Need Advice!!

[~*Maria*~ 1]

On Aug 10th I had a hysterectomy and we didn't have health Insurance. We received a bill from the hospital for just over $11,000 and we were given 90 days to pay the bill off completely. We knew this was going to be a problem so I called the hospital about this and they sent me a form to fill in to apply for extended monthly payments, which i did...i was to include a copy of my husband's tax return for 2006 and his last 3 months paycheck stubs. I sent all this in last week. Then today i received a letter back from the Hospital stating:-

I have reviewed your Personal Fianancial Statement to see if you might qualify for the Patient Financial Assistance through the hospital Health Services............

I am happy to inform you that you do qualify for partial assistance. You will receive $$$$$ in Patient Financial Assistance for your accounts and you will remain responsible for $$$$

I never asked to be considered for any such financial assistance. I only asked for more time to pay off my hospital bill. It does state on the back off the bill to apply for extended payments!!!!

Is this going to jeopardise my AOS application in any way? Would i be refuse my Greencard because of this?? Extremely worried!!!

What do i do now??

[Nanusia & Lukaszek 0]

This will not jeopardize your AOS. The hospital works with charities, catholic organizations and such that help out those in need. You met their financial guidelines (when you submitted the tax returns) so they paid the part of the bill they felt appropriate. This is not like welfare or public aid paying, simply a charity helping you out. You should be very happy they were able to do so with such a large bill. Rest assured your AOS will not be affected.

[bora bora 1]

Girl you better take that money and run.....

don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

[~*Maria*~ 1]

This will not jeopardize your AOS. The hospital works with charities, catholic organizations and such that help out those in need. You met their financial guidelines (when you submitted the tax returns) so they paid the part of the bill they felt appropriate. This is not like welfare or public aid paying, simply a charity helping you out. You should be very happy they were able to do so with such a large bill. Rest assured your AOS will not be affected.

Oh thank so much, i was indeed very happy but cautious at the same time. That takes a huge weight off my shoulders. What was a huge hospital bill is now under half what it originally was.

Thank You.

Maria

Girl you better take that money and run.....

don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

Its already been deducted from my hospital bill Bora my hubby is gonna be so happy now!! We were stressing about how we were going to pay it!!

Edited September 18, 2007 by MariaDane

[Cécy 44]

I'm very happy to hear you got that help, you sure deserve it. I just summarized the story to my husband and he was like "a 11000$ for surgery?". Maybe they realized they charged you too much

And honestly, I think it's enough if you get FBI name check, it's not like you asked for it and even if it was. This is between you and the hospital.

I had to go to the Dr when I was without health insurance and I filed the documents to get help because it was too much for me and they ended up not charging me at all. There might be no health coverage like I'm used to, but it sure feels good to know there are charitable souls willing to help like that.

Edited September 18, 2007 by Cécy

[~*Maria*~ 1]

I'm very happy to hear you got that help, you sure deserve it. I just summarized the story to my husband and he was like "a 11000$ for surgery?". Maybe they realized they charged you too much

And honestly, I think it's enough if you get FBI name check, it's not like you asked for it and even if it was. This is between you and the hospital.

I had to go to the Dr when I was without health insurance and I filed the documents to get help because it was too much for me and they ended up not charging me at all. There might be no health coverage like I'm used to, but it sure feels good to know there are charitable souls willing to help like that.

Yeah i was like that too when the hospital bill arrived, i almost fell off my chair in total shock

[John & Annie 0]

Hospitals and Dr.'s do bill extremely high intentionally. Most insurance companies have negotiated rates with the providers, or the insurance companies pay a guaranteed percentage of the total bill.

When you are a cash payer, they tend to do deep discounts because the paperwork of chasing down the money is significantly less and they use the write-off against their taxes.

Even with the negotiated rate, you can work out a payment plan with them.

[Tom_Jim 40]

Glad to know you are better MariaDane.

[MonicaMexico 0]

Yeah i was like that too when the hospital bill arrived, i almost fell off my chair in total shock

Welcome to the United States of America - where we have over-priced and inadequate service for the uninsured! Enjoy your stay - but DON'T GET SICK!

[John & Annie 0]

Yeah i was like that too when the hospital bill arrived, i almost fell off my chair in total shock

Welcome to the United States of America - where we have over-priced and inadequate service for the uninsured! Enjoy your stay - but DON'T GET SICK!

Thats a pretty big thing to say

[~*Maria*~ 1]

Hospitals and Dr.'s do bill extremely high intentionally. Most insurance companies have negotiated rates with the providers, or the insurance companies pay a guaranteed percentage of the total bill.

When you are a cash payer, they tend to do deep discounts because the paperwork of chasing down the money is significantly less and they use the write-off against their taxes.

Even with the negotiated rate, you can work out a payment plan with them.

Yeah, i've been on the phone all morning with the rest of my medical bill accounts, from pathology bills etc etc, must be my lucky day....the nice lady gave me a nice discount off both my outstanding pathology bills and we came to an agreement of what to pay each month. Called the Hospital back this mornin as well, monthly payments i can afford, we'll have all our Medical accounts paid off within a year!

I kept gettin even more stressed each time a medical bill arrived and just filed it with the rest, too scared to even look at them. Now i'm feeling alot better about the whole thing!!!

I had been asking hubby for months to get me Health Ins but it fell in deaf ears, bad move on his part

I have bad asthma and suffer from debilatating migraines, so how am i supposed to get what i need in presciptions monthly i keep tellin him if he wont get me Health ins. Ever feel like your talking to yourself????

Edited September 19, 2007 by MariaDane

[MonicaMexico 0]

Yeah i was like that too when the hospital bill arrived, i almost fell off my chair in total shock

Welcome to the United States of America - where we have over-priced and inadequate service for the uninsured! Enjoy your stay - but DON'T GET SICK!

Thats a pretty big thing to say

Yeah and even better I think I spelled it wrong too. What does that say about our public schools?!

[John & Annie 0]

Hospitals and Dr.'s do bill extremely high intentionally. Most insurance companies have negotiated rates with the providers, or the insurance companies pay a guaranteed percentage of the total bill.

When you are a cash payer, they tend to do deep discounts because the paperwork of chasing down the money is significantly less and they use the write-off against their taxes.

Even with the negotiated rate, you can work out a payment plan with them.

Yeah, i've been on the phone all morning with the rest of my medical bill accounts, from pathology bills etc etc, must be my lucky day....the nice lady gave me a nice discount off both my outstanding pathology bills and we came to an agreement of what to pay each month. Called the Hospital back this mornin as well, monthly payments i can afford, we'll have all our Medical accounts paid off within a year!

I kept gettin even more stressed each time a medical bill arrived and just filed it with the rest, too scared to even look at them. Now i'm feeling alot better about the whole thing!!!

I had been asking hubby for months to get me Health Ins but it fell in deaf ears, bad move on his part

I have bad asthma and suffer from debilatating migraines, so how am i supposed to get what i need in presciptions monthly i keep tellin him if he wont get me Health ins. Ever feel like your talking to yourself????

Look at Aetna, before I was able to add Annie to a policy I found a plan that was $104. a month that included prescription coverage. It is not the greatest plan, but it did save us a lot of money.

[~*Maria*~ 1]

Hospitals and Dr.'s do bill extremely high intentionally. Most insurance companies have negotiated rates with the providers, or the insurance companies pay a guaranteed percentage of the total bill.

When you are a cash payer, they tend to do deep discounts because the paperwork of chasing down the money is significantly less and they use the write-off against their taxes.

Even with the negotiated rate, you can work out a payment plan with them.

Yeah, i've been on the phone all morning with the rest of my medical bill accounts, from pathology bills etc etc, must be my lucky day....the nice lady gave me a nice discount off both my outstanding pathology bills and we came to an agreement of what to pay each month. Called the Hospital back this mornin as well, monthly payments i can afford, we'll have all our Medical accounts paid off within a year!

I kept gettin even more stressed each time a medical bill arrived and just filed it with the rest, too scared to even look at them. Now i'm feeling alot better about the whole thing!!!

I had been asking hubby for months to get me Health Ins but it fell in deaf ears, bad move on his part

I have bad asthma and suffer from debilatating migraines, so how am i supposed to get what i need in presciptions monthly i keep tellin him if he wont get me Health ins. Ever feel like your talking to yourself????

Look at Aetna, before I was able to add Annie to a policy I found a plan that was $104. a month that included prescription coverage. It is not the greatest plan, but it did save us a lot of money.

Cheers John, i'll have a peek and see what they have to offer