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I have another thread here about a 1 1/2 year old bill from a hospital for about $600. After 2 different collection agencies, this one is finally talking about 'intending to sent this to an attorney for small claims court'. While I'd love my day in court, I haven't found anyone that can / can't say I have a chance based on my arguments.
So then the question - has anyone had experience negotiating on a hospital bill thats 1 1/2 years old and with the 2nd collection agency?
One consolation I kinda forgot, but my son reminded me - the hospital won't get all of the money, the collection agency will get some. That made me feel better
Anyone know the cut the collection agency typically get? is it based on what % of the total dollars due they collect? I'd like to maximize their take vs. the hospital while minimizing how much I pay
After this long will they settle for 10c on the dollar? On a $600 bill, that's $60 and even I realize that's not likely.
Wonder if anyone has been in this situation and can comment on what they paid out as a percent of the original bill
If the $600 was a negotiated rate with your insurer, you have less leeway than if it was the hospital's rack rate charge.
Negotiated rate, I would say 50% would be a target settlement amount
Welcome to today's age of entitlement and lack of personal responsibility.
Lol 'personal responsibility' means nothing when dealing with these health care mega corporations and collection agencies. The prior poster provided the best advice which is to tell them to pound sand. Over a $600 bill, no one is going to court, the legal fees of one day would significantly exceed that amount. It's all a game and the real sucker is the person that pays out of pocket for these vastly (power of 10) inflated medical costs. The system is built on inflated costs and usurious insurance payments. If you really wanted you could offer 200$ and they'd probably take it.
Now if this was $600 to a friend or relative that would be different but these are mega corporations that have no concept of fairness or morality.
If you ask for help from the medical profession then you are agreeing to pay for it. If you don't want to pay what they require, then ask a friend for help, or go without. Otherwise, try to move to a country with "free" medical coverage.
Easier said than done to just 'go without' especially in an emergency. The costs incurred are absurdly inflated so it's not an equitable transaction. The industry is set up so virtually no one except retirees could pay out of pocket (at the expense of thier children's future). Crony capitalism has created this health care monster and you only do yourself a disservice by playing fair when the bigger, stronger opponent does not.
Don't mistake my opinion for condoning the system and what it takes to survive within it, but sadly it is the world we live in, at least in america. It's simply another form of strategic default, which i should remind you is perfectly legal.
Welcome to today's age of entitlement and lack of personal responsibility.
Check the OP's other thread where the bill in question is described in more detail. It amounts to something akin to bait and switch.
The whole health are industry needs an overhaul in its billing practices. I look at my EOBs where the provider's charge is $X and the amount actually paid to them by the insurance company is 10% - 30% of $X.
They're trying to make their margin on the self-pays and with that they'll accept a certain amount of bad debt. It's their game right now, everyone else is just trying to figure out the rules.
Lol 'personal responsibility' means nothing when dealing with these health care mega corporations and collection agencies. The prior poster provided the best advice which is to tell them to pound sand. Over a $600 bill, no one is going to court, the legal fees of one day would significantly exceed that amount. It's all a game and the real sucker is the person that pays out of pocket for these vastly (power of 10) inflated medical costs. The system is built on inflated costs and usurious insurance payments. If you really wanted you could offer 200$ and they'd probably take it.
Now if this was $600 to a friend or relative that would be different but these are mega corporations that have no concept of fairness or morality.
I believe the OP is the one who says he was too hungry when he signed the consent forms.
OP, this is between you and your insurance company and should have been resolved long ago. Now you are trying to stiff the doctor who did the test for you. Pay up, and next time make sure you know what your insurance company is going to pay before you have the test done.
Yes, the nonsense over in network and out of network and difference in payment between doing a procedure in one location rather than another needs to stop.
Many self pay patients can ask for a discount and get one. Ideally, everyone would pay the same price for the same service, but that would mean insured patients would pay more and self pay patients less.
Easier said than done to just 'go without' especially in an emergency. The costs incurred are absurdly inflated so it's not an equitable transaction. The industry is set up so virtually no one except retirees could pay out of pocket (at the expense of thier children's future). Crony capitalism has created this health care monster and you only do yourself a disservice by playing fair when the bigger, stronger opponent does not.
Don't mistake my opinion for condoning the system and what it takes to survive within it, but sadly it is the world we live in, at least in america. It's simply another form of strategic default, which i should remind you is perfectly legal.
Wow. You are either part of the solution or part of the problem. I think everyone here knows which part you are and your grammar is bad too.
Check the OP's other thread where the bill in question is described in more detail. It amounts to something akin to bait and switch.
The whole health are industry needs an overhaul in its billing practices. I look at my EOBs where the provider's charge is $X and the amount actually paid to them by the insurance company is 10% - 30% of $X.
They're trying to make their margin on the self-pays and with that they'll accept a certain amount of bad debt. It's their game right now, everyone else is just trying to figure out the rules.
I wish this was my scenario. My insurance allowed 97% of the charges for 3 stitches that costed over $7,000. Now I'm on the hook for $2600 OOP for 15 minutes with a medical assistant. I would of loved if they allowed 10-30% of the billed services.
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