What would be the best way to get financial assistance for hospital bill?

Question

I just found out that one of my hospital bills got sent to collections even though I have paid $150 on it in the last month. The balance is $292 on the bill right now. The last time I spoke to them they wanted $75 every two weeks but, financially, that is impossible for me to do. The bill is a year and a half old, and I have been paying on it since I first got it a year and a half ago. I have another hospital bill that is $4000. I was making payments on it until I stopped recieving bills from the hospital. I call them and they say that they need 10% a month, or $400 which is impossible for me to do as that is more than a whole paycheck for me. Is there anyway for me to get financial assistance for these even though they are a year old and have been sent to collection agencies?

Answer 1

The most productive thing that you can do is to try and negotiate.  Hospitals and other health-care institutions charge a lot of money because they know insurance companies will pay it.  Explain to them that you don't have insurance and cannot afford to pay that much.  Most hospitals will work with you to lower your payments and/or total debt.  Just explain to them in a nice and respectful way that there is no way that you can afford that debt.  Even if they sue you, you can't give them any more than you already are.  Most hospitals will work with you.  Good luck.

Answer 2

Your best bet is to go back to the hospitals and explain your situation.  If you approach the finance people at the hospital in a humble cooperative manner they are more likely to help you.  

Answer 3

Who are the hospital bills for?  If they are for a child or someone who is disabled, you can call your medicaid office and see if they will help.  

Unfortunately, the answer is probably not.  Your best bet is to just pay the collection agency whatever you CAN afford each month.  Most of the time they won't try to take you to court and force bankruptcy issues as long as you're actually paying something.  After all, court cases cost money and if they're sure you'll pay eventually they usually don't want to bother spending the money pursuing litigation.  

Most private hospital "payment plans" are an absolute joke.  They always say "we'll work with you"  -  but I remember calling to try to work out something when my step-daughter had cancer, and it was ridiculous.  They always want more than you can afford each month.  

To avoid it in the future, you can use a public hospital.  I know in Texas every county has to have one.  Of course, the medical services at them are sometimes sub-par.  It's really just a no-win choice.  You can either get better service and a bad mark on your credit record, or not so great care and a better chance of being able to pay the bill....

If you're going in to have a broken bone set, I'd go with the public hospital.  If your child is having surgery - I'd take the credit hit!  

Answer 4

You should have asked for financial assistance at the time of the medical service.  They might have given you a discount.  Pretty much too late now.

You are lucky they didn't send the accounts to collections long before now.  Most medical providers only carry acounts a max of 6 months.  The collection agencies will report these debt to the credit bureaus and it will hurt your credit.

Before you pay anything to the collection agency, get the settlement/payment plan in writing.  Ask for a delete for pay -- you pay $x and they remove the derogatory from your credit file.  You may be able to settle these debts for less than the full amount.  Save up a lump sum and offer half to settle the smaller one.  Do not give the collector direct access to your bank account.

Lump sum offers get the best deals.  Payment plans have to be short term.   You may have to let the larger debt stew awhile till you can save up and you may get a better settlement if the debt gets a little older.