Financial Challenges Support Group
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I know you all have seen these type of questions but here goes: I have no health insurance and I have endometriosis. I recently had surgery that I had to have. I also had pyhsical therapy for my foot due to a "botch job surgery" from years ago. ( also, had to have it. I couldn't even walk) Anyways, my bills exceed $17,000 and I have been attempting "good faith" payments. I am already receiving phone calls stating it is not enough. Now, I read from the Fedral Trade Comissions' website that once they cash the first check, they agree to the terms. I am already being threatened with "turning over to collections" but I think it is a scare tactic. I explained myself and asked all kinds of questions and they kept trying to get me to agree to a payment plan; I know better. I also have looked into charity groups in my area, applied for all the ones I qualify for and was only approved for 1, but that bill is $900 and they are one of them that is threatening me with collections.
Sorry, I'm going on and on.... here is my question: Do I continue with "good faith" payments, can they do anything? ( by the way, I live in Wis.) I do not want to go through a debt managment group ( I'm not to that point ) nor can I consolidate because I have messed up credit from an accident and a divorce; besides that, I wouldn't be able to afford the payments. I can't work more because of my condition and I will sooner or later need more treatments for it. I have since then gotten a state funded health care that I qualify for. ( of course it came available 3 weeks after my lap. surgery!!! )
Also, I was wondering, am I still able to negotiate my bill down after making the "good faith" payments?
Any advice would be very helpful.
Thanks!!
Sorry, I'm going on and on.... here is my question: Do I continue with "good faith" payments, can they do anything? ( by the way, I live in Wis.) I do not want to go through a debt managment group ( I'm not to that point ) nor can I consolidate because I have messed up credit from an accident and a divorce; besides that, I wouldn't be able to afford the payments. I can't work more because of my condition and I will sooner or later need more treatments for it. I have since then gotten a state funded health care that I qualify for. ( of course it came available 3 weeks after my lap. surgery!!! )
Also, I was wondering, am I still able to negotiate my bill down after making the "good faith" payments?
Any advice would be very helpful.
Thanks!!
As for your medical bills, I would continue making good faith payments because as long as you are making payments and they are cashing the checks then the threat of being turned over to collections is nothing more than that, a scare tactic. For example, you are right, if they felt that the money you were paying wasn't enough, they should have never cashed the check until they worked out an agreed upon re-payment plan and should have returned it to you un-cashed. . By both accepting and cashing that check, they accepted legal tender which means that
the money can be applied to any or all full or partial payment for any current or outstanding bill.
Also, not sure if it applies to your state, but in some states like mine, they legally can't collect on any type of debt over 5 yrs old, unless its a student loan debt which has different legal terms since it takes most people almost 30 yrs to re-pay them in full.
Well, GOOD LUCK. I sounds like you are taking all the right steps to me.
AC
To Notgivnup, I did apply for medicaid and I just received approval for it but unfortunately, this program is brand new in Wis. and this particular program does not "back track", which means they will not cover medical that pre-dates my enrollment, all the other programs provided by Wis. "back track" 3 months. My heart sank when this new one that I qualify for became available 3 weeks after my surgery. ( which incidently, would have been covered )
Anyways, I will just keep plugging along, thanks to your help!!!
You can always write medical stuff on Taxes, but I would follow alliecat's advice and contact the Hospital.
If you have good credit, don't skip payments as this will hurt your score.
If you're trying to work with them, like alliecat suggested, you should be ok.
Bad Credit: Consolodation and Bankrupcies are rip offs. You spend up-front money, and it stays on your record for LIFE. People will insist it's only 5 years, but a company can ask 'Have you EVER filed for Bankruptcy or Consolidation' and your credit report is for life.
So,
I would just blow it off and save money. You're already on Medicaire, so it's not like they can cancel your medical insurance :)
As far as threatining, they are trained to do that so people are scared of the collection man.
It's unsecured debt, they can't sue, they can't take your house, but they can mess your credit up.
http://www.hrsa.gov/hillburton/default.htm