What Happens If I Can’t Pay A Hospital Bill?
I am a citizen of Russia (lived here all my life). I was visiting my brother on vacation last year in USA and had a seizure and small stroke so I had to stay in the hospital for a few days. They did a MRI, Cat scan and other things to see what’s going on. I am 60 and have a history of strokes, high blood pressure, diabetes so before I went on vacation, I purchased in Rusia health travel insurance for $50K. My hospital bill in Houston was $20K so I thought there will be no problem.
Last week ago, I received in Russia the hospital bill for $20K because insurance didn’t want to pay because of “preexisting condition”. My question is what can happen to me? I am very, very worried. My salary here in Rusia is about $10K a year so it’s normal that I can’t pay $20K hospital bill. My brother in USA says nothing can happen but I am really worried. I can’t believe anybody will just leave me alone for this much money. Can you please help in any way; what can they do to me? Thank you so much!
In: Cat Scan Salary · Tagged with: Bill, Can't, Happens, Hospital, What
on February 24, 2010 at 3:30 pm
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My suggestion is to contact the hospital or authorize your brother to do it for you. Explain to them your situation and ask if you can apply for any type of financial aid. Essentially every hospital has some type of indigent program for people who can not afford to pay their bills. It will require some information to be turned in, but if it gets rid of your bill entirely then it will be worth the effort. Secondly if that is not an option ask for a discount on the bill. and then set up even a small payment arrangement. It would be very hard for them to justify continuing collections when you are paying even a small amount on the claim every month. Be up front with them they may have ways to help. Good Luck!
on February 24, 2010 at 3:46 pm
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I worked in a hospital for many, many years in the Business Office and insurance dept. Believe me when I say that they will try to collect by sending bills out. But no collection agency is going to spend much effort in trying to collect even if the bill is $50,000. They will not assign it to an agency in Russia to come after you. Perhaps it would be better for your family to travel to see you!
on February 24, 2010 at 4:27 pm
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That is very high bill of 20k. Do you mean 20 thousand US dollars?? In any case I had a similar situation where I had heart surgery and insurance refused to pay and I could not go back to work and etc. etc …and so the hospital turned the bill over to a collection agency and they would call me several times a day and demand me to pay very high bill so I told my attorney and he said the collection agency should not call me except for a certain amount of times a week and by law if they called more they would be fined by state attorney general’s office. Well they stopped calling me and I have received no further letters or phone calls from the collection agency or the hospital. Now I am aware as you said you are Russian in Russia but basic rules should work for you as they have for me. I would advise you to as soon as you can speak to your attorney and tell the lawyer your problem and ask the Russian attorney if he would send letter to hospital or collection agency if that should happen telling them of your financial situation and your lack of ability to pay such a high bill. Perhaps you may not have to pay anything or perhaps a smaller more agreeable amount based on your financial resources. Good Luck and Good Health. I just now notice some of the answers say hope they will accept some small payments fromyou. My neighbor in Russia let me tell you hope is nice but a good lawyer can be more helpful than hope in your case.
on February 24, 2010 at 4:29 pm
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be nice and send them $10.00 a month with a letter explaining your problems ?
on February 24, 2010 at 5:01 pm
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I don’t know about the rules in TX but in Oklahoma they can’t sue you as long as you regularly pay the bill. So if you pay $5 a month for the rest of your life… then they should leave you alone. Good luck!
on February 24, 2010 at 5:04 pm
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Unfortunately, you are finding out after the fact the importance of looking over the language of policies before buying them to make sure they meet your needs and not everyone else’s
Call the hospital and ask if you can negotiate the price down. Sometimes, if you are willing to pay a lump sum they will reduce the cost in a large considerable difference as then they will right the balance off as a loss on their tax filings. Many hospital will work out a re-payment plan too.
Eventually, unpaid bills go to a credit collections agency to remain out there on your credit report until the payment is satisfied. Good luck and much prayers.
on February 24, 2010 at 5:34 pm
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Well, regardless of the fact that you’re in Russia, the account will STILL go into collections.
If you (or your brother, if you give him power of attorney) call the hospital, you can ask them to reprice it to a cash price, which could lower the price 75% or more. I would ABSOLUTELY do that, regardless of whether or not you intend to pay it. Then instead of having someone come after you for $20K, they’ll be coming after you for $4K or whatever it is.
Yes, there are international collection agencies. Yes, they’re going to try darned hard to collect from you, even in Russia. I don’t know what the collection laws are over there, but whatever is allowed, they’ll hire SOMEONE to do it – even if they just sell off the debt to someone in Russia to collect.
on February 24, 2010 at 6:31 pm
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Don’t worry they can’t come after you in Russia and unless your brother signed that he would pay if you didn’t he won’t have to pay either.
Stop the worry even if you were here they can’t do much if you aren’t working or getting any money. We don’t have debtors prisons they can’t do anything to you.
Get well soon.