A little background?.
A close family friend of mine is suffering from a very rare cancer called Intra vascular B-Cell carcinoma . Infact he started noticing problem with his left leg way back in Jan 2006 and since then he has visited various hospitals and doctors for the right diagnosis. This cancer, being so rare, doctors were initially unable to do the right diagnosis and he was referred to some of the best institutions by his doctor. During one of these referrals he ended up in Colombia University hospital neurology department and he was given a spinal angiogram as at that time the doctors were thinking that his problem was related to some spinal abnormality. Just six months back he was rightly diagnosed and he is now getting the treatment at Hackensack medical hospital in New Jersey. Unfortunately, probably because of all the delays in diagnosis, he has totally lost any control over his legs and that makes him incapable of walking.
My friend has been in US since 1998 and has GC. During this period his company, where he is working since 2001, supported him quite well and allowed him to work from home. That made him keep his health insurance. All that came to end about 6 months back as he was hospitalized for treatment. However company has allowed him to keep the medical till April. His wife has been working on and off but she is unable to get a job permanently as she has to attend to him regularly . They have two kids. The second one is just 5yeras old. They have brought in their mother to help out. Now this family is looking forward to the day he can standup so that they can leave for India once for all and they are actively searching for a buyer for their home.
Question?
As if this is not a sufficient punishment, Colombia has sent a bill for $64000 which they say is the what my friend has to pay for spinal angiogram . Insurance has already paid $13000 as per their norms for the same procedure. Columbia , even though is outside the network was referred by his in-network doctor because of the nature of the disease. Also it is unbelievable that any diagnosis procedure which took 8hrs in total can cost $77000 overall almost @ $10000/hr. Needless to say they are in no position to pay this. Recently they are served with notice from a collection agency for this amount. His wife has been answering all the notices without fail explaining how they are not in a position to pay up and also sent a letter to the neuro department in Colombia pleading helplessness. There has been no reply from them.
My question is under these circumstance what options do the family have in order to avoid this payment? Also if these notices are ignored what are the consequences?
All your inputs are valuable in finding a suitable solution for this desperate family.
Advice needed to handle Huge medical bill
Advice needed to handle Huge medical bill
Sorry to hear about your friend's plight. I hope he recovers soon and is self sufficient in the near future.
Now on to your questions.
Each state in US has consumer bureau and can assist the in-state residents in avoiding filing bankruptcy and can give suggestions for bill payments etc. Search your state's agencies.
In reducing the bill payments, there are multiple options. Few of them I can think are:
1.Write a letter to the hospital detailing the financial situation(along with records) and the inability to pay such high bill.Usually hospitals charge 80-20 ratio thinking 80% will be paid by the health insurance but if patient has to pay 80%, the billing comes down in many cases as much as 50-60-80% of the bill.
2.Restrict health care providers from using common law doctrines to collect medical debts from spouses of patients, especially when these spouses are elderly or low-income.Some states like CA,MA and Texas already has these reforms. Find out whether your state has these reforms.
3.If option 2 isn't there,don't avoid paying collection agencies all together as it affects the credit history. Pay minimum amount to the collection agencies like $50-$100 per month. If one does not have the ability to pay more, collection agencies usually will not sue and will wait for settlement. Even if they do, case goes to credit court,and courts usually listen to both side's arguments and allow to settle and that time if the hospital has reduced the fees substantially, it may help to have the settlement.
I hope you hear from other well informed members as well.
my 2c
Now on to your questions.
Each state in US has consumer bureau and can assist the in-state residents in avoiding filing bankruptcy and can give suggestions for bill payments etc. Search your state's agencies.
In reducing the bill payments, there are multiple options. Few of them I can think are:
1.Write a letter to the hospital detailing the financial situation(along with records) and the inability to pay such high bill.Usually hospitals charge 80-20 ratio thinking 80% will be paid by the health insurance but if patient has to pay 80%, the billing comes down in many cases as much as 50-60-80% of the bill.
2.Restrict health care providers from using common law doctrines to collect medical debts from spouses of patients, especially when these spouses are elderly or low-income.Some states like CA,MA and Texas already has these reforms. Find out whether your state has these reforms.
3.If option 2 isn't there,don't avoid paying collection agencies all together as it affects the credit history. Pay minimum amount to the collection agencies like $50-$100 per month. If one does not have the ability to pay more, collection agencies usually will not sue and will wait for settlement. Even if they do, case goes to credit court,and courts usually listen to both side's arguments and allow to settle and that time if the hospital has reduced the fees substantially, it may help to have the settlement.
I hope you hear from other well informed members as well.
my 2c
Advice needed to handle Huge medical bill
Check your PM.
Advice needed to handle Huge medical bill
If all else fails, talk to an attorney and file bankruptcy. It will screw up the credit history, but they can rebuild their life. I know one person (white guy) who did this, but he didn't have any other option. 7 years later, he's fine and his credit history is back.....
hope this helps.
hope this helps.
Advice needed to handle Huge medical bill
Thanks for the replies.
We spoke to a social worker and she is of the opinion that we should contact an attorney.At this point we have decided to keep all the options open and contact an attorney through 1-800-Attorney.I think future course could emerge once we get to speak to an Attorney
We spoke to a social worker and she is of the opinion that we should contact an attorney.At this point we have decided to keep all the options open and contact an attorney through 1-800-Attorney.I think future course could emerge once we get to speak to an Attorney
Advice needed to handle Huge medical bill
I am assuming that considering the situation that your friend is unable to pay. It is interesting to note that even hospitals in network may charge say X to the insurance, but if the patient has no insurance their charges may be 2X. This is highway robbery.
In addition, insurance companies may actually pay X to in network but may actually pay less than X to out of network which is another stupid thing for which insurance companies should be sued.
Some options that come to my mind.
1. If he is going to go to India, and they are unwilling to settle, then string them along till house is sold and leave USA which is what you say they want to do and leave the hospital hanging. Yes, eventually, it gets paid by the resto f the hospital patients in increased charges.
2. Send them a written offer to settle. Explain very briefly that you have no choice but to declare bankruptcy and are unable to pay the bill and collecting disability at present (whih I am guessing that your friend is). To avoid bankruptcy, you are willing to settle with the hospital for $1000, which the money will be lent to you from friends and you will manage to pay that back somehow. Send this offer in writing.
3. Send them an offer in writing that you can offer to pay $100 a month and that is the best you can do. Ask them if they are willing to go ahead with this arrangement and if so, that you will send this to them. Do not sign an agreement to this that ties you to this payment for longer than say 3 years or so.
Or variations of above.
Once the hospital realizes that they either accept the offer or get nothing, they will probably settle but they need to be convinced that there is nothing there for them to go after and that bankruptcy would not even get them the $100 or $1000.
You also should send this to billing office, director of patient billing and call them and ask them that you plan to send a letter to negotiate costs and who is the decision maker to whom this should go to.
In addition, insurance companies may actually pay X to in network but may actually pay less than X to out of network which is another stupid thing for which insurance companies should be sued.
Some options that come to my mind.
1. If he is going to go to India, and they are unwilling to settle, then string them along till house is sold and leave USA which is what you say they want to do and leave the hospital hanging. Yes, eventually, it gets paid by the resto f the hospital patients in increased charges.
2. Send them a written offer to settle. Explain very briefly that you have no choice but to declare bankruptcy and are unable to pay the bill and collecting disability at present (whih I am guessing that your friend is). To avoid bankruptcy, you are willing to settle with the hospital for $1000, which the money will be lent to you from friends and you will manage to pay that back somehow. Send this offer in writing.
3. Send them an offer in writing that you can offer to pay $100 a month and that is the best you can do. Ask them if they are willing to go ahead with this arrangement and if so, that you will send this to them. Do not sign an agreement to this that ties you to this payment for longer than say 3 years or so.
Or variations of above.
Once the hospital realizes that they either accept the offer or get nothing, they will probably settle but they need to be convinced that there is nothing there for them to go after and that bankruptcy would not even get them the $100 or $1000.
You also should send this to billing office, director of patient billing and call them and ask them that you plan to send a letter to negotiate costs and who is the decision maker to whom this should go to.
Advice needed to handle Huge medical bill
Filing bankruptcy may be a choice here. Lot of assets are protected under federal and state laws.
Federal law: All of the retirement accounts (401K, IRS, etc) are protected.
State law: NJ allows some protection. http://ezinearticles.com/?NJ-Bankruptcy-Law&id=681809
Do more research on what is protected.
Any asset that is not traceable (Personal property, jewelry, cash, etc.) can be safely transfered to trusted relative/friend or to India WITHOUT using banking channels.
Any traceable liquid assets (bank balance, brokerage, etc.) may not be saved from bankruptcy. If you can try to liquidate them but creditors will find out.
If the traceable assets are more than the bill, then your friend should just liquidate everything he has QUICKLY. Take all the cash with him in person (no banks) and move to India without worrying about bills or bankruptcy.
I know I am giving advise that is not ethical but so is the medical bill.
I hope this helps your friend.
Federal law: All of the retirement accounts (401K, IRS, etc) are protected.
State law: NJ allows some protection. http://ezinearticles.com/?NJ-Bankruptcy-Law&id=681809
Do more research on what is protected.
Any asset that is not traceable (Personal property, jewelry, cash, etc.) can be safely transfered to trusted relative/friend or to India WITHOUT using banking channels.
Any traceable liquid assets (bank balance, brokerage, etc.) may not be saved from bankruptcy. If you can try to liquidate them but creditors will find out.
If the traceable assets are more than the bill, then your friend should just liquidate everything he has QUICKLY. Take all the cash with him in person (no banks) and move to India without worrying about bills or bankruptcy.
I know I am giving advise that is not ethical but so is the medical bill.
I hope this helps your friend.
Advice needed to handle Huge medical bill
pjigar;89343Filing bankruptcy may be a choice here. Lot of assets are protected under federal and state laws.
Federal law: All of the retirement accounts (401K, IRS, etc) are protected.
State law: NJ allows some protection. http://ezinearticles.com/?NJ-Bankruptcy-Law&id=681809
Do more research on what is protected.
Any asset that is not traceable (Personal property, jewelry, cash, etc.) can be safely transfered to trusted relative/friend or to India WITHOUT using banking channels.
Any traceable liquid assets (bank balance, brokerage, etc.) may not be saved from bankruptcy. If you can try to liquidate them but creditors will find out.
If the traceable assets are more than the bill, then your friend should just liquidate everything he has QUICKLY. Take all the cash with him in person (no banks) and move to India without worrying about bills or bankruptcy.
I know I am giving advise that is not ethical but so is the medical bill.
I hope this helps your friend.[/quote]
Just curious,
if he transfers his money by wire transfer/cheque to india will they come after him in India ?
Advice needed to handle Huge medical bill
I dont know whether this is relevant or may help but I once recieved a bill from one of my in-network doctors for 18K and it was negotiated by my provider to 1.8K . ..i had to pay 10% of it and I got off with USD 180. I read this all in the final statement and was surprised to see the reduction in the total cost after negotiation. Do you think the provider can negotiate with the hospital even if it was not in network
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
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Going_nowhere
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