I would definitely pay what you can each month. If they see you are making an effort to pay I do not believe they would send you to a collection agency. I would try this route before putting it on a credit card or using a loan to pay it off. My sister went to court because she had difficulty paying her rent. The judge said that as long as she was trying to keep up on her rent he would not make her move. I would think the same would hold for a medical bill. My friend couldn't pay her newborn bill to the Dr, she called them and they said to still come in...the child's health was more important than the money and they would work with her for a payment plan. It doesn't hurt to ask for a payment plan. Tell them you aren't using credit cards and that is your only way of paying. All they can say is No.
Medical Bills
- Thread starter OhMari
- Start date
I think it's important for everyone to remember that the physician's income is part of the food chain too.
The money they receive for services whether from insurance or private pay patients in turn is spent on salaries, overhead, insurance of their own, student loan repayment, etc. They can't pay their bills unless the patients pay theirs.
The days of perceiving the physicans as "rich" are over. It's not widespread yet, but I could certainly envision patients (non-paying) eventually turned away and denied care. It's already happening among the Medicare population as reimbursements from the government have fallen. They require more time and the fee schedule is often lower than the amount the physican must generate to pay his/her expenses. A lot of hospital emergency rooms are being turned into family practice sites simply because families have no where else to turn, which in turn squeezes the ERs for legitimate emergency medicine need. Doesn't make it right but it is reality. And, no one would think of taking your car for repair and not paying the mechanic on the day service was rendered. Why is the medical field any different?
People need to wake up and take better care of themselves. My dad used to tell us as children that we couldn't afford to be sick. And we had access to care but I think he thought about it even in terms of missed income from being unable to work. The way things seem to be headed now, you really can't afford to be sick.
The money they receive for services whether from insurance or private pay patients in turn is spent on salaries, overhead, insurance of their own, student loan repayment, etc. They can't pay their bills unless the patients pay theirs.
The days of perceiving the physicans as "rich" are over. It's not widespread yet, but I could certainly envision patients (non-paying) eventually turned away and denied care. It's already happening among the Medicare population as reimbursements from the government have fallen. They require more time and the fee schedule is often lower than the amount the physican must generate to pay his/her expenses. A lot of hospital emergency rooms are being turned into family practice sites simply because families have no where else to turn, which in turn squeezes the ERs for legitimate emergency medicine need. Doesn't make it right but it is reality. And, no one would think of taking your car for repair and not paying the mechanic on the day service was rendered. Why is the medical field any different?
People need to wake up and take better care of themselves. My dad used to tell us as children that we couldn't afford to be sick. And we had access to care but I think he thought about it even in terms of missed income from being unable to work. The way things seem to be headed now, you really can't afford to be sick.
I have worked in healthcare for years.
Yes, DOCTORS will refuse to take patient's who don't pay and they can. If you show up at a hospital in a medical need the hosptial MUST take you and provide you with care. However, if you show up at Doctor's office, the law does NOT apply to them. (Why do you think Medicaid patients have SO much trouble finding doctors and wind up using ERs as primary care!) The hospitals I used to work with often had trouble finding physicians to accept patients for on-going treatment especially if they had a prior history of not paying.
As to credit reports that really depends on the physicinan/hospital and collection agency. However, normally agency collections DO appear on your report.
Yes, both Doctors and hosptitals do NEED that patient portion to make ends meet. The big problem is that the goverment funded programs (Medicare/Medicaid) pay such a SMALL percentage of costs that the providers need ALL the other money to make it up.
However, I have a friend in Canda whose Mother has been on the list of 10 months for a hip replacement. My boyfriend's mother got one the week it was identified she needed it.
My other suggestion is to make sure you fully understand your deductibles and co-insurances. Do not trust either the insurance company or provider. For example, lots of plans have both a personal and family deductible. It might be $1,000 per person, but a max of $2,500 for the entire family. If you are not careful the insurance company will charge you $1,000 per person and never give you credit for hitting the $2,500 so you could pay $3,000 or $4,000 instead of the max $2,500.
Yes, DOCTORS will refuse to take patient's who don't pay and they can. If you show up at a hospital in a medical need the hosptial MUST take you and provide you with care. However, if you show up at Doctor's office, the law does NOT apply to them. (Why do you think Medicaid patients have SO much trouble finding doctors and wind up using ERs as primary care!) The hospitals I used to work with often had trouble finding physicians to accept patients for on-going treatment especially if they had a prior history of not paying.
As to credit reports that really depends on the physicinan/hospital and collection agency. However, normally agency collections DO appear on your report.
Yes, both Doctors and hosptitals do NEED that patient portion to make ends meet. The big problem is that the goverment funded programs (Medicare/Medicaid) pay such a SMALL percentage of costs that the providers need ALL the other money to make it up.
However, I have a friend in Canda whose Mother has been on the list of 10 months for a hip replacement. My boyfriend's mother got one the week it was identified she needed it.
My other suggestion is to make sure you fully understand your deductibles and co-insurances. Do not trust either the insurance company or provider. For example, lots of plans have both a personal and family deductible. It might be $1,000 per person, but a max of $2,500 for the entire family. If you are not careful the insurance company will charge you $1,000 per person and never give you credit for hitting the $2,500 so you could pay $3,000 or $4,000 instead of the max $2,500.
Thankyou so much for posting CarolA and fkj2!! I was beginning to think I was the only one who understood what I was trying to get across.
To OhMari, Yes it does seem like when it rains it pours. And medical bills are the worst b/c they are so often unexpected. The bright side is most doctors offices and orthodontists don't charge interest on your outstanding bills as long as you make monthly payments. So I would hesitate to put your bills on your equity line unless you need the tax deduction.
To Skuttle, my health plan also does not cover well baby checkups or immunizations. Isn't that ridiculous. The government requires that children be immunized to enter school to say nothing of daycare, but the insurance companies won't pay for it. Don't you think in the long run paying for hospitalization etc. for for a child with measles would cost them more than the vaccination?? Oh well, Anyway, I take my kids to the clinics run by the county for their vaccinations. They cost 6$ a shot there versis upwards of 100$ at your doctors office. You should check this out where you are. And no I didn't want to take my child to a "free clinic". But my pride doesn't pay the bills.
And as an aside, going back to paying your doctor, the doctor is the last one to get paid in the office. There's rent, utilities, employees, in addition to student loans (sometimes upwards of 100,000$ or more), business loans, equipment costs, Employer taxes, consultation fees, etc., etc. I could go on and on. The doctor gets what's left. Sometimes that's a goodly amount. Sometimes the 100$ you paid on your bill is the difference between him/her making their mortgage payment that month.
This is especially true for for the younger doctors just starting out.
So do your best by your doctors and they'll do their best for you and your families.
-Rachael
To OhMari, Yes it does seem like when it rains it pours. And medical bills are the worst b/c they are so often unexpected. The bright side is most doctors offices and orthodontists don't charge interest on your outstanding bills as long as you make monthly payments. So I would hesitate to put your bills on your equity line unless you need the tax deduction.
To Skuttle, my health plan also does not cover well baby checkups or immunizations. Isn't that ridiculous. The government requires that children be immunized to enter school to say nothing of daycare, but the insurance companies won't pay for it. Don't you think in the long run paying for hospitalization etc. for for a child with measles would cost them more than the vaccination?? Oh well, Anyway, I take my kids to the clinics run by the county for their vaccinations. They cost 6$ a shot there versis upwards of 100$ at your doctors office. You should check this out where you are. And no I didn't want to take my child to a "free clinic". But my pride doesn't pay the bills.
And as an aside, going back to paying your doctor, the doctor is the last one to get paid in the office. There's rent, utilities, employees, in addition to student loans (sometimes upwards of 100,000$ or more), business loans, equipment costs, Employer taxes, consultation fees, etc., etc. I could go on and on. The doctor gets what's left. Sometimes that's a goodly amount. Sometimes the 100$ you paid on your bill is the difference between him/her making their mortgage payment that month.
This is especially true for for the younger doctors just starting out.
So do your best by your doctors and they'll do their best for you and your families.
-Rachael
Mitch is correct, at least in the State of Florida. My pregnancy was NOT covered by insurance, only the baby care afterwards (and we had twins). I had a hospital bill of approximately $10,000 in my name. When I divorced, our bills were split in two and my ex got the hospital bill. He never paid it (which is so true to his nature with anything regarding me or our children) and it never appeared on my credit report. That bill was a lot of $$$ and never showed up anywhere. My ex dropped the girls from his insurance when they turned 18 and now we are faced with adding them to my insurance at $500/month or leaving them with no insurance until they have a job where insurance is a benefit. I have been paying office visits of $100 a pop when they desperately need to go and I understand the original question. How do we pay the extra let alone for me with no insurance? The health care system is so screwed up and I don't know what to do. I depend right now on doctors that I know personally from my office building to see my daughters for the little things. I have no idea what I would do if they got really sick.
I read this thread yesterday... I got upset with the hinting of delaying or defering payment of medical bills.... so I hit the back button...
Today, I re read the thread... and now am going to throw in my 2cents.
Unforseen medical expenses are very stressful and difficult.
A majority of health care providers will work with you to form a payment plan that can meet both the needs of careprovider and patients.
To suggest that a patient defer/neglect
payment is ridiculous.
Do you choose to defer payment to a restaurant AFTER you have finished your meal?
Do you defer payment to the barber after he cuts your hair?
NO.. you pay him for the service he performed... and you do it immediately.
Yes there is a major difference in cost of the service.. but the idea is the same.
The doctor, therapist, hospital, dentist etc... will provide a skilled service.... at a price.
MOST OF ALL- The Federal government and insurance companies often determine what you MUST pay.... which is often MUCH LESS than the charged amount.............
Basically the payment for Medi-Cal* (medi-caid in other states) is next to NOTHING for Physical Therapy treatments (for example). It never covers the actual treatment cost, not to mention billing and documentation costs. Yet I never ever worked at a clinic or agency that would deny anyone service due to their ability to pay.
Last time I checked if a restaurant charged you $200 for a meal.. you could not tell then you were only going to pay 50% of that bill.
I totally agree that Medical costs in the United States are out of control. Something will have to be done by the Federal Government.. and soon.
I am one of those people who CAN NOT be without medical insurance. I can not go 1 day being uncovered as it would result in a complete denial of insurance by any company. It is the main benefit my dh looks for when job hunting.
Thank you for allowing me to vent. I appreciate it!
Hobbles off the soap box..............
Today, I re read the thread... and now am going to throw in my 2cents.
Unforseen medical expenses are very stressful and difficult.
A majority of health care providers will work with you to form a payment plan that can meet both the needs of careprovider and patients.
To suggest that a patient defer/neglect
payment is ridiculous.
Do you choose to defer payment to a restaurant AFTER you have finished your meal?
Do you defer payment to the barber after he cuts your hair?
NO.. you pay him for the service he performed... and you do it immediately.
Yes there is a major difference in cost of the service.. but the idea is the same.
The doctor, therapist, hospital, dentist etc... will provide a skilled service.... at a price.
MOST OF ALL- The Federal government and insurance companies often determine what you MUST pay.... which is often MUCH LESS than the charged amount.............
Basically the payment for Medi-Cal* (medi-caid in other states) is next to NOTHING for Physical Therapy treatments (for example). It never covers the actual treatment cost, not to mention billing and documentation costs. Yet I never ever worked at a clinic or agency that would deny anyone service due to their ability to pay.
Last time I checked if a restaurant charged you $200 for a meal.. you could not tell then you were only going to pay 50% of that bill.
I totally agree that Medical costs in the United States are out of control. Something will have to be done by the Federal Government.. and soon.
I am one of those people who CAN NOT be without medical insurance. I can not go 1 day being uncovered as it would result in a complete denial of insurance by any company. It is the main benefit my dh looks for when job hunting.
Thank you for allowing me to vent. I appreciate it!
Hobbles off the soap box..............
HoneyPooh
DIS Cast Member<br><font color=red>Magic Erasers m
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2000
- Messages
- 1,159
I worked in medical billing for 3 years and do medical billing for my current job in an oral surgeons office and in New Jersey the unpaid bills definitely DO go on your credit report if we send you to a collection agency. I can't tell you how many times people ignored all warning that their account would go into collections and eventually onto their credit report only to call and yell at me when they tried to buy a house and low and behold...it was on their credit report. We worked really hard to keep people from having that happen, but people being people, way to many of them just did not seem to WANT to pay the bill. I had an elderly lady that had been paying a $3000 cardiology bill by sending $3 a month for years. There was no way she would pay it off before her death but we never sent her to collections because she was sincere in trying to pay it but I was also told 100's of times that "my stupid little $100 bill won't keep the doctor from eating". Well as I explained to those patients "500 patients who owe $100 could very probably mean a few lost meals for someone". The office I work at now is new and barely braking even. We tell people upfront that we do NOT do payment plans, we simply can not affort a large AR or I and the other employees will NOT GET PAID. There are still people who come in the day of their appointment (even when I've told them exactly how much money to bring with them) and say they don't have it "all" and expect to be seen anyway. If they are in pain we do, if they are not in pain we re-schedule them when they think they can afford the work to be done. It's sad the low percentage that actually pay the remainder of the bill after they get what they wanted from you because they feel better and it's not important to them any longer. I laugh sometimes because in our office we have a program patients can apply for that is an interest free loan that would pay for their visits and any work they have done. A lot of patients get very upset at the thought of financing their dental work but they want us to give them a payment plan. Well what's the difference? The only difference is that the company who approves them for the credit line can afford to give them time to pay and we can't. Lots of those same people end up having to apply and are denied so I then know that they do not meet the minimum requirements for credit (the company we use is very easy to be approved by) which tells me that there is a good chance that patient will not pay us. We do a lot of work on people out of pity and don't charge them at all, so we aren't heartless but we can't run a business on freebies and gushy thank yous. It's unfortunate but true. Sorry so long, but kind of a touchy subject with me
OhMari
WDW PreTrip and Trip Moderator
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2000
- Messages
- 15,182
Thanks everyone for the good advice and opinions.
I have always paid my medical bills, it just seemed I got hit with so many at one time.
I am with my 3rd kid in braces with no insurance. The 1st kid I paid $75 a month with a $500 payment in May.
The 2nd kid I paid $200 a month and paid it off in 18 months.
When 3rd daughter started the month I made my last payment, they wanted a downpayment on the contract. I looked up at her and said, can I pay $150 a month with no downpayment, and she looked up at me and said, "Sure". So I know they will work with you.
I just freak, cause I want to pay off the medical, but the bills are so high, I know in my budget I can't get them paid off in 3 months that they give you. The clinic and hospital that we have used in the past 22 years are owned by Agnesian Nuns and they have board of director's and they made it a policy that all bills need to be paid in 3 payments.
I will admit I knew the Dr. that pulled my sons Wisdom teeth wasn't on our PPO, I thought it was 80% covered, not 70%. When my daughter's wisdom teeth was removed she only had 1, my son had 4.
You really do need to be diligent with insurance. I sort of got lax, cause my kids were older and not going in. I always said, "watching the medical bills and the insurance company was like a full time job and I guess it will never change.
I have always paid my medical bills, it just seemed I got hit with so many at one time.
I am with my 3rd kid in braces with no insurance. The 1st kid I paid $75 a month with a $500 payment in May.
The 2nd kid I paid $200 a month and paid it off in 18 months.
When 3rd daughter started the month I made my last payment, they wanted a downpayment on the contract. I looked up at her and said, can I pay $150 a month with no downpayment, and she looked up at me and said, "Sure". So I know they will work with you.
I just freak, cause I want to pay off the medical, but the bills are so high, I know in my budget I can't get them paid off in 3 months that they give you. The clinic and hospital that we have used in the past 22 years are owned by Agnesian Nuns and they have board of director's and they made it a policy that all bills need to be paid in 3 payments.
I will admit I knew the Dr. that pulled my sons Wisdom teeth wasn't on our PPO, I thought it was 80% covered, not 70%. When my daughter's wisdom teeth was removed she only had 1, my son had 4.
You really do need to be diligent with insurance. I sort of got lax, cause my kids were older and not going in. I always said, "watching the medical bills and the insurance company was like a full time job and I guess it will never change.
As a provider, I would like to add my opinion. Here is an example of how much the co-insurance and copays mean. My clinic copays collected are approximately 15% of all collections. Many insurance companies have not increased reimbursement since 1994. We all know that our utility bills have increased in this time. We can all agree rent, taxes, and pay has increased over the past nine years. Overall reimbursement has increased 4% total in the past 9 years. Since we are talking about health insurance, we all know how much that has increased!
According to the last review by the federal goverment, nearly 75% of all health related costs are administrative. This is to pay for claim processing,workers compensation insurance, unemployment insurance, executive pay, and staff payroll. I know I am not including rent, utilities, health insurance, and other overhead expenses. This leaves 25% of total expenses distributed to all the health care providers and facilities in the U.S. So when you think my $200 deductable will not be noticed, think 2 things. The first thing to realize is that the money is missed, the second thing is that many of these people have a life and death decision to make. I am a doctor with a family of four and my deductable is $3200 a year. My family doctor, the O.B. for my wife, and the pediatrition for my two children are friends of mine. I get the bill and I pay the bill. The reason is that I have complete trust in them and they are worth it. When we walk into the office they take care of me because I put my trust in them and I pay them for their knowledge, diagnostic abilities, and treatment capabilities. If your provider is a member of your insurance plan, they must collect deductables, copays, and all money owed. Only in extreme financial hardship can this be written off.
If hardship is not proven the doctor, upon insurance audit, can be charged with breech of contract and felony insurance fraud. They have a contract with the insurance company that must be enforced. Please make payment arrangements and do not put the doctor in a difficult position. Nobody wins, becase if the doctor takes you to small claims court the judge orders the patient to pay, one way or another. If the patient is sent to collections, it is on their credit report. I hope I have allowed someone to see the other side.
I forgot to mention the cost of malpractice insurance....
-a doctor
According to the last review by the federal goverment, nearly 75% of all health related costs are administrative. This is to pay for claim processing,workers compensation insurance, unemployment insurance, executive pay, and staff payroll. I know I am not including rent, utilities, health insurance, and other overhead expenses. This leaves 25% of total expenses distributed to all the health care providers and facilities in the U.S. So when you think my $200 deductable will not be noticed, think 2 things. The first thing to realize is that the money is missed, the second thing is that many of these people have a life and death decision to make. I am a doctor with a family of four and my deductable is $3200 a year. My family doctor, the O.B. for my wife, and the pediatrition for my two children are friends of mine. I get the bill and I pay the bill. The reason is that I have complete trust in them and they are worth it. When we walk into the office they take care of me because I put my trust in them and I pay them for their knowledge, diagnostic abilities, and treatment capabilities. If your provider is a member of your insurance plan, they must collect deductables, copays, and all money owed. Only in extreme financial hardship can this be written off.
If hardship is not proven the doctor, upon insurance audit, can be charged with breech of contract and felony insurance fraud. They have a contract with the insurance company that must be enforced. Please make payment arrangements and do not put the doctor in a difficult position. Nobody wins, becase if the doctor takes you to small claims court the judge orders the patient to pay, one way or another. If the patient is sent to collections, it is on their credit report. I hope I have allowed someone to see the other side.
I forgot to mention the cost of malpractice insurance....
-a doctor
Tiger Fan
<font color=deeppink>Survivor<br><font color=teal>
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- 1,827
This is the second time I've read this thread and I keep thinking "do not post", but I just can't help it. I am making monthly payments to MANY different providers. I am still being hassled (even to the point that a neigbor was called - I mentioned this on another thread). This was a bill I was making payments on, but I was dealing with the Dr. and the collection agency was called. Long story short, they apologized and this is now worked out. Anyway - I have been notified that unpaid debt will be reported and they most want payment within 3 months. My monthly chemo bill is $24,000 - yes that's EVERY month! My co-pay with my insurance is $1400/per month. This is actually a small percentage, but still a huge amount of money. The main facility where I get my chemo simply bills and allows me to pay. The place where I get my scans insists on my co-pay before they perform one single test (this is policy, not personal), and my oncologist office that I'd been going to for 3 years dropped me in March because I couldn't pay my co-pay (approx. $350.00/week). Here's my take - medical bills can and will be reported, Dr's can refuse to treat patients for non-payment, and medical costs are totally, incredibly rediculous.
Lisa
Lisa
off2disney
<font color=teal>When I try to sing with the radio
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In order to get insurance coverage. I had to go through my state's "high risk pool" (set up for people that can't get insurance anywhere else) and pay $473 per month. Up until last year my prescriptions were $450.00 a month. That was $923 a month, with a $1000 deductable. Thankfully, they went to a new prescription plan that is better and is only about $175 a month. When I had to have gall bladder surgery last June, my share of the doctor & hospital bills amounted to about $3,000. I borrowed the money and paid it off so I would only have one bill to worry about.
My daughter has Crohn's disease and spent 7 weeks in the hospital, 2 weeks in one hospital and 5 in another. Her two week stay was $58,000, and the 5 week stay was $119,000 -- these were just hospital bills. I don't know what all of the doctor bills came out to -- thank God they had federal health insurance, but their portion is still huge
My daughter has Crohn's disease and spent 7 weeks in the hospital, 2 weeks in one hospital and 5 in another. Her two week stay was $58,000, and the 5 week stay was $119,000 -- these were just hospital bills. I don't know what all of the doctor bills came out to -- thank God they had federal health insurance, but their portion is still huge
WOW.... I guess I should be more thankful for the good health of my family.
There was a headline in the paper this last week about insurance companies raiseing premiums yet again. I was not really aware, until I read my husband's post that doctors aren't getting paid any more than they did in 1994. Yet, insurance companies charge more and more,and cover less and less and less. And they wonder why attendance is down at medical and chiropractic schools
Something needs to be done about the state of health insurane in our country. At the rate we're going health insurance will cost more than your house. And which do you think people will choose to pay for if they have to choose one or the other??
A change needs to be made.
There was a headline in the paper this last week about insurance companies raiseing premiums yet again. I was not really aware, until I read my husband's post that doctors aren't getting paid any more than they did in 1994. Yet, insurance companies charge more and more,and cover less and less and less. And they wonder why attendance is down at medical and chiropractic schools
Something needs to be done about the state of health insurane in our country. At the rate we're going health insurance will cost more than your house. And which do you think people will choose to pay for if they have to choose one or the other??
A change needs to be made.
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