Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in California

Debt Payments

Hello,

I went to an emergency room and I do not have insurance. The bill I received is for $5000.00 . I am a cosmotologist and my income varies. They did accept a payment for $50 and now want $250 a month. I cannot affford that at all, what can I do?


Asked on 4/26/06, 10:35 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Stone Law Offices of Michael B. Stone Toll Free 1-855-USE-MIKE

Re: Debt Payments

Dear Cosmotologist,

I am sorry to hear of your recent illness. Unfortunate.ly hospitals charge uninsured people lots more for the same services. Insurance companies pay contracted rates that are much less. This might be because the hospitals expect to be paid little or nothing from uninsured ER patients, and so that they can take large tax write-offs for bad debts. I expect they will hound you with collection agencies but will be not so quick to sue. Often they find the patients have many other debts and it's not worth it to sue. Best of luck M

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Answered on 4/26/06, 10:09 pm


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