Medical Bill HELP (credit, student loan, collections, repayment)

[Subie]

I had to go to the ER a couple months ago and I have no insurance. I currently have 3 bills that I can't pay in full. One for $312, one for a couple thousand, and one for about $900.

I'm a full time student who works for minimum wage for about 15 hours a week plus tips. However the tips have been low, and since my car had needed major service I am pretty broke (I use my car for work). My husband pays the major bills, however he doesn't have much left afterward and so I pay for misc odds and ends and groceries, which afterward leaves me with very little left for anything else. Unfortunately, this job with my limited availability and experience is the best money I can make since it includes tips.

Stupidly I let fear get the best of me and allowed the bills to be 66 days overdue, and know at least the $312 bill is in internal collections, which sucks because I just filed BK7 last year and my husband is trying to get student loans and is worried now since it's "our credit" now.

I called one and had to leave a message. Then I called on the $312 one and attempted to set up a payment plan. I said it had to be really low due to my circumstances. They said the best they can do is break it down to $53 a week for 6 months. I can't pay that! That's more than half of what I make a night sometimes! That doesn't allow me grocery and gas money afterward! I told her that and she said that's the best they can do and I said I'd call back.

What can I do? That ONE bill is the smallest and practically wipes me out per WEEK.

[colleeng47]

I'm sure you don't want to hear this, but you may have to forego school for a while. Maybe you can transfer to evening classes and work full time during the day. One thing you should NEVER do is go without health insurance after you've filed for bankruptcy. Your lawyer should have told you that.

Other than that, I can't think of what you could do.

[sterlinggirl]

Originally Posted by Subie

Then I called on the $312 one and attempted to set up a payment plan. I said it had to be really low due to my circumstances. They said the best they can do is break it down to $53 a week for 6 months.

Your math doesn't add up. At $53 a week, it would only take 6 weeks to pay the $312 bill.

If that payment plan ($53/wk for 6 mos) pays for all of your bills, its a good deal and you should take it.

[Subie]

Originally Posted by sterlinggirl

Your math doesn't add up. At $53 a week, it would only take 6 weeks to pay the bill.

Then that women was stiill being a c*nt.

I would have health insurance after the BK if it was affordable. Any quote I get is able to work in "pre-existing condition" and rates are through the roof.

[sterlinggirl]

Maybe you're misunderstanding her.

[Subie]

I heard her say $53/week until the bill is paid off at $312. And this is the cheapest one. I may have been emotional and didn't heard the number of months right, but I know she said $53/week.

[davidt1]

Don't full time students get super cheap health insurance through school, or something like that?

[Subie]

Originally Posted by davidt1

Don't full time students get super cheap health insurance through school, or something like that?

You know i asked about that at the student health clinic and they looked at me like I had 3 heads and had no idea what I was talking about. Maybe I need to go to another office?

An update:

I called the hospital and got them to send me a charity/financial aid packet out for me to fill out. I need to gather 2 mos worth of pay stubs for both of our jobs and all our bills and then send the packet back.

The ER associates bill for $464 (thought it was $900) got reduced down to $450 and they let me set up a payment plan of $30/month for 15 months.

Now I just need to get the X ray people to budge. (the people who told me I was SOL)

The ER people were easier to work with and it got taken care of rather quick. I said I needed to set up a payment plan. She started out by saying that since I am uninsured they would be willing to take off 30% if I paid in full in 30 days. I said it wasn't possible. So then she said we can offer $50 a month. I said maybe, but that was still a lot because I was a full time student and working very part time. So then she offered $30/month for 15 months, which actually knocked off $14 off the bill.

So at least that one is taken care of.

What should I do with the stubborn one? Should I mention I was able to get one of my more expensive bills brought down to $30/month and offer to do the same with them? I know it's way less than they want per month....
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[sterlinggirl]

Don't tell them the amount, but you can tell them the ER was willing to extend your payments out over 15 months, and they will have your top priority for repayment. Then you can say that if they can offer you the same deal, they'll be at the top of your list too.

[Subie]

Aha.....

So I called Radiology LTD (stubborn one) again just now and luckily got another billing rep who sounded more friendly. I explained I had called before and was offered a payment plan that didn't work for me and needed something a bit more manageable. I told her that I was offered $53/week for 6 weeks and she says "Uh, that's incorrect; a WEEK?", so apparently bitchy rep one lied to me. So rep 2 offered me $52 a month for 6 months. I said is there any way that could go down lower? She says the lowest I can go is $40/month. I said that's much better and agreed, so I'll be getting a revised bill soon.

Hopefully since I can include these 2 bill payments in my expenses I need to provide for the hospital with the couple grand bill I might get better results with that one.

Cross your fingers!