Paying Off My Child's Hospital Bills
My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: Florida.
I have a large hospital bill from my daughter stay. What are my rights in regard to paying this bill. They want me to pay over the course of 1 year. Paying monthly amounts. This is still a huge number. they received a ton of money from my insurance company. I know from being in this industry that the bill was jacked up to get as much from the insurance companies. Now they want me to pay the rest. Please help.
Re: What Are My Rights in Paying a Hospital Bill in Florida
You have the right to pay the bill.
I'm not sure what you're asking here. Are you wanting to know if they can set a payment plan and expect you to stick to it? Yes, the most certainly can, and they are not required to accept even a penny less than what is owed.
You can ASK for a more suitable payment arrangement, but they are not required to give you one.
Re: What Are My Rights in Paying a Hospital Bill in Florida
You do not have a guaranteed right under the law to have the hospital waive part or all of the payments. You do not have a guaranteed right under the law to make extended payments or to set the amount of the payments.
Re: What Are My Rights in Paying a Hospital Bill in Florida
So I cant just pay them $100.00 a month until the bill is paid. I am willing to pay but since I know from being in the industry that they already got their money I feel abused.
Re: What Are My Rights in Paying a Hospital Bill in Florida
You can if they permit that. But nothing in the law says that they have to accept your doing so.
Re: What Are My Rights in Paying a Hospital Bill in Florida
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Quoting
timmyh
So I cant just pay them $100.00 a month until the bill is paid. I am willing to pay but since I know from being in the industry that they already got their money I feel abused.
You can always choose to utilize the healthcare of some other country.
Abused indeed.
Quick question though. If you worked "in the industry", why couldn't you answer your own question?
Re: What Are My Rights in Paying a Hospital Bill in Florida
Was your insurance an individual policy or are you insured through your employment? If it is group coverage (through your employment) the carrier may have a contract with the facility. You should contact them to see what they are showing as your responsibility to pay any or all of the balance.
Re: What Are My Rights in Paying a Hospital Bill in Florida
It doesn't have to be group insurance to be managed care. It's not a bad idea to confirm with the insurance company what the responsibility actually is, though.
However, whatever the insured's responsibility turns out to be, the above answers hold.
Re: Paying Off My Child's Hospital Bills
I agree with CBG. I have had multiple occurrences where the provider agreement called for an amended bill amount that was never processed and they tried to balance bill. Look at the insurance companies Explanation Of Benefits to see what their contracted balance for you is.
Re: What Are My Rights in Paying a Hospital Bill in Florida
Quote:
Quoting
timmyh
So I cant just pay them $100.00 a month until the bill is paid. I am willing to pay but since I know from being in the industry that they already got their money I feel abused.
Your bill was more than likely reduced due to having insurance. Most insurance companies negotiate reduced cost schedules if it is a regular provider. That would mean your balance is the remainder of the reduced fee after the insurance paid their portion.
I know I receive a considerable discount if the fee is processed through my insurance company as compared to a cash customer.
and they didn't get their money. Their money is what they billed. Your insurance provider already paid part of that. Now they want the rest of their money from the responsible party: you.
So, if you want to be abused in front of a lot of people in the courthouse, make your best effort to negotiate an affordable payment plan you can meet and they will accept. Outside of that, you risk being sued.