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  1. #1
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    Aug 2011
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    Default Billed for Care Given to an Exchange Student

    My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: Michigan.

    Last month a 14 year old French boy spent a few weeks with us at our home in Michigan. During the visit, he went over the handlebars of a bicycle lost consciousness. We rushed him to the ER. Immediately upon arrival, we told the admissions staff that he was not related to us and that we were not his guardians. We also explained that he was a French citizen and that it was doubtful that his national health care would cover the visit. Fortunately, he required nothing more than a 3 minute "look see" from the ER doctor. I was asked to sign his discharge papers, but never asked to sign any document stating I would be responsible for his bill. I was told to forward any bill I received to his parents. I have now received a bill for over $1,200.00. It lists me as the "guarantor." What does this mean? Also, I know that the child's mother cannot afford to pay such a bill, and the hospital's likelihood of collecting from her is slim. First of all, am I responsible for the bill? On the one hand, I would feel bad about the hospital not being paid at all, but on the other hand the charges are so grossly inflated for the care he received I am offended. I would be willing to pay a (drastically) reduced amount. any advice on how I should proceed?

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Billed for Care Given to an Exchange Student

    Guarantor.

    You are free to assert to the medical office that you did not guarantee the debt, and challenge them to produce a document you signed that would make you a guarantor.

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Billed for Care Given to an Exchange Student

    Now, be honest.... a head injury that rendered the boy unconscious and in need of an Emergency Room, required more than a "3 minute look-see".

    Guarantor=you are responsible for payment of fees for services rendered.

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Billed for Care Given to an Exchange Student

    Thank you.

    Nope - turned out the kid just fainted. However, did not know at the time, so took him to the ER, which I felt was the responsible thing to do. Never signed any document indicating I was a "guarantor" and ER did not request I do so. Snarky reply neither helpful nor appreciated.

  5. #5
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    Default Re: Billed for Care Given to an Exchange Student

    Quote Quoting apa
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    Thank you.

    Nope - turned out the kid just fainted. However, did not know at the time, so took him to the ER, which I felt was the responsible thing to do. Never signed any document indicating I was a "guarantor" and ER did not request I do so. Snarky reply neither helpful nor appreciated.
    Never said it wasn't the responsible thing to do. Just pointing out the fact when a child presents to the ER after a head injury/loss of consciousness after a fall, the assessment requires more than 3 minutes. Emergency Rooms are expensive.

    What did the hospital's accounts payable person tell you when you called and asked for a copy of the form they claim you signed?

    ETA: You're sure you didn't sign anything giving permission to treat before the boy was taken back?

  6. #6
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    Default Re: Billed for Care Given to an Exchange Student

    Quote Quoting apa
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    any advice on how I should proceed? any advice on how I should proceed?
    Out of curiosity, through which organization did you host? I also hosted a French exchange student last month, and there were specific procedures to follow if our student managed to hurt himself.

    The first thing you should know is that the State Department will not allow exchange students into the country without insurance coverage of some sort - either through a policy back home or through a policy held by the exchange organization. Your coordinator should have informed you of the procedure to follow if your student was injured. In our case, Step #2 (right after Step #1 - go to the ER) was to immediately call our coordinator and NOT sign ANY paperwork, but rather have the coordinator explain the situation to the intake rep. We also had an information packet with our student's family's full contact information, the name of the insurance company our student was covered by, and a signature from our student's parents consenting to any necessary treatment.

    We were explicitly warned that if we did not follow procedures if we needed to take our kiddo to the ER that we would be on the hook for the bills, and would have to seek reimbursement from the French insurer, which would takes many weeks to many months.

    The first thing you need to do is contact your exchange coordinator to see about getting the hospital to submit the bills to the French insurer. Elsewise, you'll be responsible for paying them, then sorting it out with the French insurer.

  7. #7
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    Aug 2011
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    Default Re: Billed for Care Given to an Exchange Student

    @LawResearcherMissy: We did not host through any organization and the 14 year old was not an exchange student. He was merely a friend of a friend who was visiting the US and spent some of that time in our home.

    @lealea1005: I have written letters to the hospital and ER physician (which was billed separately) explaining the situation. I have not yet heard back. Your suggestion that I request documentation of my status as alleged guarantor is a good one and I will follow through on it if need be. My goal is not to stiff the hospital or ER doctor, but to strengthen my bargaining position for a reduced rate. This child did not require a blood test, x-ray, or band-aid. A doctor checked his eyes, had me (because of language barrier) ask him some questions to determine whether he was oriented to time and place, and told us what to watch for at home. Not $1,200.00 worth of services in my book. . .probably willing to pay 30-50% of the amount billed.

  8. #8
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    Default Re: Billed for Care Given to an Exchange Student

    @LawResearcherMissy: We did not host through any organization and the 14 year old was not an exchange student. He was merely a friend of a friend who was visiting the US and spent some of that time in our home.
    You're not going to like this...

    If you signed ANY paper at all consenting to treatment - if you filled out ANY forms - you're on the hook for the bill, regardless of whether the billed amount is what you think it should be or not. You really do need the hospital to send you any forms they claim you signed, and you need to speak with an attorney. No judge is going to go along with "He didn't require anything" - it's easy to say in retrospect, but as Lealea points out, ERs are EXPENSIVE. I didn't think 15 minutes on oxygen when I presented with chest pains a few years ago was worth $11K, but that's what my insurance was billed for. You need to prove that you're not responsible for the bill.

    You're probably not going to like this either, but I'm going to say it anyway, as a former exchange student and a Host Mom: NEVER host a student in your home who does not carry his own medical insurance. If you're hosting the child of a friend - as my Swedish friends have done for my son - ensure that the child has travelers medical insurance. Elsewise, you're likely to find yourself in this unpleasant situation again. No good deed ever goes unpunished.

  9. #9
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    Default Re: Billed for Care Given to an Exchange Student

    Not $1,200.00 worth of services in my book. . .probably willing to pay 30-50% of the amount billed.
    I hope you present your request by telling them, in your book, you feel their emergency services are only worth 30-50% of what they charge. Good luck.

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