Can a hospital send me to collections

[Kelley halsey]

This is in Nebraska

If I owe a medical bill for a labor and delivery charge and I put money down and pay monthly plus what I can in between can they send it to collections. They are trying to tell me I have 18 months to pay it off however it's the total divided by 18. They won't allow me to pay the same lesser amount and then apply taxes or spare money in between payments. They said if I don't pay the 1/18th payment every month there going to send the bill

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

Yes they can. In fact, unless you signed a financing agreement to start with they are just being nice letting you pay off over 18 months. They could not only send you to collections they could sue you tomorrow.

 

[Zigner]

This is in Nebraska

If I owe a medical bill for a labor and delivery charge and I put money down and pay monthly plus what I can in between can they send it to collections. They are trying to tell me I have 18 months to pay it off however it's the total divided by 18. They won't allow me to pay the same lesser amount and then apply taxes or spare money in between payments. They said if I don't pay the 1/18th payment every month there going to send the bill

Why don't you still apply taxes or spare money in between payments so that it goes away faster?

 

[Taxing Matters]

This is in Nebraska

If I owe a medical bill for a labor and delivery charge and I put money down and pay monthly plus what I can in between can they send it to collections. They are trying to tell me I have 18 months to pay it off however it's the total divided by 18. They won't allow me to pay the same lesser amount and then apply taxes or spare money in between payments. They said if I don't pay the 1/18th payment every month there going to send the bill

You likely agreed at the time of service to pay the bill in full. The hospital may, but is not required to, give you the option to pay that off in monthly payments over some period of time. If you are unable to reach agreement on that, the hospital certainly may take whatever actions are allowed to collect the debt, including reporting the debt delinquent to the credit bureaus, sending the debt to a debt collector, and/or suing you to get a judgment on the debt.

 

[Kelley halsey]

The issue I'm having is that if they would give me the 18 months I would be fine and handle it but they are telling me that I have to pay 1/18th of the bill every month or it goes directly to collections. Shouldn't I at least have my 18 months to pay it

 

[Zigner]

The issue I'm having is that if they would give me the 18 months I would be fine and handle it but they are telling me that I have to pay 1/18th of the bill every month or it goes directly to collections. Shouldn't I at least have my 18 months to pay it

That's not how it works. As you were told above (more than once), they don't have to allow any extra time.

 

[Kelley halsey]

Why don't you still apply taxes or spare money in between payments so that it goes away faster?

That was my plan but they said they will send it next month unless I pay 1/18th the bill. They won't give me the 18 months otherwise

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

I don't think that was what was being suggested. Clearly you have to pay your 1/18th share next month and the month after that and so on. What was suggested was when you get your tax refund back you pay it as well to reduce the 18 months.

You might also consider NOT having so much taken out of your check so the government doesn't get a free loan from you all year. You would have extra money in each check and might be able to pay your bills.

 

[cbg]

The issue I'm having is that if they would give me the 18 months I would be fine and handle it but they are telling me that I have to pay 1/18th of the bill every month or it goes directly to collections. Shouldn't I at least have my 18 months to pay it

There is no law you can invoke that will require them to allow you 18 months to pay it.