Do you have to pay the emergency room?

I dunno about debt collectors in the USA but in the uk if the person has got no means of paying back the debt it will usually get wiped, but you'll get a black mark on your credit rating tho.

 

not much you can do. my sister is in the same position, only shes done this maybe 9 times in the past 4 years. she owes various hospitals upwards of 20 grand total. yea the bill gets transferred to a collections agency. they'll sent you letters and call you for a couple years, but after so long, they cant pursue the matter anymore. in Texas its 7 years. but like Cookies said, it will affect your credit. some collections companies will garnish wages and stuff, but i dont think this wage garnishment happens in Texas. never happened to me. i used to owe a hospital money but that was like 9 years ago. it just disappeared. you gotta find out about your city/states, "Statute of Limitations". this will give more insight to how long collections companies can try and get the money.

 

About your only option is to join the 'buck-a-month' club and pay off your total. Either that or get sent into collections - then when you apply for credit cards and home/car loans you'll get rejected.
 
Whatever happens, don't forget to tell your friend how dumb they are for telling you to go to the ER bc 'you don't have to pay' lol
 
You shouldn't be mad at the hospital for their payment policy, you should be upset w/ your friend for giving you such shitty advice

 

 
I dunno how the medical system is where you are - but here, ER rates are the most expensive by far. Regular appointments are cheap (around $100) but you can also call and get an 'urgent care' appointment where you can be seen that day for like $40 more than a regular appointment. When you step foot into an ER (because it's for emergencies) the price of services for doctors and testing sky rockets, and it's never free.
 
Sorry if I sounded harsh but your friend honestly gave you really poor advice.
 
Call the hospital though and explain your situation (even though you won't want to) - it's your best bet if you don't want your credit score hurt. You might be able to get a payment plan of some kind worked out - as long as you're paying on the debt the business will usually not want to send you into collections

 

I'm not sure if the credit rating system will be the same as the USA but I'd imagine it would run similarly since we both run the same financial system, its like when you apply for a credit card/mortgage/pay day loan, they look to see how responsible with money you are and they will see you haven't payed money back so most company's won't hand out loans. I've had a few mates bump loan company's and never had to pay back a penny. They won't be getting a mortgage.

 

er bills are bills...but due to the EXTREME gouging that some er's do, they will never get the bill paid.
 
Send them checks each month for 5 cents each...if they want to sell the account to a collection agency (that is what happens, they sell your dept to someone) then do the same to them.

 

this'll be pretty much irrelevant... but this one time, I waited in the emergency room for three hours for my friends name to be called, and with that I went up in his jumper and gave blood for a D.U.I. test under his name. he apparently got pulled over while off his face but the cops dumped him at the hospital and didn't even stay around for the test results.... three years later and he never lost his license, my blood is still on file as someone else and we never heard anything else about it.  got a half ounce of some serious grade A a few days later. blood for nugget. 
 
 
the emergency room paid ME.

 

Aww sweetie I'm sorry I feel for ya :/ I'm kinda in the same position as you, but mine is an unpaid ticket. It was only $250somethin but then the fucker doubec to $457. Shit blows. I don't know about you, but I gots to get a job. Maybe you should consider that too..

 

Unfortunately Mercuh'

Glad in live in Canada. I don't know how you guys afford those expensive medical bills.


Omega369

 

Unfortunately you are responsible for those bills. If they go to collections, it is going to suck. Most places will work with you or arrange a payment plan. I have heard that if you pay even $10/month they cant turn you over to collections, but i can't verify that.
If you don't have a job or income, you should be applying for medical assistance through your state. There are government programs that can help if you meet the criteria.

we don't.
It is ridiculous how many people have to file bankruptcy over medical bills and downright disturbing that most of those people have health insurance.
I am dealing with similar shit right now after having kidney stones and bladder infections.
The bitch of it is, nothing, none of the tests or anything, helped. Everything I learned, I learned from the internet. They ordered ultrasound, ct scan, and MRI, and I was told, "nothing remarkable," was apparent....because I passed the stone between the ultrasound and ct scans. I also have orders for an additional scan and to see a urologist... and I am not even going to bother.

Now, I have a stack of bills amounting to a few grand, and that is after my insurance was applied.

Scam artists.

 

oops

 

Yes we are being ridden like a rodeo show by insurance companies tying the hands of medical professionals, and sadly the medical field is just going with it... rather than DOCTORS, people we look up to, trust and revere... running the show. It's just one more form of control the 'nati has.

They control food, medicine, entertainment.... the list goes on...




Sent from my MexiPhone5000

 

Next time I need emergency medical care I'm just going to bypass the ER and go straight to the nearest morgue; it's cheaper.

 

I had to take a trip to the emergency room about 3 yrs ago. I spent only 2 hours there. Only had 1 x-ray taken. My bill came out to $1650. I had to pay it off $50 a month. Then I found out about UCLA Olive View Medical Center. They will only charge a small fee for emergency visit ($50-$150). They will even perform surgeries for a small fee...well a small fee compared to a regular hospital.
 
By the way OP, look into Hospital Charity Program in your state/city. You might qualify and they will pay off your bill.

 

 
The people that pay taxes are supporting your ass too.  When you don't pay those hospital bills guess, who picks up the tab? The US gov and it's taxpayers.  I don't wanna hear you gripe about people living off the system if you don't have a job.