The money situation gets worse :(

[smokeyblue]

First. I am very sorry your family going through this. Does the hospital have a case manager or social worker working with you yet? If not, let the doctor or nurse let know ASAP that you want a consult written for them. They should be able to help you try to navigate this mess and maybe give you more resources to try for help.

Best of luck to you.

 

[milwaukeemommy]

No, no social worker. I hadn't even thought of that. I just want my hubby OUT of the ICU -- once he's transferred I will ask about that.

See all I've learned by posting my troubles here??

 

[sookie]

Oh yeah, the surgeon's a piece of work. I shouldn't complain, because my husband survived the surgery & it was kind of a major one -- although he did damage his vocal cord -- but when I told the nurse on Friday about him not signing the paper work, she had him paged. When she asked him why he hasn't signed it, he said "You're seriously asking me about this at 4:00 on a Friday?" Um first -- he's had the paper work A MONTH, not like we JUST asked him to sign it yesterday. And second -- we're not all rich doctors. Some of us DO struggle.

Sigh.

Michelle

There isn't much you or him can do at 4PM on a Friday about paperwork, especially if he isn't in the office. Most offices will close around noon on Friday, and most likely his nurse is the one handling the disability paperwork anyway - he is the one only doing the signature. If his nurse isn't handing it to him, he probably hasn't even seen it. Maybe it is lost. And if he has been on surgery rotation all week, that could be part of the issue. So yes, that is probably probably part of the problem. If he is taking care of your husband who is in the ICU - that is another issue. Maybe he doesn't even have an idea of what to write if your husband is unstable. Maybe he is waiting until your husbands condition stabilizes to better help the processing of the paperwork.

I would get another copy of the paperwork - if needed, go get it from the nurse at the office - and bring it to the ICU bedside and have it during rounds during the week. It will take time to process once you send it off, so honestly - there isn't a huge rush to this. There is nothing you can do this weekend - so freaking out on Friday at 4PM is useless. Even if you had gotten it at 4PM on Friday - what would it had done at that point? Nothing, because it won't even go out until Monday anyway.

I would worry about your husband right now, and track down the paperwork next week when you can actually do something about it.

First. I am very sorry your family going through this. Does the hospital have a case manager or social worker working with you yet? If not, let the doctor or nurse let know ASAP that you want a consult written for them. They should be able to help you try to navigate this mess and maybe give you more resources to try for help.

Best of luck to you.

This could be helpful.

No, no social worker. I hadn't even thought of that. I just want my hubby OUT of the ICU -- once he's transferred I will ask about that.

See all I've learned by posting my troubles here??

This is where your efforts need to be focused. Health first. Then money.

Focus on your husband this weekend. This paperwork stuff - this wouldn't have changed, even if you had the paperwork in your hand on Friday. You can take care of all that this week anyway. Get the social worker involved - she can help move that stuff along and find other resources you might be eligible for.

Anyway, a surgeon might help, but your husbands long term prognosis might be better made once he is more stable and out of the ICU.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Tell the surgeon that if he does not sign you don't pay. And when the bill comes call his office and explain why it is not paid.

Then call the state medical license board and see what they suggest. Paperwork is part of his job. He is not doing it. (I don't think board will do anything but I have had them call just to assist and it gets movement )

 

[milwaukeemommy]

Sookie -- he has had the paperwork since my husband's employer faxed it to him back in the beginning of the month. I spoke with his assistant - she said she filled out everything, he just needs to sign it but he hasn't gotten around to it. They don't allow stamped signatures, so he HAS to sign it. I'm sure he's been in his office at least once this month. And I certainly didn't freak out -- I had been on the phone Wednesday, Thursday & Friday with both the HR person at his employer, & the doctor's assistant, just trying to get a status. I didn't even know it was still in limbo, I thought everything had been taken care of before my husband even had his surgery. I mentioned to the nurse on Friday that he still hadn't signed our disability papers, & she got on the phone, paged him, then when he called her she chastised him for not taking care of it 3 weeks ago when he first received it.

It is what it is .... & yes my husband's recovery is my first concern BUT I still have bills to pay while he's in the hospital!

 

[troane522]

Sookie -- he has had the paperwork since my husband's employer faxed it to him back in the beginning of the month. I spoke with his assistant - she said she filled out everything, he just needs to sign it but he hasn't gotten around to it. They don't allow stamped signatures, so he HAS to sign it. I'm sure he's been in his office at least once this month. And I certainly didn't freak out -- I had been on the phone Wednesday, Thursday & Friday with both the HR person at his employer, & the doctor's assistant, just trying to get a status. I didn't even know it was still in limbo, I thought everything had been taken care of before my husband even had his surgery. I mentioned to the nurse on Friday that he still hadn't signed our disability papers, & she got on the phone, paged him, then when he called her she chastised him for not taking care of it 3 weeks ago when he first received it.

It is what it is .... & yes my husband's recovery is my first concern BUT I still have bills to pay while he's in the hospital!

Every state and every situation is certainly different so I am offering up things from my perspective only. Who is your husband's PCP? If he has one they should be receiving all info relevant to his care and may be able to fill out the disability paperwork. DH was recently hospitalized for sudden onset of a severe illness; he spent over a week in ICU in a coma. Because of the various specialists over seeing his care, his PCP filled out his disability paperwork and we provided proof of his hospital stay with his application.

As for nothing being able to be done at 4pm on a Friday, in NJ we are allowed to fax the disability app and any other relevant paperwork. I have only faxed and it has sped up the process greatly; there will be things that they will ask for and they won't proceed without them. Depending on mail delivery that can be 2-3 days; with faxing they can have the information ASAP. Good luck with everything and best wishes for your husband's speedy recovery!

 

[ZehnJahren]

Sorry to hear about your issues. Have you tried calling the hospital and asking for a paid in full discount? Right after I received my bill for my gallbladder surgery, I called the hospital billing number and told them I'd heard that some medical centers offer a discount if I can pay the bill in full. She said they absolutely did that, and she could give a a 20% discount if I paid in the next week. I had the cash so I jumped on it! But it shows that there are negotiations to be had.

If you can't pay the $2k for the hospital, start calling all those doctors and departments that sent you the smaller bills and ask them for an early pay discount or a paid in full discount. You could end up lopping off some cash from those, freeing that money up to help with other bills.

 

[DisLis]

I administered disability insurance on the employer side for years and the number one delay in receiving payment was doctors not completing their part of the paperwork. Camp out in their office if you have to. Doctors do wonderful things that I am sure feel more important to them than the paperwork, but they need to understand the personal impact.
As long as you are making minimum payments, medical bills can be paid back slowly. What makes this difficult even with making small payments is the number of bills they separate the services into. You could have 20 or more and even with only $5 each this is $100+ a month. Just keep plugging away.

 

[fall08CP]

It is what it is .... & yes my husband's recovery is my first concern BUT I still have bills to pay while he's in the hospital!

Are you connected with any faith-based organizations? They often have good samaritan funds. Last year when I was going through a rough patch, they offered to pay for my electricity and water. Every little bit helps! One day I will pay it forward to someone else!

 

[disfan07]

I administered disability insurance on the employer side for years and the number one delay in receiving payment was doctors not completing their part of the paperwork. Camp out in their office if you have to. Doctors do wonderful things that I am sure feel more important to them than the paperwork, but they need to understand the personal impact.
As long as you are making minimum payments, medical bills can be paid back slowly. What makes this difficult even with making small payments is the number of bills they separate the services into. You could have 20 or more and even with only $5 each this is $100+ a month. Just keep plugging away.

Even if the bills are separate, they should be able to be combined into one payment if they are from them same facility.

For example, we have one payment plan....but it includes bills from:
Radiology, laboratory, surgeries, inpatient stays, consults, 4 of my doctors (they are part of the hospital medical group), ER visits, etc. we get billed separately but because they are all at the same facility, the are all combined onto one payment plan.

Might not be possible at all of facilities but worth a shot. Our facility is amazing when it comes to this.

 

[my3princes]

Be careful with making small monthly payments and thinking that you won't get sent to collection. Unless you set up an official budget plan through the facility a small monthly payment may not stop the account from aging which will result in the account being turned over to a collection agency. Always talk to patient financial services, it is very important. You want to protect your credit score.

 

[angwill]

I didn't read through all the responses but I am sorry you are in such a situation. I want you to know you are not alone there are tons of people in that situation today both because of health situation, lost jobs, etc.

I wanted to suggest that you take those papers into the ICU and leave them with your husband and then when the surgeon comes into the ICU to check on him he will have no excuse not to sign that paperwork. Always bring the papers to the doctor if you can catch him somewhere.

Good luck and look for the good things like the fact that your husband survived, you have something to sell, you are in good health etc.

 

[ShariVT]

In Feb my dh got sick and ended up in a coma in the icu for 7 weeks and in the hospital for 3 months so I know what it is like to have to deal with the drs and disability companys. I can not stress to you enough how important it is to go to the billing dept at the hospital and get the financial paper work we did not qualify at first but after hearing he would be out of work a year we just got a letter last week saying we had no medical debt the would except what our insurance covered and write off the rest. We were so suprised we just wanted them to let us pay over time but the first guy said we had to pay it off in 2 years and there was no way that was going to happen. I wish you luck and a speedy recovery for your DH.

 

[ilovemk76]

Be careful with making small monthly payments and thinking that you won't get sent to collection. Unless you set up an official budget plan through the facility a small monthly payment may not stop the account from aging which will result in the account being turned over to a collection agency. Always talk to patient financial services, it is very important. You want to protect your credit score.

You need to be proactive with setting up the payments. You need to call and they will work with you.

 

[COASTIEandMATE]

I didn't read through all the responses but I am sorry you are in such a situation. I want you to know you are not alone there are tons of people in that situation today both because of health situation, lost jobs, etc.

I wanted to suggest that you take those papers into the ICU and leave them with your husband and then when the surgeon comes into the ICU to check on him he will have no excuse not to sign that paperwork. Always bring the papers to the doctor if you can catch him somewhere.

Good luck and look for the good things like the fact that your husband survived, you have something to sell, you are in good health etc.

I second this suggestion!! I have sat in the Doctors office until he came out with the paper and pen in my hand and said "we cannot pay our rent until YOU SIGN THIS!!" He found the time to sign it , God Bless, Karen

 

[milwaukeemommy]

Thank you all! The good news is HE IS OUT OF ICU!! So grateful for that! Still lots & lots of pain but he is making progress.

I was also told we had only 2 years to pay, regardless of the amount. Funny, this is the same hospital he had surgery at 4 years ago, & we set up payment & we had as long as it took to pay it off. I did talk to the assistant at the dr office today -- she is such a sweetheart -- & while he didn't sign, I do think it's taken care of. And SHE told me they CANNOT make me pay in 2 years. She said we should pay what we can & like you all said, they have to just accept that.

 

[milwaukeemommy]

And I wanted to say too, I definitely have been in touch with the AR dept of the hospital. Our first bill was $700, & knowing we were getting more I just called right away. That's when she told me no matter what our final balance is, that we have to pay in 2 years. But she did also tell me that I can't just automatically add each bill -- that I have to call FOR EACH BILL & have it added on. Yikes, we are going to be paying on this for the rest of our lives .....

Many many years ago, before we were married, my husband completely ignored some medical bills. He threw them away, figuring "insurance will take care of them". I'm not sure I would have married him knowing about that LOL! *I* took care of the 2 judgments they had against him. I made all the phone calls, wrote all the letters, & met with the lawyers. Which is why *I* handle all the finances! Of course, we're still poor so I guess I'm not doing that great a job!!!!!

 

[disfan07]

And I wanted to say too, I definitely have been in touch with the AR dept of the hospital. Our first bill was $700, & knowing we were getting more I just called right away. That's when she told me no matter what our final balance is, that we have to pay in 2 years. But she did also tell me that I can't just automatically add each bill -- that I have to call FOR EACH BILL & have it added on. Yikes, we are going to be paying on this for the rest of our lives .....

Many many years ago, before we were married, my husband completely ignored some medical bills. He threw them away, figuring "insurance will take care of them". I'm not sure I would have married him knowing about that LOL! *I* took care of the 2 judgments they had against him. I made all the phone calls, wrote all the letters, & met with the lawyers. Which is why *I* handle all the finances! Of course, we're still poor so I guess I'm not doing that great a job!!!!!

That's how it works for us as well. My Mom calls financial services for each bill we get. She has been on the pHone with them at least once a week for the past 2 years. I know our hospital won't just automatically add bills because there may be issues and/or negotiations with certain bills. We get a lot of bills that are between $5-$10. A lot of times we will just pay those straight out instead of adding them on.

I also know that they put the payments towards the earliest bill first and then it keeps going from there. So like we have 2 bills left from 2010 that wil be paid off this month and then the payments will start going to bills from 2011. It does take a while to pay them off especially when they just keep getting added on. We started the payment plan 2 years ago and if we keep going the way we have bee, we expect to be paying off the hospital for at least another 5 years or so (we are already on a payment plan through the beginning of 2014)

I know that by the end of the year we should have around $4000 or so on our payment plan which will take about another 2 1/2 years to pay off.

I understand what you mean about these medical bills. I am only 23 but because I am supposed to be "financiall responsible" for these bills, it is on my credit report, not my parents. It scares myself and my parents that I will be trying to go off into the real world with a combination of about $60,000 in student loans AND thousands of dollars in medical bills....for things I can't control!!

 

[milwaukeemommy]

Hi all ~

I just wanted to post an update since you all were so supportive

First, my husband is HOME. He came home Thursday & while the first few days have been rough, each day is a little bit better. He's got a feeding tube, but he's been able to eat small bits of applesauce. Baby steps!

Second, our disability papers finally were taken care of Wednesday. BUT ~ here's the WEIRD thing ~ my husband DID get a pay check on Thursday! I don't know how or why, there's no way they processed it that fast but not only did we get a pay stub in the mail, but it sure as heck was in our account Thursday night. I'm soooo grateful & while I'd love to know how -- I won't be calling to find out LOL.

I've also decided to start selling on Ebay again. I sold for many years -- mostly clothes & toys -- then it was my handmade cards -- then I moved to Etsy -- & now I've decided to just sell whatever is lying around here on Ebay again. I have 2 items ending today that will sell, one was a boys swimsuit that I had bought for ds but never used (still has tags on) & the other is a shirt that both boys wore, I think I got it at a rummage sale, so whatever I make on that is profit. I am determined to make extra $$ & declutter at the same time

Thanks again for your posts -- personal stories -- & support. Even though we may never get to Disney again I will be sticking around

 

[jennyjinx3]

Just read though this thread. Hugs to you OP, none of us know what is around the corner, and your family is going through what any of us could. You sound like a super strong lady....and I am sending lots of pixie dust to you and your family. Hoping things keep improving for you.