medical bills - collection agency

[ramdada]

hi,

My brother-in-law, who did not have medical insurance, was taken to the hospital due to heart attack in Maryland. Two angioplasties were done with no luck. He was in the critical care for 8 days and passed away on Feb 9th, 2009. My sister who makes $1200/month and her mortgage bill is $1180 just unable to survive the current situation. The hospital sent $89K for the collection agency. Please give some advise on how to handle the current situation. Her liabilities are $120K excluding the medical bills. The only income is $1200/month. His 401K has $40K. That is the brief situation.

best regards,
Ram G

If she signed to be responsible then she is.

But she can of course consider a bankruptcy filing, and that may cause the hospital to negotiate. You might also check with the lawyers directly on this site to see if they could take steps to cut the debt or work out a payment plan.

What exactly should have her name on it to consider her responsible? He signed the intake papers.

Originally Posted by Unregistered If she signed to be responsible then she is. But she can of course consider a bankruptcy filing, and that may cause the hospital to negotiate. You might also check with the lawyers directly on this site to see if they could take steps to cut the debt or work out a payment plan.

She did not sign any papers. Is Maryland a community property state? Ie. does a family memeber automatically accquire all debt? Any comments will be appreciated.

-Ram

Community property states; Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, or Wisconsin


...only the estate is liable for the bills in other states normally, unless another party signed and assumed the responsibility.

But check details with your local lawyer as always and review everything that was signed by any family member.

I need advise on how to handle a bill that will soon be sent to a collection bureau. I don't have insurnanc and and I can't pay the 1029.00 in full. I called the billing department but they told me My minimum was $85 a month. I can't afford that because of the other bills that came along with ER visit, I've been applying $50 a month and now they have sent me a notice that it will be sent to collections. I've paid what I can every month and they are still going to send it to collections. I've tried Acchcs(sp?) but it is taking to long. I have been unsuccessfull trying to negotiate a more affordable rate ...please help.

I received a call back in June about a medical bill that I had not paid to Toledo Hospital for services provided. The person that called me could barely speak English, so I asked them if they were outside the US. I was surprised when the representative, John, told me he was calling from Costa Rica. The collector worked for a company called United Collection Bureau and told me they are contracted by ProMedica Health System to collect for Toledo Hospital. I asked John to tell me what procedure the bill was for. I was placed on hold and then was amazed to find that they actually had the information. I am in shock that my medical records are being handled in a 3rd world country. I believe this is a violation of the law, but I'm not certain. I was also told that the collection agency, regardless of where they are, should not have access to the actual procedure.

I went online and found a website for United Collection Bureau. There is a list of offices that does not include Costa Rica. I called and asked if they has an office there and was passed around until someone said no. I called back to John's extension and asked him to confirm. He confirmed that he is in Costa Rica and receives his pay from United Collection Bureau. John knew the president of the company’s name, that the company is based in Ohio, and said that he was willing to cooperate because he understood my anger. I was transferred to an American, I believe in Costa Rica, that basically told me to pay my bill or they would send me to legal. I asked the American woman to give me her name and she hung up. I called John back the next day and he told me he could no longer speak with me; that they had threatened to fire him and he really needs the job.

I'm not out to get a young man working hard in another country fired, so I stopped calling. I did call ProMedica, who claims they had no idea and would investigate. That was back in June. Since then I have received over 20 more calls from people obviously not in America, but unwilling to tell me where they are.

Is this legal?

[Postman]

This is quite the interesting senario. I would guess the offshore office could post a persons PHI on the internet and blackmail. For instance MARRIED positive for gonorrhea.

Originally Posted by Unregistered I need advise on how to handle a bill that will soon be sent to a collection bureau. I don't have insurnanc and and I can't pay the 1029.00 in full. I called the billing department but they told me My minimum was $85 a month. I can't afford that because of the other bills that came along with ER visit, I've been applying $50 a month and now they have sent me a notice that it will be sent to collections. I've paid what I can every month and they are still going to send it to collections. I've tried Acchcs(sp?) but it is taking to long. I have been unsuccessfull trying to negotiate a more affordable rate ...please help.

Good afternoon...I was doing research on another collection issue when I came accross your posting. I supervise a Medical Billing company in the State of Maryland and can advise you that payment plans for as little as ten dollars a month can be established to pay off medical debt and prevent you from being sent to collections. The organization that is trying to push you into an $85.00 monthly payment with threats of wrecking your credit ought to be reported. My advice is to call them back and let them know that you have been advised of your rights and you are prepared to pay $10.00 a month, with larger paymentts sent when your financial situation allows. If they say no, tell them you will be contacting the AMA and reporting the provider of service for illegal billing/collection practices AND you will then be reporting the billing agency to the BBB for the same reason. ANY attempt to pay a medical debt is acceptible and sticking to your agreed arrangement is enough to keep your account from being forwarded to a collection agency. DON'T BE BULLIED.

Originally Posted by Debbie Webber I received a call back in June about a medical bill that I had not paid to Toledo Hospital for services provided. The person that called me could barely speak English, so I asked them if they were outside the US. I was surprised when the representative, John, told me he was calling from Costa Rica. The collector worked for a company called United Collection Bureau and told me they are contracted by ProMedica Health System to collect for Toledo Hospital. I asked John to tell me what procedure the bill was for. I was placed on hold and then was amazed to find that they actually had the information. I am in shock that my medical records are being handled in a 3rd world country. I believe this is a violation of the law, but I'm not certain. I was also told that the collection agency, regardless of where they are, should not have access to the actual procedure. I went online and found a website for United Collection Bureau. There is a list of offices that does not include Costa Rica. I called and asked if they has an office there and was passed around until someone said no. I called back to John's extension and asked him to confirm. He confirmed that he is in Costa Rica and receives his pay from United Collection Bureau. John knew the president of the company’s name, that the company is based in Ohio, and said that he was willing to cooperate because he understood my anger. I was transferred to an American, I believe in Costa Rica, that basically told me to pay my bill or they would send me to legal. I asked the American woman to give me her name and she hung up. I called John back the next day and he told me he could no longer speak with me; that they had threatened to fire him and he really needs the job. I'm not out to get a young man working hard in another country fired, so I stopped calling. I did call ProMedica, who claims they had no idea and would investigate. That was back in June. Since then I have received over 20 more calls from people obviously not in America, but unwilling to tell me where they are. Is this legal?

No...it is not legal for any collection agencies in or out of the United States to have acces to ANY specific medical information about you. I supervise a billing company in Maryland and HIPPA regulation are VERY SPECIFIC about the information that can be turned over to a collection agency. That information includes a patients demographics (name, address, phone, S.S # etc...) the provider who is owed and the amount to be collected. THATS ALL!!!! I would contact the Department of Health and Human services who is the central governmental hub for all HIPPA issues and speak to someone about the collection organization who is in possesion of your personal medical information. ABSOLUTELY....something is wrong here.