Depending on the length of your stay they might send you to a state hospital.... if you just have short stay in a regular hospital, contact them after you get the bill and they will likely waive it depending on your income. They did that for my daughter when she had a hospital stay for a brown recluse bite and no insurance. They asked her to fill out a form stating her income and why she can't pay then they waived the whole bill. She had to request an adjustment from both the hospital and the doctor but both of them waived the bill without a problem.

I'd like to call and ask what they do but I'm not sure the best person to ask.

As far as I know, you can not be turned away from a Hospital for treatment.

I would imagine , if it does come to a long stay, Yes, probably you would be going on to a State Hospital .

Yikes, am in the same situation. Here in Az they have Connections or UCP that accepts everyone, I think the state hospital here is only for court ordered. Its really scary being without insurance, this sucks!

In my state you go to any hospital that has a psych ward and an open bed. Then, you apply for charity care. It is a bunch of forms to fill out stating your financial status and they make the decision about how much to waive or to waive it all. One of my hospital stays was for 12 days. It was over 20,000. All waived. No insurance and no income.

In any state in the nation, if you walk into an ER, they are obligated to treat you. No matter how much money you make, or what kind of insurance you have or don't have. Once you walk into those doors, you become their patient and their responsibility.

CammieCat....what if the closest hospital that has a psych unit is two hours away or further? Do they still have to except you as long as your residence is in that state?

http://www.naturalnews.com/News_000672_psychiatric_hospitals_Georgia_patient_abuse.html

Great...I do a Google search for more info and find this...