locked glove compartment of each car.)

They cannot withhold treatment or refuse to discharge/transfer a person over a monetary issue.

I'd still ask an Attorney. Medical malpractice is difficult to prove, very expensive to pursue - but I still think I'd get a legal opinion. You could ask your local Bar Association to recommend someone who gives an initial consultation for free.

A hospital can not hold you there if you don't have the co pay! It is illegal! Take this up with the administrator of the hospital {just to see what is said} and then call your local legal aid society. I spoke to my Aunt who is a secretary at our local hospital and she said that should never have happened and any one who tries to hold you there because you do not have the co pay is simply asking for a law suite! She suggest to seek the advise of an attorney

A hospital can not hold you there if you don't have the co pay! it is illegal! Take this up with the administrator of the hospital {just to see what is said} and then call your local legal aid society. I spoke to my Aunt who is a secretary at our local hospital and she said that should never have happened and any one who tries to hold you there because you do not have the co pay is simply asking for a law suite! she suggest to seek the advise of an attorney



Is there an echo in here? Working long hours again? Either that or great minds think somewhat alike. Of course, that's giving both of us some credit that I don't see other people handing out to us.

Anyway -

I do not see legal aid getting involved in the "failure to release/treat without the co-pay" because it was a threat, nothing happened, I don't see damages. In fact, I don't see legal aid getting involved in this either from that aspect OR from the medical damages aspect.

Perhaps your aunt has different information or a different point of view and I would like to hear the point of view from a person actually employed in the medical field.

LoL ! Yes great minds do think alike! And hopefuly the long hours will soon slow down
The reason I stated legal aid was because in our small town we have a legal aide circle {and that's what they call it} which consist of attorneys that volunteer their time to answer legal questions and somewhat advise which way to go with a problem and I quess I just asssumed every place had them
But hey you know what the first three letters of assume are! LOL!

LoL ! yes great minds do think alike! and hopefuly the long hours will soon slow down
The reason I stated legal aid was because in our small town we have a legal aide circle {and thats what they call it} which consist of attorneys that volunteer their time to answer legal questions and somewhat advise which way to go with a problem and I quess I just asssumed every place had them
but hey you know what the first three letters of assume are! LOL!



No problem - in my area Legal Aid will not advise on certain matters, medical malpractice being one of them.

Remind me to move to your area -