Payment Offered; refused.

[JETX]

Okay, Ladynred, you have dropped the glove on this one and I am pissed at your crap!!!

"A 'non-profit' hospital ?? You've GOT to be kidding - I don't think there's a single truly 'non-profit' hospital in this country any more."
*** And what do you base that crap on?? Do you not realize that there are LOTS of non-profit hospitals in the U.S. Have you never heard of the Shriners or St. Jude's?? I just did a search on Google using 'non-profit hospital' and got over ONE MILLION hits!! Now, granted a LOT of those are not really non-profit, but lets say that just only ONE percent are truly NON-Profit and not duplicated. That would be about ONE THOUSAND of them!!!
And even in your backwards state, have you never heard of "Erlanger Medical Center", or I guess you have never heard of "St. Jude Children's Research Hospital". Both of these are NON-PROFIT hospitals. And if I wanted, I could probably find about 25 more true NON-profit hospitals in Tennessee. So, you clearly have NO knowledge about your claim.

Also, most counties have hospitals or provide hospital services for those who truly cannot pay for the services.
So, get off you flipping high-horse where you think that the entire world is trying to screw the 'poor, little guy' and quit the crap!!

'Besides, the poster may not have had much of a choice - if you end up in an ambulance they take you to the nearest hospital !!"
*** Please advise me... where does it say ANYWHERE in this idiots posts that he was transported by ambulance for his diabetes treatment.... to the tune of $23,000?? Simply, you are again making assumptions and talking about crap you have NO knowledge of.

The writer has NEVER said anything about an ambulance, or that this bill came about from a single hospital incident or even that whether he is one of your favorite 'poor, miserably soles mistreated by big, bad society'. In fact, his own post says, 'As a diabetic unable to afford medical insurance, and the present salary i earn". I read that as.... a person who knows that he needs periodic medical treatment, has an income and it is simply 'inconvenient' to actually have to pay his way. So, what do you know that we don't???

 

[hexeliebe]

Vanderbilt University Medical Center is the premiere medical facility in Nashville and after calling my nieghbor who runs the place (I love this road) I discovered that 35% of admissions are unfunded.

Next time you watch the news here in Nashville and hear about a gunshot victim in East Nashville, pay attention to where they are taken. I'll give you 10 to 1 odds it's Vanderbilt and that the bill is never paid.

But I won't be so harsh. I'll simply restate my case. This poster had the opportunity at the time of discharge when he signed that sneaky little piece of paper acknowledging his debt, to tell the hospital he could not afford to pay.

He did not.

He had knowledge of the fact that he did not have the resources to pay, and yet promised to pay.

Ergo, FRAUD!

And that's why I told him he's damn lucky he's not in jail.

I am not lining up on the side of the conservatives here. Far from it. It's idiots like this that have caused 238 county hospitals to close or operate on a very limited basis throughout the country because they simply can't afford to foot the bill for those who would take advantage of them.

 

[CookiesBell]

Hey muscles....

You don't have to answer the phone calls from the collection agency to get a good dose of harrassment......just post an honest request for legal advice and some members may actually give you a full infusion of harrassment....and all for free.

 

[Ladynred]

Go ahead and be pissed JetX, old boy -- it matters not a whit to me - your perogative.

My 'ambulance' comment was NOT intended to read the OP's mind .. HOWEVER

he writer has NEVER said anything about an ambulance,

** Not true JetX, not true.. read again ....

ya while barely conscious I'm supposed to tell the ambulance driver, ER doc, intensive care ward, hospital administrator

OP may not have said that in his ORIGINAL post or 2, but it WAS stated !


So... stick that in your pissed out pipe and smoke it. Mine was a general statment, OK ?? Or don't you EVER make a general statment of any kind.. do you always do hours of research before you open your mouth ?? Geez.. lighten up -- go have some of that scotch of yours....

Have I ever heard of Shriners or St. Judes ? Of course I have, I'm not a moron - or a blonde.

Have I ever heard of Elanger ?? Quite frankly NO, I have not, but them I've only lived in TN for 2-1/2 years !! I must remind you, I'm not FROM TN !!!

And even in your backwards state,

Now who's spouting crap ?? Your ASSUMPTION and STEREOTYPING is beneath you. TN is no more backward than that racist-bigotted state YOU live in - but you obviously think that TN is still in the hillbilly timezone.

You seem to go on the opposite assumption - that the OP had a choice - turns out, he/she didn't. I'd like to see you after a car crash with your head split open and your insides torn up disagree with the EMT's that you want to go to some specific hosiptal because you can't pay the price at one vs. the other. It won't matter, your dear Georgie-boy has made sure that people with little money or insurance WILL be turned away and shunted to other hospitals - you'll love it when the "deadbeats' have to stay out of your primo hospitals.

Non-profit hospitals - well.. fine.. tie me up and beat me for my outrageous opinons. The attitude in the posts was that deadbeats and low income folks should wear a banner on their backs that says "I can't pay outrageous, over-blown medical fees", and if you say that medical care in this country is NOT horribly expensive, then YOU would be spouting crap. Everyone knows the system sucks, we ALL end up paying for people who can't and the frauds and criminals who play the medicare/medicaid systems - and that's not even touching the damned insurance companies who would rather see a patient die than pay for some needed procdure. Get treatment, sure - but go bankrupt to live later.

Its not pretty and no one, not even the righteous, always right JetX can, put make-up on this pig and call it pretty !!

I'm not going to fight with you, we don't agree, you don' t like my opinions - and I don't always like yours -- that's what makes the world go 'round.

Good night.

 

[bigun]

This is one where I can see eveyone's point.
The OP really ought to have been upfront with the hospital. I know 2 people who've had hospital bills and either no insurance or, high dectuctible's and upon discharge, went right to the business office and explained the situation and, they were able to arrange a payment plan. One person had an $18K bill that the hopital discounted to around $10K and he's paying $200/month. There is also a thread on another site I'll try and find where people have posted tips about dealing with large medical bils and getting discounts. The point is, communicate early and often and there'a chance it won't even go to collections. Of course, YMMV.
My personal opinion is the affordability of insurance and healthcare is an issue that has to be addressed. I'm not sure what the answer is but, we just can't afford to have 40 plus million people without health insurance. I've some real problems with spending $87 billion on Iraq and allowing so many of our own citizens to not have access to affordable insurance. With a 6% plus unemploym,ent rate and thus far, a rather anemic ,jobless recovery, there are an awful lot of people at risk of a personal healthcare crisis.

 

[JETX]

Ladynred:
Try to spin this anyway you want... but the evidence shows you wrong!!

Do a search of this thread. The FIRST use of the word amulance was in YOUR thread: "Besides, the poster may not have had much of a choice - if you end up in an ambulance they take you to the nearest hospital !!"
The writer made the statement after YOUR post and simply followed your opening for him.

You then try to justify your mis-statements with:
"I'd like to see you after a car crash with your head split open and your insides torn up disagree with the EMT's that you want to go to some specific hosiptal because you can't pay the price at one vs. the other."
Where did you get that!!! This is a relatively simple issue of a diabetics medical bill. There is nothing in this thread that would even suggest a 'head split open', 'insides torn up' or even that an EMT was involved in anyway. If you are going to respond, at least try to apply the version that is presented and not some 'Stephen King' version of convoluted facts.

"It won't matter, your dear Georgie-boy"
*** Wow, so my little slam on Tennessee that you took such great exception to.... then you turn around and do the same thing. Incredible logic on your part.

"has made sure that people with little money or insurance WILL be turned away and shunted to other hospitals -"
*** Okay, I will call your bluff!! Please provide ANYTHING to support your (apparent) claim that President Bush has done ANYTHING to create laws that would affect hospital admissions of indigents. I guess you must have missed the Civics class where they taught that laws are passed by the legislative branch of the government and not the executive.

"you'll love it when the "deadbeats' have to stay out of your primo hospitals."
*** What are you on???

"Non-profit hospitals - well.. fine.. tie me up and beat me for my outrageous opinons."
*** There is nothing wrong with OPINIONS..... when stated as such. When your opinions are stated as FACTS, that is the problem.

"The attitude in the posts was that deadbeats and low income folks should wear a banner on their backs that says "I can't pay outrageous, over-blown medical fees", and if you say that medical care in this country is NOT horribly expensive, then YOU would be spouting crap."
*** And here you go again!!
Where did the writer say that he was "low income folks". Where did anyone say that this bill was "outrageous, over-blown"?? And yes, I agree that medical care is TOO expensive.... and part of that fault lies on the outrageous jury awards against the doctors. And part of it lies on the money-hungry, out-of-control HMO's. And who do you think covers the bills for those (like this writer) who DON'T PAY THEIR MEDICAL BILLS??? Yep, you and I.

"Its not pretty and no one, not even the righteous, always right JetX can, put make-up on this pig and call it pretty !!"
*** Okay, you don't like hospitals, or doctors, or medical bills. No problem, none of us do. However, you have transferred your hatred of them to blindly support this writer... when there is nothing to even indicate that he is affected by your issues. As you and I have communicated off-forum, sometimes you get angry at a particular industry or post, it blinds you to not seeing the other issues therein.

"I'm not going to fight with you, we don't agree, you don' t like my opinions - and I don't always like yours -- that's what makes the world go 'round."
*** Wrong. I do 'like' and agree with the majority of your posts. Most of them are well-thought out and correct (and have even corrected MY errors). However, when you make posts that are NOT based on facts as presented, or are flat out incorrect, I will continue to respond with my OPINION. And don't misunderstand, I respect the knowledge that you have gained and offer to this forum (and have told you that off-forum). However, where a response is inaccurate, or clearly not based on the facts offered, I will continue to post my opinions as such.

 

[muscle609]

Yes, for information to all inquiring a$$holes, it was a 10 day visit with 6 of them in ICU.

 

[JETX]

"Yes, for information to all inquiring a$$holes, it was a 10 day visit with 6 of them in ICU."
*** Okay, lets play your little game:
1) Were you admitted through emergency?
2) Were you previously diagnosed as diabetic (before this hospital visit)?
3) What did you think you were signing when you signed that little form saying "Promise to Pay" or "Party responsible for payment"??

 

[hexeliebe]

A get out of "hospital" free card.

 

[Ladynred]

Ok, one LAST time - I have a migraine...

Where did you get that!!! This is a relatively simple issue of a diabetics medical bill. There is nothing in this thread that would even suggest a 'head split open', 'insides torn up' or even that an EMT was involved in anyway. If you are going to respond, at least try to apply the version that is presented and not some 'Stephen King' version of convoluted facts.

FYI, I wasn't even REFERRING to the OP ... it was a comment on the apparent ATTITUDE that a person should make sure they're routed to a NONPROFIT hospital, not one of the private and expensive hospitals, because they know they can't pay the bill. Or maybe they should jus say 'leave me to die, I can't afford the care' ?? It was not directed at the OP's post, it was an ANALOGY !! Not everyone taken to the hospital HAS a choice !

*** Wow, so my little slam on Tennessee that you took such great exception to.... then you turn around and do the same thing. Incredible logic on your part.

Yeah.. well I was in a rotten mood and felt like a little tit-for-tat. You don't make disparaging remarks when IAAL makes horrid comments to people.. go figure.

Okay, I will call your bluff!! Please provide ANYTHING to support your (apparent) claim that President Bush has done ANYTHING to create laws that would affect hospital admissions of indigents. I guess you must have missed the Civics class where they taught that laws are passed by the legislative branch of the government and not the executive.

I never said GEORGE has created ANY laws !! Where did YOU get THAT ?? What I said was George has recently succeeded in having a measure REPEALED that assured people would NOT be turned away at hospitals simply because they don't have money or enough of the 'right' kind of insurance ! I'll have to go look it up, I read it in a news item, somewhere, only recently, about 9/2. The BIG BUSINESS interests are George's primary concern. The business managers at hospitals WHINE that caring for people w/o fat bank accounts costs them too much money -- so Geroge makes sure THEY are appeased - screw sick people. When I find the reference, I'll send it to you.

*** What are you on???

Advil.. LOTS of Advil !!!!!

** There is nothing wrong with OPINIONS..... when stated as such. When your opinions are stated as FACTS, that is the problem.

Where did I EVER say that what I posted was FACT ???? Ok.. from now on I'll label my posts : 'WARNING My OPINION follows'.

Where did the writer say that he was "low income folks".

**He didn't - again - MY OPINION ... my analogy.

The OP did, however, state that he was unable to afford medical insurance -- doesn't sound like he's got a real high-paying job to me ! Even at MY salary, I could not afford private health insurance. I've worked for small companies with horrid insurance plans - basically it was WORTHLESS for anything except catastrophic care - and even at that the out-of-pocket expenses was ourageous.

And who do you think covers the bills for those (like this writer) who DON'T PAY THEIR MEDICAL BILLS??? Yep, you and I.

Did you not read my post or were you too angry to see straight ??
My post said:
**Everyone knows the system sucks, we ALL end up paying for people who can't and the frauds and criminals who play the medicare/medicaid systems -**

I KNOW who pays for those who can't.

I make no bones that I'm a cynic. The fact that we're the richest nation on earth but we have millions of people who can't afford or forgo healthcare until they're on death's door is a sad commentary on our nation. Doctor's can't make decisions on your care any more, some pencil-pushing tight-ass in an insurance company office is calling the shots - and the patient too often suffers.

These non-profit hospitals ?? Well.. in my life and personal experience they are not the places to get the best care. As Hex pointed out, they're going under all over, they can't afford the staffing or the equipment to provide the best treatment. In Newburgh, NY (across the river from my home town), St. Lukes is (or was) a non-proft hospital.. guess what.. even a brother from the 'hood' doesn't want to go there, the reputation is SO BAD. The same sort of story goes for a county hospital in Camden, NJ - you DON'T want to go there for treatment !!

As I said before.. the system is broken, it can't be easily fixed, socialized medicine isn't the answer (unless you WANT to die while on the waiting list for even something like an MRI), and the fraud and the insurance companies need to be brought to heel.

Ever see the movie "John Q" ?? If not, you should - its based on a true story. They gave "John Q" options to pay too.. and because what they 'offered' was impossible, the man took the hospital hostage to get treatment for his seriously ill son.

To quote another movie - "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it any more !!!"

I'm going to go lie down now, my head's about to explode....

 

[creditchaos]

Ladyinred I applaud your responses. To the other 2 cretins who responded...... you both need a good lesson in compassion. Neither of you know the whole story so stop being so quick to judge others. There are a few "experts" in this forum who need to learn to respond with any good sound advice (if they have any) and leave out the nasty remarks and judgemental attitudes.

 

[JETX]

And of course, you're welcome!

 

[hexeliebe]

Neither of you know the whole story so stop being so quick to judge others.

And you do? Then please enlighten us as to where, LEGALLY, this poster has any right except to pay his bills.

 

[muscle609]

And you do? Then please enlighten us as to where, LEGALLY, this poster has any right except to pay his bills.

Man wienies like you amaze me.

Where did I ever say I wasnt going to own up to my responsibilities? I simply stated that the creditor wants to garnish (due to the fact that it is such a high amount). I certainly want to avoid that. Thats why I posted here to find out what rights I have in avoiding a garnishment - not in my responsibilty to the bill I owe.

Get off your high horse, you dont impress nobody here.

 

[hexeliebe]

I simply stated that the creditor wants to garnish (due to the fact that it is such a high amount). I certainly want to avoid that.

BULL$HIT!!!

If that were the case you would have paid this bill already. Just like you've been told. Otherwise, why are you complaining so hard? IT's a debt you have refused to pay and garnishment is the legal right of the person (or company) owed the debt.