Collection

[Mrs. X]

I'm pretty much in charge of all the bills in the X household. Sometimes, the ones I think I shouldn't pay, I throw away. Probably after Mr. X reads this, I might not be in charge of the bills anymore. I'll explain further.

We pay for health insurance. I think around $400 a month. I had to get a MRI for my knee after a derby injury a few months ago. My regular doctor prescribed it. The cost was about a grand. I got a letter from the insurance company saying they wouldn't cover it because I wasn't admitted to a hospital 48 hours prior or after the MRI. Really, Blue Cross?

I got a call from a collections guy today. He said that I owe $800. Apparently, the insurance company did pay $400. There's the remaining $600 + interest and fees.

I told the guy awesome, the MRI place got some money, probably enough to cover the "real" cost of the MRI and the insurance company gets money from me. I don't really give a crap about our credit rating and the only one that doesn't get anything is you, Mr. bill collector.

He said no, the "real" cost of the MRI is what it is and tried to pull several types of guilt trips on me. I countered with sure, Like the "real" cost of four stitches that my husband got in his mouth was $1800. Then I was like, "why am I talking to you?" and hung up.

Maybe I should pay? Maybe it's the right thing to do? I just don't care. I'm so irritated with the whole thing that I feel like I'm just throwing money into a huge sucking, suck and it just makes me mad.

So, Mr. X, if you want to pay this thing, it's on you. I don't mind screwing over the man.

But, I'll

if I have to.

 

[Polaroid]

So the collections guy is on behalf of the hospital that did the MRI, I presume. On the basis that your insurance paid some money towards the MRI, shouldn't they be going after them for the remainder?

 

[senco78]

no, the insurance only pays so much Polo.
the consumer is responsible for the rest...

I am currently paying huge hospital bills due to a bad yr I had where I was in the ER a few times and had surgery.
these bastids only get about $10 a month from me. As long as I send something they stay off my back.

 

[tullamore]

If you need to go to a hospital and you dont have insurance make your you go to a non profit hospital.

 

[roguejuror]

fuk em

Last year I went to a doc (here in the States) and he said I should get an MRI, paying cash no insurance obviously. They gave me a referral, I went to the place and they said $2000. I was like . Called the doc office they said Yap that's what it should be and couldn't help me. When I finished talking on the cell I turned around to the office lady and told her, I'll pay yall $500 cash right now (what I had on me) and took out a roll of $20s. The lady goes to the back and less than a minute she gave me an OK.

Those $400 way more than payed for it, fuk the guilt trip, and fuk em.

Oh and don't pay for insurance unless you're planning a surgery or on some costly prescription. You're better off paying cash when you visit the doc and and get preferential treatment when visiting.

 

[senco78]

no non profit hospitals here.
only have 2 hospitals and they are all about some profit

 

[tullamore]

Juror, I haven't had insurance since I was on my parents plan 6 years ago. My local doctor charges me $25 for an appointment. If I need meds he gives me free samples, if he doesn't have the med I need, he will call a drug rep and I will have the free sample the next day.

 

[tullamore]

no non profit hospitals here.
only have 2 hospitals and they are all about some profit

I had a friend who tore his acl and mcl skiing. I cant remember what the bill was, but it was $30,000 +. He paid them $500 and they waived the rest.

 

[kato]

fucked up healthcare situation, pay the $600 IMO, no need to have the collections company make coin

 

[reno cool]

You can never satisfy these bastards. Tell them to stop calling that # or you'll sue their ass.
Welcome to the American medical system. Shari posted an interesting story on sbr regarding health ins. Maybe she can post it here.

I don't really know what a good option is. Get the procedure done (if they'll see you), throw bill in garbage.

 

[FairWarning]

Better question is "why wouldn't you care about your credit rating?"

 

[Oksana]

You can never satisfy these bastards. Tell them to stop calling that # or you'll sue their ass.
Welcome to the American medical system. Shari posted an interesting story on sbr regarding health ins. Maybe she can post it here.

I don't really know what a good option is. Get the procedure done (if they'll see you), throw bill in garbage.

Yeah, my experience was definitely an eye-opener personally about the state of the health insurance industry in the States. Or at least as far as that one company is concerned. I'll go to my grave thankful that I happened to get that Janelle woman on the phone that day. If not, I'd be in a serious world of hurt right now with not much of a chance to recover from it any time soon.

Mrs X - my first instinct is to support your decision not to pay them because I think the whole thing is a complete scam as yet again proven by the bill you received for Mr X's stitches. However unless things have changed since I left the US, I seem to remember having my credit checked constantly and it may not be worth damaging it for what in the end will be a small amount of money in the whole scheme of things.

 

[AMBy]

ummmmm I don't think just ignoring this is a good idea.

Eventually they can actually file a judgement against you for not paying the bill. It will not only cost you more money in the long run but it will be embarrassing as all of that information is public knowledge.

 

[reno cool]

That wouldn't be embarrassing that would be noble. People shouldn't be at the mercy of whatever ridiculous prices and policies these guys make up.

 

[Mrs. X]

Better question is "why wouldn't you care about your credit rating?"

We don't need credit. No one needs credit. I like it, it makes things easier, but it makes you a slave.

They're not going to come after us for $600.

 

[MrMonkey]

Thata girl MrsX! If you ever have to move to another house and credit is bad, MrX easily could put together some kind of tree house in the woods for you! Love you!

 

[Mrs. X]

Thata girl MrsX! If you ever have to move to another house and credit is bad, MrX easily could put together some kind of tree house in the woods for you! Love you!

If we ever *had* to move to another house then things probably would be pretty dire financially. So yeah, tree house, cheap ass apartment, move in with friends, whatever. I understand why people want to keep a good credit rating, but for us right now, we don't have to.

I think the only reason to want to keep a good credit rating is to buy a home. Most people can't swing that kind of cash. I get that. All the other junk, you don't need or can buy used or cheap until you can save up.

I'm pretty old school about that stuff.

 

[Mrs. X]

Mrs X - my first instinct is to support your decision not to pay them because I think the whole thing is a complete scam as yet again proven by the bill you received for Mr X's stitches. However unless things have changed since I left the US, I seem to remember having my credit checked constantly and it may not be worth damaging it for what in the end will be a small amount of money in the whole scheme of things.

Where are you now, and how did you get there? You should really just come over here full time. We're so much funner.