Swimming in medical, I feel hopeless (credit cards, debt, payments, companies)

[Butterfly_sky]

In 2004 I became very sick, almost died after going to Mexico. It took me 3 years just to get a diagnosis, which they found to be incurable. I haven't worked since 2004 when I had a great job at the State Attorneys Office. I'm 25 btw so I'm young and very in debt.

I had an mystery disease at the time and I can't say how many doctors I've seen but I'd say well over 25 and been to the ER close to about 30 times. I always had health insurance but not all was paid for by them.

Right now I'd say I've got between $50-$70,000 medical debt. Thats the only debt I have.. My husbands credit is good and he has a great job in the Law Enforcement field.

I don't know what to do. I'm currently applying for disability but I just can't pay these bills and its hard on one income. I fear we'll never be able to buy a home, or a car. I've never had a credit card offer in my life.. The thought of Bankruptcy scares the living s*** out of me. I've called the collection places, the hospital etc and they won't work with me cause I owe too much and I can't pay off every bill every month when you're talking 30 bills a month coming in.

Help.. there has to be some kind of option other than Bankruptcy.. I don't want to be this young and in debt. I feel like literally my future is over and I'll be suck living in an apartment struggling the rest of my life

[Woof Woof Woof!]

Stop paying for a few months.

And then call them and try to negotiate a settlement. You have to be careful they don't send you a 1099 for the money you didn't pay in the settlement. Either that or go bankrupt. You'll credit will be good again in a few years. I would rather stop paying than have to make those payments every month. Crazy.

[averagejoe76]

I owe alot in medical bills and im paying 5-6 different payments so..
I know what you are talking about on some level.
This is just my view but it sounds like you are going to have to File Bankruptcy.
Unless they knock down the amount you owe,which they probably wont...
If you do bankruptcy now,your credit can start improving in a few years.
You could get decent credit cards within a couple years,Im not sure about buying
A house though,The credit required for that has tightened up alot after the sub-prime
Mess.

[harry chickpea]

"It took me 3 years just to get a diagnosis, which they found to be incurable."

Other than the distracting structural flaw in the statement, I think you exposed the real problem. The doctors who squandered your time and resources and came up empty-handed should LEAVE empty-handed.

Just saw something on tv about a person eventually diagnosed with lyme disease saying she didn't know how she would have paid the $50K for the diagnosis without insurance. If someone takes their car to a mechanic and he misdiagnoses a problem and it costs a lot, suing is an easy option. Not so with doctors.

[Butterfly_sky]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

"It took me 3 years just to get a diagnosis, which they found to be incurable."

Other than the distracting structural flaw in the statement, I think you exposed the real problem. The doctors who squandered your time and resources and came up empty-handed should LEAVE empty-handed.

Just saw something on tv about a person eventually diagnosed with lyme disease saying she didn't know how she would have paid the $50K for the diagnosis without insurance. If someone takes their car to a mechanic and he misdiagnoses a problem and it costs a lot, suing is an easy option. Not so with doctors.

I actually did fight to not pay for the MANY misdiagnosis I had.. even having unncessary surgeries (at the time I didn't not realize they were not necessary), being put on VERY dangerous medications for things like Lupus, and even congestive heart failure which I did not have . The countless MRI'S MRA'S CAT scans and the list goes on and on.... The lawyers said I don't have a case even with all the misdiagnosis.. One doctor even told me I had no problems with my heart and to do whatever I want.. Yeah turned out I have a signficant hole in my heart and could NOT do whatever I wanted.. its just so frustrating. On some level I feel like I was taken advantage of because I was so young when this was happening and just starting out on my own .. I dunno jeesh!

[jimj]

Originally Posted by Butterfly_sky

I actually did fight to not pay for the MANY misdiagnosis I had.. even having unncessary surgeries (at the time I didn't not realize they were not necessary), being put on VERY dangerous medications for things like Lupus, and even congestive heart failure which I did not have . The countless MRI'S MRA'S CAT scans and the list goes on and on.... The lawyers said I don't have a case even with all the misdiagnosis.. One doctor even told me I had no problems with my heart and to do whatever I want.. Yeah turned out I have a signficant hole in my heart and could NOT do whatever I wanted.. its just so frustrating. On some level I feel like I was taken advantage of because I was so young when this was happening and just starting out on my own .. I dunno jeesh!

Don't worry about chickpea, nitpicking in the highest form... While bankruptcy scares you it shouldn't, it's there for people who are in the situation you're facing and after having been there and done that I'm here to tell you while it's demoralizing at the time it's really no big deal. I sat down with a BK attorney and he went over what we owed, what we had and what we expected to have and told me straight out "there's no way in hell you can pay this off so you have 2 choices." One was to let them go into collection and let them sue you and garnish your wages the other is to stop the phone calls, stop the stress and file BK. While it did whack our credit for a few months we were actually able to get some new credit within a year and bought a house 2 years later and after 4 years it wasn't even a blip on our radar.
Most companies understand a medical BK and since you can't file BK again for a few years credit can be had since you're considered a better credit risk than those who haven't filed.
I actually sped things up and got a secured credit card and used it to raise my credit score and after about 8-12 months it became unsecured and my score went to the 700's.
Go see an attorney, don't let this stress make things worse for your marrage, your health and your mental state!

[averagejoe76]

Is there a such thing as a "Medical"Bankruptcy?I have heard people call it that..
But i didnt see that specific filing when i was researching.

[jimj]

Originally Posted by averagejoe76

Is there a such thing as a "Medical"Bankruptcy?I have heard people call it that..
But i didnt see that specific filing when i was researching.

I'd suggest finding a BK attorney, most will give you the first consult for free and they'll tell you your options and the best course to take for your situation.

[OC Investor2]

BK

It was designed & intended for people like you. You've been dealt a bad hand & done your honest best to play it out. Time to reshuffle the deck.

[killer2021]

Unless you are making tons of money and you are able to save tons of that money to pay off debt there is no way you will pay off that debt. You'll be paying it off for the next 10 years, at least. Do you want to be doing that?

If I was in your situation I would definitely just go the bankruptcy route. In seven years the bankrupcy will be removed from your record. After the bankrupcy you'll probably have a hell of a time getting any form of credit, which IMO, is a good thing. You'll be forced to pay for everything in cash and live within your means. Credit these days does more harm than good for the average joe. Also by the time you are 32 and the bankrupcy is removed is when you will probably be a decent position to purchase a home, if you want to of course. You don't need credit when you are in your 20 somethings. If you asked me, the only reason to get a good credit score is to get a low fixed rate mortgage and that is it. Once you've got that it won't really matter what your credit score is.