Ask Me Help Desk - Payments to a Hospital

Payments to a Hospital

My daughter was in an accident. She is uninsured. Now the hospital wants to set up payments to her account. Is the hospital obligated to except a payment offered? Do they have to consider the amount of income a patient makes, and except a reasonable payment that the patient afford?

Was it an auto accident? Who is responsible for the accident? Not really enough here to go on.

However, is it a private hospital or a public hospital?

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Quote:

Originally Posted by tambk333

My daughter was in an accident. She is uninsured. Now the hospital wants to set up payments to her account. Is the hospital obligated to except a payment offered? Do they have to consider the amount of income a patient makes, and except a reasonable payment that the patient can afford?

She tripped and put her arm through HER front window, slitting her wrist. She went to the emergency room where they used flight for life to send her to another hospital (public) 300 miles away. She's looking at bills that might total as much as $40,000. She 21, supports herself and makes about $1500 to $1800 a month.

Again the question is was it a private or public hospital? If it is private then she has to make payment arrangements. If it was public there is assistance out there and she needs to meet with the financial department to set up payment plans. There are also charities out there whom the hospitals have on a special list, that will help with payments.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tambk333

My daughter was in an accident. She is uninsured. Now the hospital wants to set up payments to her account. Is the hospital obligated to except a payment offered? Do they have to consider the amount of income a patient makes, and except a reasonable payment that the patient afford?

If your question is: Can your daughter offer to pay what she believes she can afford and does the hospital have to accept it and then they can't legally pursue her (sue her), the answer is... no.

The payment arrangement has to be acceptable to BOTH sides. There used to a old wive's tale floating around that if you paid ANYTHING toward a debt (say, $10 a month) the creditor could not take legal action - wasn't true then, isn't true now.

If your daughter and the hospital cannot both agree on payments they can sue her, get a Judgment and try to collect.

You do not want info about other means of paying medical bills if you are not insured so I am not posting those options.

First, may I call your attention to the guidelines for using the comments feature found here:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/feedba...ure-24951.html

I think you owe George an apology. The link he gave indicates a possible way out of the debt. So, while it didn't answer your specific question, it was accurate information and may be helpful in your situation.

But Judy answered your question. Both parties need to agree on a payment plan.

[Comments on this post
tambk333 agrees: Thank You for the information. You are very knowledgeable and I appreciate you taking the time to answer me. And yes I would like the information of other means of paying medical bills when there is no insurance]

I would begin with someone at the hospital - the billing office should have someone on staff, often a social worker, who has all this info at his/her fingertips. Info as to income requirements, organizations that will assist, means of getting a "discount" for no insurance. That's the place to start because they deal with problems like this all the time.

How is your daughter, by the way?

To reply to a thread, use either the Quick Reply, Answer this Question or Quote User options.

I went through the hospitals financial department and got financial assistance. They cut off 50% of what I owed which depended on my income, other bills, etc.

How long ago was your daugters accident? If she waits to long to make payment arrangements or pay if in full then most likely the hospital's billing department will send it to a collection agency and she wouldn't be able to qualify for financial assistance once it goes through the collection agency.

This was my experience based on where I live.

Call the hosiptal and ask them if there is anything gthey can recommend. There are a great number of programs and organizations that will help the right person. A client of mine was in a similar situation. He had purchased one of those "student insurance plans" at college, but didn't read the fine print that said he was responsible for anything over $500 a day.

He applied to a local Catholic Charity and they pciked up everything for him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

[Comments on this post
tambk333 agrees: Thank You for the information. You are very knowledgeable and I appreciate you taking the time to answer me. And yes I would like the information of other means of paying medical bills when there is no insurance]

I would begin with someone at the hospital - the billing office should have someone on staff, often a social worker, who has all this info at his/her fingertips. Info as to income requirements, organizations that will assist, means of getting a "discount" for no insurance. That's the place to start because they deal with problems like this all the time.

How is your daughter, by the way?

She is doing really well, thank you. Just sporting a very large bandage.
Thank you for your help, it has helped from going into this blind

Quote:

Originally Posted by sideoutshu

Call the hosiptal and ask them if there is anythin gthey can recommend. there are a great number of programs and organizations that will help the right person. A client of mine was in a similar situation. He had purchased one of those "student insurance plans" at college, but didn't read the fine print that said he was responsible for anything over $500 a day.

He applied to a local Catholic Charity and they pciked up everything for him.

Thank You this has been very helpful

Quote:

Originally Posted by bEaUtIfUlbRuNeTtE

I went through the hospitals financial department and got financial assistance. They cut off 50% of what I owed which depended on my income, other bills, ect.

How long ago was your daugters accident? If she waits to long to make payment arrangements or pay if in full then most likely the hospital's billing department will send it to a collection agency and she wouldn't be able to qualify for financial assistance once it goes through the collection agency.

This was my expierence based on where I live.

Her accident was last Friday night. So we are going to get payment arrangement done this week.
Thank you for your help. I am going to take everyone's advise, put all together and tackle this . Its not as scary anymore.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sideoutshu

Call the hosiptal and ask them if there is anythin gthey can recommend. there are a great number of programs and organizations that will help the right person. A client of mine was in a similar situation. He had purchased one of those "student insurance plans" at college, but didn't read the fine print that said he was responsible for anything over $500 a day.

He applied to a local Catholic Charity and they pciked up everything for him.

Thanks a lot for the advise:D:)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottGem

to reply to a thread, use either the Quick Reply, Answer this Question or Quote User options.

Thanks for the advise, It has all helped!!:)

Quote:

Originally Posted by tambk333

She is doing really well, thank you. Just sporting a very large bandage.
Thank you for your help, it has helped from going into this blind

Good. It sounds like it certainly could have been a lot worse and once you know which way to go, who has the answers (or at least some of them) it's a lot easier to navigate your way through these problems life throws at us.

When it's all resolved please come back and let us know how it worked out.