Pay medical bill $10 a month?

[me again]

I recently had an MRI, our portion came to $500

We really don't have the money right now, I thought insurance would pay better. The bill was a shock. Also, the MRI came back "inconclusive" couldn't find the source of pain.

We sent in $10, along with a note that we would pay $10 a month, until our finances were better, then make every attempt to pay the balance as soon as feasible. Well, they got really nasty--said they'd turn us over to collection, go on our credit report, etc. However, they did cash the $10 check, which, as I remember from business law, means they accepted the terms.

So, what to do now? Honestly, $10 a month is barely afforbable for us. We can't be expected to go bankrupt for what amounted to a worthless test and for a whopping, unanticipated amount. Anyone ever set up such a payment plan? I wish it could be more, but they're lucky to get that much from us. At least we're making some atteempt to pay the bill, unlike many who would just ignore such a bill.

 

[lisaj68]

I recently had an MRI, our portion came to $500

We really don't have the money right now, I thought insurance would pay better. The bill was a shock. Also, the MRI came back "inconclusive" couldn't find the source of pain.

We sent in $10, along with a note that we would pay $10 a month, until our finances were better, then make every attempt to pay the balance as soon as feasible. Well, they got really nasty--said they'd turn us over to collection, go on our credit report, etc. However, they did cash the $10 check, which, as I remember from business law, means they accepted the terms.

So, what to do now? Honestly, $10 a month is barely afforbable for us. We can't be expected to go bankrupt for what amounted to a worthless test and for a whopping, unanticipated amount. Anyone ever set up such a payment plan? I wish it could be more, but they're lucky to get that much from us. At least we're making some atteempt to pay the bill, unlike many who would just ignore such a bill.

If they turn your bill over to collections, then they will lose a portion of the dept. The collection agency gets paid something. Maybe if you speak to a reasonable manager and tell them you can pay $10 to them or $10 to a collection agency, and they will end up getting less than $500, they will let it go. Tell them you will pay more in the months that you can, but don't promise. You know what I mean?

I had an issue with a hospital last year when I received a bill for over $1,800 18 months AFTER my DD's surgery! I was really mad about that! I paid it $100 per month and the hospital encouraged me to put it on my Visa, but NO WAY!!! The hospital can't charge the interest!!!

Good luck!
Lisa

 

[jopatjopat]

I worked at a hospital and also have many bills at another hospital. You do need to contact them and get things set up with them. They may also have options to get your bill reduce due to your circumstances. They are usually very good about working with you, but make the call.

 

[me again]

Many years ago I had a payment plan set up with a hospital for $175 month, which I thought was quite reasonable. They accepted it for ahwile, then turned it over to collection, anyways. Guess they got impatient waiting for their money.

We did pay the remainder to collection, but it still shows up on our credit report as "paid to collection". OUr credit is shakey right now, don't want to mess it up, but honestly, $10 a month is all we can afford.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I work in a hospital billing office. Our policy is that to keep your account from collection, you must make a formal agreement to pay a certain amount each month until the debt is paid (usually people just call in), and you have to make the payments on time (patients are given a choice of due dates for the bill). If the payment agreement isn't kept, the account will accrue interest (after a certain point, I do insurance billing, so I'm not sure what the time is) and eventually some go to court. Not all.

You might call the # on the statement, or the next statement you get, and see if they have any charity-type programs that you may qualify for. At our hospital, a family can make more than you might think and still get a partial discount.

Hope this helps!

 

[Plantlady]

We made an arrangement with the hospital after the birth of my third son, and extra expenses arised in the birth.

We paid $20 a month. For five years. He's paid for at last.

No interest, so we never paid more than that $20 a month. We just called, and told them that was all we could afford, and they agreed.

 

[summerrluvv]

I was able to get 90% of my hospital bill waived from when I had an emergency dental problem. Of course the total bill was only about $150 before they waived the 90%. But, the 90% was good for a year so if I needed any other emergency services, I was covered. You might want to call and ask if they have a financial assistance program.

I'm patiently waiting to receive the bill from my newborn daughter's stay in the nursery and doctor care since the insurance company denied all of the claims because I wasn't adding her to the policy after she was born. It looks like the claims were filed for around $6k, so hopefully I can get some of that waived.

 

[kydisneyfans]

I would cut the payment back to $5.00 a month just to spite them.

 

[CarolA]

I would cut the payment back to $5.00 a month just to spite them.

Oh that will work.... (WHAT????)

Ignore the useless advice kydisneyfans just gave you, all that will do is get you to collections.

Not sure what business law you remember, but you are not correct. Unfortunately when you signed at the hospital you agreed to pay the debt. Sending the note does not set up a binding contract.

As other's have said you need to CALL the hospital and discuss it with thier collection department. (you might also ask them to check if your insurance paid correctly. Without knowing your policy none of us can know, but underpayments are very common.) If you don't call them and just try this $10 a month game at some point they may turn you over. At that point they probably will not work with you (assuming that if you had really wanted to deal with the debt you would have set up a plan)



(By the way, hospitals can charge interest in most states. They just don't)

 

[taraprather]

I had a hospital bill from when my daughter went to the emergency room a couple months ago. When I received the almost $200.00 bill I called the hospital and I told them I can't afford to pay it in full. The lady ask what I could afford to pay monthly and I told her $20.00. So I am currently paying $20.00 a month, no problemm.

 

[me again]

Actually it isn't a hospital. It was a free-standing imaging clinic that did the MRI. Still, that's all we can do, they will have to take it or leave it. We hope to pay the balance off as soon as we're able, just that's all we can do for now.

 

[juibarra]

Another thing to consider (if you have not already) is to ensure that you actually owe the $500. You should have received an "Explanation of Benefits" from your insurance company that states the following:
1. The amount the hospital charged
2. The amount the insurance allows to be charged for the service received (sometimes referred to as usual and customary or allowable amount)
3. The amount that the insurance paid the hospital
4. Most importantly-your financial responsibility for the service

Your responsibility should match the $500 bill you are receiving (unless you went to a non participating hospital/diagnostic imaging center). If it does not, I would call the insurance to ask for them to help you figure out the discrepancy.

I also agree that you should call someone from the billing dept and set up a payment plan. Ask for the supervisor and if that does not work, ask for that supervisor's supervisor. Some hospitals have a Patient Advocate or some type of liaison for you to speak to if you are not still experiencing difficulties with the billing dept.

 

[disneysteve]

The bill was a shock. Also, the MRI came back "inconclusive" couldn't find the source of pain.

We sent in $10, along with a note that we would pay $10 a month, until our finances were better, then make every attempt to pay the balance as soon as feasible.

A couple of comments.

I'm sorry you were surprised by your bill but for future reference for everyone, folks really need to understand their insurance plan, what is covered, what isn't covered and what your responsibility is for various care under the plan. Not that expecting it would have made it any more affordable, but at least you would have known it was coming which would have lessened the shock factor.

Just because the test didn't result in a diagnosis doesn't mean it was "worthless" and really has no bearing on the whole payment issue.

You can't set up a payment plan unilaterally. Just sending in a note doesn't constitute negotiating a plan. As others have suggested, you need to call the billing department and formally request a plan that is affordable for you AND agreeable to them. You didn't say if this was a hospital or an outpatient radiology facility, but if it was hospital based, they may have a finance plan available. You may also be able to negotiate a discounted rate on your bill. There may also be charity care that you could apply for.

Good luck getting this settled soon.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I have arranged that kind of plan with several doctors due to recent hospitalizations that killed us financially but I took the time to call each one and talk to them about payments.

For the record, the hospital I used DOES charge interest and sells your acct to a bank that finances it if you can't pay in full within 3 months. REALLY REALLY stinks - interest is high too at 13%.

But all other doctors/services are happy if I regularly pay the amt agreed upon.

You need to call and speak with the business office about a payment plan.

 

[mum4jenn]

When I was pregnant with my dd we were having a veru difficult time paying for everything related to being pregnant AND we were getting bils from when I had a miscarriage and those related experiences. I took care of all the bills and at the time $10 was ALL we could pay as well. I went to the billing office and they insisted they could take nothing less than something like $160 a month. There was NO way we could afford that. We had cut our expenses to the bone as it was. MY car had died and all we could afford was a 15 year old car with no air conditioning and the seat belt did not work( it was summer and I was miserable).

They would call everyday demanding money and just kept saying they wold not accept $10. I was in tears one day when my dh came home and I was yet again on the phone with them. He grabbed the phone and demanded to speak with the head of the hospital. When they asked why he hung up on them and then called another number and asked to speak to the head of the hospital and of course he did not get to speak with him but he did speak to the head of the billing/accounting office and he told him all the facts about our situation and he told him that since I had already had one miscarriage that if I lost this one because of them getting me so upset and harrassing me that HE would sue them.

They decided to accept the $ 10 a month and never called us again!!

 

[Good Ol Gal]

We made an arrangement with the hospital after the birth of my third son, and extra expenses arised in the birth.

We paid $20 a month. For five years. He's paid for at last.

No interest, so we never paid more than that $20 a month. We just called, and told them that was all we could afford, and they agreed.

We too did this. We paid $15 a month for 5 years on ds4!!

We just paid it off and not even a year later he was in the hospital again, and we're on another payment plan!

They won't accept the $15 payment plan again, so we're paying $100 now.

 

[eeyorethegreat]

Probably doen;t apply to this situation in particular but for other it might help to look into...
Our local hospital has a system in which you can appy for a sliding fee based on your income you do have to fill papers out to get this but there are some families that need to do this so that they can pay their bill. They figure out based on income and other factors what percentage you must pay then set up a payment plan based on this. They also have a program in which patients or families can "work off the bill" They perform tasks for the hospital (ie gardening, greeting patients and directing them to where they need to go etc) and they decide on a # of hours work that will dissolve their bill. Of course you have to contact the hospital and work this plan out with them. Other hospitals may offer this but not actively promote the information (obviously they would rather have $$ than not). This has worked well for many families in the area helping them to pay their bill.

 

[gilby]

I have a close to 4000.00 bill. I pay 100 a month. That is all I can afford to pay.

 

[maggiesma]

A lot of this will depend on the paper work you signed before the MRI. You may have signed things saying they can turn you over for collections if you do not pay the full amount by X date. You really need to talk to them, and if they do set you up on a payment plan NEVER be late. Paying late usually breaks the contract. Good luck.

 

[garydeb]

When I broke my foot we also could not afford the hospital bill. I called the billing department and spoke with a manager. We set up a payment plan of $20 a month. When that manager left they tried to get full payment. I went to the Head of the finance dept and said that I could only now pay $10 a month because I had to take time off work twice to get my hospital bills straighten out. I got it in writing this time and paid $10 a month until it was paid off.

Good Luck,
Debbie