Medical bill sent to collections

amother

OP ↓

Thu, Nov 21 2024, 11:50 pm

After I had my baby I received a bill from the hospital for around $500. I thought wth, my primary and secondary insurance just paid you like 30k! And basically ignored it. Now 18 mos later I get a letter from a collections agency for payment. What do I do? I’m in NY for reference.

amother

Brunette ↓

Thu, Nov 21 2024, 11:51 pm

Medical insurance doesn’t always pay everything

You have to pay it or they’ll be coming to collect it and it’ll affect your credit

amother

Arcticblue

Thu, Nov 21 2024, 11:53 pm

You can probably bargain with them and get it lowered - particularly if you pay it in one shot.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Thu, Nov 21 2024, 11:54 pm

amother Brunette wrote:

Medical insurance doesn’t always pay everything

You have to pay it or they’ll be coming to collect it and it’ll affect your credit

I thought in NY it can’t impact your credit, can it?

amother

↑ Brunette

Fri, Nov 22 2024, 12:00 am

amother OP wrote:

I thought in NY it can’t impact your credit, can it?

I just looked it up and the governor signed a bill and medical debt no longer impacts credit, you’re right.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Fri, Nov 22 2024, 12:02 am

So what happens if I don’t pay it? Will they give up eventually or they can take me to court? Google isn’t helpful. I really can’t afford $500 now Crying

. Also I was planning to go off bc next month and now I’m second guessing that decision…

amother

Violet

Fri, Nov 22 2024, 8:40 am

amother OP wrote:

So what happens if I don’t pay it? Will they give up eventually or they can take me to court? Google isn’t helpful. I really can’t afford $500 now Crying

. Also I was planning to go off bc next month and now I’m second guessing that decision…

They definitely can take you to court and garnish your wages. You can see if they’ll reduce it or let you set up a payment plan, but it may be too late for that.

And yes, if you can’t pay the copay from the last baby, it’s probably not time to have the next one yet.

bestme

Fri, Nov 22 2024, 8:43 am

The collection company very often add very high interest. Your bill might get a lot higher very fast.

vintagebknyc

Fri, Nov 22 2024, 8:52 am

amother OP wrote:

Bumping this up for the morning people…

I don’t know whether collections will set up a payment plan with you but you should call them and see. It will be cheaper than being taken to small claims court.

amother

Mimosa ↓

Fri, Nov 22 2024, 8:55 am

Why would you think you can just not pay thats stealing?

amother

Bluebell

Fri, Nov 22 2024, 8:56 am

Call the collections place. They can set up a payment plan. This happened to me withy last baby as well.

amother

↑ Mimosa ↓

Fri, Nov 22 2024, 8:57 am

amother OP wrote:

So what happens if I don’t pay it? Will they give up eventually or they can take me to court? Google isn’t helpful. I really can’t afford $500 now Crying

. Also I was planning to go off bc next month and now I’m second guessing that decision…

Good thing you’re second-guessing if you can’t afford $500 how in the world can you afford another baby now?

amother

Moonstone

Fri, Nov 22 2024, 8:57 am

Did you try calling them? Did you know you own them 500?
I had something similar after going to the hospital after car accident. Got a collector's notice and just called them and said to speak with my car insurance and never heard from them again.

amother

Cerulean ↓

Fri, Nov 22 2024, 9:27 am

amother Mimosa wrote:

Why would you think you can just not pay thats stealing?

Why are illegal immigrants allowed to have a baby in my hospital for free and she can’t get a $500 discount?

amother

↑ Mimosa

Fri, Nov 22 2024, 9:39 am

amother Cerulean wrote:

Why are illegal immigrants allowed to have a baby in my hospital for free and she can’t get a $500 discount?

2 wrongs dont make a right

amother

Whitesmoke

Fri, Nov 22 2024, 9:41 am

amother Cerulean wrote:

Why are illegal immigrants allowed to have a baby in my hospital for free and she can’t get a $500 discount?

Whats your point? Illegal immigrants get free shelter and food and phones and clothing. They can commit crimes and get released without bail. So that excuses me from any wrongdoing?

amother

↑ OP ↓

Fri, Nov 22 2024, 9:50 am

amother Mimosa wrote:

Why would you think you can just not pay thats stealing?

How is that me stealing when they are charging me $500 for nursery stay and the hospital doesn’t even have a nursery?

amother

↑ OP ↓

Fri, Nov 22 2024, 9:51 am

amother Mimosa wrote:

Good thing you’re second-guessing if you can’t afford $500 how in the world can you afford another baby now?

I can budget in another kid in a year from now, an unbudgeted $500 has to be taken out of savings

amother

↑ Cerulean

Fri, Nov 22 2024, 9:56 am

amother Mimosa wrote:

2 wrongs dont make a right

What makes it wrong? There’s a sign by the admitting office that they need to service your whether or not you have insurance. My insurance was cut off a day before I gave birth because of an error. I had no insurance. I need to pay $50k to the hospital while the immigrant doesn’t just because I’m a citizen?