Hospital Bills

[KRISTALYNN]

Earlier this year, both myself and my fiance had surgery done. Mine was in Green Bay, WI, his in Appleton, WI. After insurance we each owe over $1,000 still. We can not afford to pay this in one lump sum. I wrote a letter, along with the first payments stating this and assuring them that I would pay as much as possible each month.

My hospital in Green Bay just keep sending a bill each month showing the new balance after what I had paid the previous month.

His in Appleton, continues to send similar statments with the inclusion of a message saying, "FINAL NOTICE. Please send payment in full immediately to avoid the involvement of a collection agency."

I've never had any problems with my doctor or hospital bills and surely have never been sent to collections. I don't know what to do. We are to be married at the end of this month, and I don't want our credit ruined. Why is this particular hospital harassing us about it when I'm making the same monthly payment as mine? Can they really send this to a collection agency? What happens then? I don't know what to do! Any advice? I sure could use it!

By the way, you guys are great. I'm so glad that I found this website... you have put my mind at ease about alot of things and I really appreciate your insight. Thank you.

Krista

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, Verdana">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by KRISTALYNN:
Earlier this year, both myself and my fiance had surgery done. Mine was in Green Bay, WI, his in Appleton, WI. After insurance we each owe over $1,000 still. We can not afford to pay this in one lump sum. I wrote a letter, along with the first payments stating this and assuring them that I would pay as much as possible each month.

My hospital in Green Bay just keep sending a bill each month showing the new balance after what I had paid the previous month.

His in Appleton, continues to send similar statments with the inclusion of a message saying, "FINAL NOTICE. Please send payment in full immediately to avoid the involvement of a collection agency."

I've never had any problems with my doctor or hospital bills and surely have never been sent to collections. I don't know what to do. We are to be married at the end of this month, and I don't want our credit ruined. Why is this particular hospital harassing us about it when I'm making the same monthly payment as mine? Can they really send this to a collection agency? What happens then? I don't know what to do! Any advice? I sure could use it!

By the way, you guys are great. I'm so glad that I found this website... you have put my mind at ease about alot of things and I really appreciate your insight. Thank you.

Krista<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

My response:

Each health care provider, like any other business, has its own policies for billing and collection of debts for services rendered. While hospital "A" may have a more lenient policy for billing - - e.g., accepting payments, others like hospital "B" may have, and obviously does, have a different policy.

So, since you are really interested in staying out of collections, and keeping your credit in pristeen condition, I would suggest that you might consider paying the hospital in full with your credit card, and make payments to your credit card company, rather than the hospital. With that, you will have killed two birds with one stone - - paid the hospital, and saved your credit standing. (if you don't have a credit card, you might consider a bank loan or borrow from friends or family).

Good luck.

IAAL



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