Well, it happened, I got thrown into the hospital without ins.

[DiverDave]

I woke up on Monday night shivering so hard I almost fell off the bed.
I had to use the restroom them put on sweatpants and socks and a sweatshirt.
I still couldnt stop shivering, and I was having trouble catching my breath.
After a few minutes we went to the emergency room.
By that time my lips were blue and I was talking to my mom who passed away 5 years ago.
They put me on oxygen and after about 20-30 min. of not knowing my name or my wife's name I started coming around.
I told them I couldn't be admitted as I couldn't afford it.
and actually got up, then fell over.
They convinced me to stay.
Now the scary part, they found a shadow on my esophagus and took a biopsy.
I got the word today that its benign, whew.
Now how to pay for it, I just got out today.
I pretty much got the pneumonia licked and the throat thing is fixable.
I lucked out, now the nail biting begins.I think it's ridicules that I got hurt on the job and have to beg for help.
I would have gladly paid the group rate but, no, I was thrown out on my ass.

Stay tuned...

[grasswire]

1. talk to the hospital

Hospitals can greatly reduce your bill if you are not able to pay. They will work with you.

What a shame, America!

[bluestate10]

6. I took an extended repayment route several year back. Hospitals will work with patents, just ask. nt

[frazzled]

2. Gosh, glad you're okay

Thank goodness they got you to the hospital.

I don't know what to say about how you'll pay the bill. At least you're alive, and the thing in your throat is benign. Money is money. I wish this had never happened to you, but if it had had to, I wish it would have happened in 2014, when you could have gotten insurance.

[cali]

3. This happened to me last year

I had an incredibly expensive surgery and hospital stay after an accident. The hospital worked with me and I ended up not having to anything at all.

Now, thankfully, I have Medicaid.

[MADem]

4. Every time they send you a bill, you send 'em five or ten bucks.

If you're paying, they can't come after you.

See if you can't negotiate the price downward--sometimes hospitals have multi-tiered pricing.



Check w/social service agencies to see if they will help you. St. Vincent de Paul is one that sometimes will help people out with bills.

Some light reading--seriously, take the time to click, you may find something helpful up in here:

http://bucks.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/14/for-uninsured-tips-in-seeking-to-reduce-a-medical-bill/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jason-alderman/what-happens-when-you-can_1_b_1702356.html
http://www.thequotehub.com/articles/ways-to-pay-your-medical-bills/

Good luck--try not to stress (easier said than done, I know).

[bluestate10]

5. Several years ago when I was less established financially, I took over paying off a large hospital

bill for my father that had passed away. My mom couldn't pay the bill at the time. And I could not pay it in big chunks. I worked out a repayment plan with the hospital that I could afford, they even worked with me with the goal that I could afford what was agreed to. Try working out a payment plan with the hospital, one that you can pay without strain on your finances. My repayment was interest free, the hospital knew that the alternative was to collect nothing.

One day soon, thinks to President Obama and the people that supported him at the polls, we will have a system where people won't be saddled with large hospital bills.

[DiverDave]

7. Thanks everyone

I am talking to the business office, well, sorta anyway.
I have a number and the guy doesnt answer.
I spoke to his co-worker and they seemed to think I could get some help.
But the point is I HATE having to ask for help.
Dangit, I didnt ask to get hurt, I guess I'm lucky that everything came out O.K.
But to have to beg, just chaps my ass.
I understand that it happens, but I try and pay my way.
I have pretty much all my life.
It's embarrassing that I cant this time.
Thanks for the links, I'll be on top of them come monday.

Hate a good weekend, all.

Dave

[randome]

8. I wouldn't call it 'begging' at all.

Taking advantage of resources is all it is.

Don't fall in love with money. It's not your fault medical expenses are so high. Unless you're God, which I'm guessing you're not.

[cbayer]

9. One last thing. When you get the bill, it will have CPT codes on it.

These are the codes medicare and insurance use to classify consultations and procedures. You can find out what medicare pays for these codes for your region on the internet. You should request (insist) that you not pay any more than medicare would pay. You will most likely get individual bills from various physicians. They will also have these codes and you should negotiate with them as well.

You are not being given anything here. You will be charged, but you should only agree to pay what others (medicare and ins) do. There have been suits in some states which have supported this and some laws passed about it.

Good luck.

[LiberalArkie]

10. I had a broken leg in December of 1993. I did not have any insurance at all.

Almost on New Years eve the hospital called me to ask if I had any insurance as they did not show anything on my records. I told them that I did not, the lady said that it was alright, they had money left over from a fund that would cover it. I never received a bill from the doctor, although the hospital did tell me their bill totaled $35,000.

Do not wait for collections, call them right away, before the end of the year.

[DiverDave]

11. I'll pay the bill

It just may take several decades...
I will contact all of them and set up a payment plan.
And, no, I aint god. lol

[SomethingFishy]

12. Been there my friend.. still am...

As long as you make payments every month they can't touch you. No matter how small the payment.

When my wife had to go in with no insurance we had a long talk with the doctor, he told us to make sure we get an itemized copy of the bill and go through it line by line. Hospitals are so used to overcharging they do it without thinking about it. Also make sure if you don't know what something is you find out. Hospitals love to use abbreviations for stuff.
The most memorable item on my wifes bill was "M.R.S.: $80. When we dug in we found out what MRS stands for. Mucus Removal System. Yeah, 80 bucks for a box of tissues.

We ended up knocking about 12 grand off a $100,000 bill. Plus when the hospital found out we were paying out of pocket they knocked off another 25%..

Granted it didn't make it "manageable" but it was a step in the right direction.

[DiverDave]

13. Now I've heard everything MRS, are you freaking kidding me??

I wonder what pencil pusher got a raise (and a vacation at the company condo) out of that one...sheesh