Need advice on medical bills and what to do...

[shespeaks247]

I've been really fortunate during my long wait for SSDI (had my ALJ hearing in Jan, been told by my reps/attorney that the decision was made in March, and that it was assigned to a writer in Sept, and can be another two to four MONTHS before it is finally written and I get a decision) that I've been covered under my husbands' medical insurance. Luckier still that up till this past year there was NO deductible to be met.

Well, I had to have surgery this past April (Ovarian cancer...and didn't find out I had it until I was IN ALJ judge's chambers and he said "The results from your digital CT shows a very large tumor in your abdomen, is there any diagnosis on this??" I hadn't been informed of the outcome of the digital CT I had had four months previously, sigh), and there is 750 dollars outstanding for my half of a 1400 dollar deductible.

Yesterday, after being told by one company (durable goods health co.) that they would 'waive and write off' what I owed them, I was served with a summons to go to court an hour and a half away, I don't drive, for the balance. I called the place doing the collections and they told me that I HAVE to be there for court and that they can pick me up on a warrant (please...don't know whether to laugh or cry)..blah blah and that, horrors of horrors, they will GARNISH MY PAYCHECK. ???

They flat out accused me of lying about my wait on SSDI decision (said all you do is fill out the application and get it, ha ha). Anyway...I don't have a paycheck ... but what CAN they do about the outstanding medical bills I owe (700 dollars worth...I don't owe anything more than that, have never had an unpaid medical bill..see?? Told you I was fortunate up till now)?

What does one do about this type of thing? I've already called the hospital that did the CT and the surgery and they are willing to hold off till I hear a decision from the ALJ...they've been really nice about it, to the point of accepting 5 dollars a MONTH from me!

Edited: And I'm holding off on necessary (according to the oncologist and newest testing post surgery) radiation and chemo treatments because I can't afford the deductibles/co pays on them...the doctor said he'll go to the courts so I can't 'turn it down'.

Pam

[caudaequinasyndrome]

i don't know the laws in your state, but the monies sound like a trivial matter.
i would send them a check for one dollar or 2 two dollars every month, and let them know you re still supposed to be covered under medicare when the decision comes In.
in most area if you make attempt to pay, even though minimal, they may not be able to do anything further.
i would not go to court, you don't have a pay check so there is nothing to garnish, why waste your time, it sounds like bullying tactics bu the bill collectors.
you may be able to call the court and ask for it to rescheduled to next month due to your health, by than you will shown that you have been makeing honest attempt to pay, that is not even yours
if all they are doing is to bring you to court to garish, you have nothing to garish

[shespeaks247]

Thanks Yonkersguy.

Now it leads to ANOTHER question, heh heh.

If I get a favorable decision rendered...wouldn't Medicare pay these bills? I called my representatives and they mentioned that they 'thought' Medicare would have to retro these bills (I've been waiting over 3 and a half years for my decision).

Pam

[b2006]

I was told in the past that Medicare will go retro and cover older bills (as long as the service dates fall within the months you were entitled to medicare).
You may want to call Medicare to clarify that, but I'm quite sure they still do retro.

[cindybear]

Yes medicare does pay those bills...It just takes them forever...I know I'm still waiting for them to pay a few of mine...It took them 3 months to pay for when I was in hospital... Geeeeesh...Hugs...:confused:

[shespeaks247]

Thanks much cindybear and b2006 for the information.

Pam

[yoda]

shespeaks247

Sorry to hear the long delay but do know about it.
My husband got hurt at work 8 yrs ago fought ssdi for 7 1/2 yrs to get ssdi for him. We did have medical bills totalling about 1350.00 we were taken to court and got a default by agreement. we knew we had to pay the bill but had 0 income coming in my mother in law was covering the bills for the house during this time as workcomp went bankrupt.we told the lawyer that we were unable to pay at this time but would as soon as we were able. sent a statement showing how much our bills were and a letter from hubby's mom saying that she was loaning monthly amount to us but was not able to give more for these bills ( she has her own home and is retired on ss).we never heard anything after that UNTIL we did get ss in 4-06 back to 4-01 called attorney to pay this med bill and found he had put a lein on my property and said I had to pay over 700 in interest on bill since default date.
getting medicare to pay this bill can happen as he qualified for medicare retro back as of 2003 (but with a catch ) we would have to pay medicare premiums for all those yaers, which totaled over 3500.00 we opted not to pay all those premiums for prior years. just paid the medical bill from proceeds of back pay. a lot less out of our pockets.
So you may want to see how much ss wants for medicare premiums to go retro for 700.00 in bills , you may decide to pay the med bill instead of the medicare premiums. hope that helps.

yoda

[shespeaks247]

Thank you yoda. That makes a lot of sense. I'm actually thinking about contacting a local newspaper (my disability doesn't allow me the privelege of being able to drive) and seeing if they will 'follow me' walking 56 miles to the court date (the lawyer who is repping the medical bill said I "MUST' come to the small claims hearing for it) and thereby get a little 'press' for SSDI and the wait we have and the suffering involved. I get a little tired of people around me not realizing what being disabled is all about...NO ONE (even the most highly educated individuals) seem to KNOW anything that really goes on in our SSI/SSDI worlds.

Pam

[haven'tgotaclue]

Hi,

If you pay even $3-5 dollars a month, after contacting the people you owe & explaining your situation, I do not beleive they will do anything to you. They would rather you pay it off slowly than not at all.

I was in the same situation before getting my SSDI & just paid them what I could afford & if I didn't have much I divided it between them so that I didn't miss a payment. I had no problems.

I also required two surgeries this past year & went to the billing department @ the hospital with proof of income, last years income tax, & our monthly bills & the hospitals wrote off any co-payments for 6 months at a time then I had to go re-apply.
It was a God-send for me. I don't know what I would have done without it.

I'm not understanding where this collections agency is coming in. Is it the $700.00 dollars you owe for the cat scan? If the hospital wrote it off, they can contact them & get it dismissed.

Best Wishes, TJ

No one understands uless they have walked in your shoes.

[shespeaks247]

The collections that are 'coming after me in court' have a bill that they say I 'didn't pay'. I have a paper from the durable goods health (this was for a BIpap machine) saying after I explained the situation, that they would 'write it off' because it was only 214 dollars 'anyway'. The hospital (where I had my cancer surgery at, my digital CT, etc.) is just accepting the 5 dollars a month.

Now, here's where the bill for 213 comes in: My husbands insurance on me pays a certain amount. Say a dr. is billing for 1000 dollars but he's under contract to the insurance and has to accept what they 'pay'. The durable goods company already GOT paid...by the insurance and the insurance says they contracted with them to be a provider and that the 213 dollars was what's 'left' after they accepted payment in full (which is usually less than what the company bills). THE INSURANCE company says that's not for ME to pay, that's what the company contracted for.

And my attorney said to go to court and make them look like the jerks they are being...he said that I can prove that they were paid in FULL and that my insurance company (large in my area, half the people working have THIS insurance) will send a letter saying they will be 'dropping' them from participation.

Oh, and they called me Saturday trying to 'call it all off' if I would 'just pay right now'. Heh heh. I'm betting this will never go to court.

Pam