ANSWERS: 1
  • Mounting medical bills are difficult to manage and satisfy. If you are in such a situation you may need information on what health care providers or their collection agents can do to you if you do not or cannot pay your bills.

    Considerations

    In determining what type of action a medical creditor takes against you the provider focuses on how much you owe, how long you have owed the debt and whether you made any payments on the account.

    Collection Agency

    A common course of action a medical provider takes is submitting your account to a professional debt collector.

    Lawsuit

    Medical providers initiate legal action against patients who do not satisfy past due accounts. The baseline used by many medical professionals when it comes to filing a lawsuit is as low as $200.

    Write Off

    Some medical providers elect to write off some accounts is the balance due and owing is not significant in their eyes. The cutoff margin for a write off of medical debt is approximately $500 or less.

    Misconceptions

    There remains a common misconception that health care providers are content with being paid what is tendered by an insurance company (if the patient actually is insured). In fact, medical providers routinely attempt to collect full payment from their patients, including amounts above and beyond that covered by insurance.

    Source:

    "Ultimate Credit and Collections Handbook"; Michelle A. Dunn; 2006

    "Debt Collection Secrets: Everything The Debt Collector Doesn't Want You To Know"; Terry Black; 2005

    More Information:

    Information on Coping with Medical Bills and Debt

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