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How do you keep the medical bills from making you crazy and your colon worse??

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/3/2012 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
What a way to start of 2012. First phone call of the morning was from the hospital wanting to know where there $1,881 was! I try not to let it stress me out, but it does! I hate getting the mail for fear of what is in there!

How do you guys keep it from stressing you out?
Posted 1/3/2012 3:56 PM (GMT 0)

Hi, when I first got my bill It stressed me out. I totally understand how you feel.  I ended up calling the billing department and asking them do they have payment plans.  The lady ask me how much I wanted to pay each month.  The good thing about most hospitals you can set up some type of payment plan. I know that took the stress off of me especially when I knew I had more hospital bills to come.

Posted 1/3/2012 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
It can be pretty stressful when the medical bills start adding up. For last year's expenses, I've taken the approach that it is what it is. I was not able to plan for the large medical expenses of last year so I'm SOL.  However, for this year, I've set aside enough money in my pre-tax FSA to cover my out of pocket max which I know I'll hit with my remicade infusions. 

Also, You might want to check if the hospital will allow a payment plan.  I had some serious hospital bills from this summer that they allowed me to pay for over a year. Not sure if all hospitals do this but it's worth a try.     

Posted 1/3/2012 5:09 PM (GMT 0)
Call them and explain to them first that you cannot pay the entire bill and it will put an undue-hardship on you to pay any of it and the stress of it all makes your condition worse... see where that gets you, sometimes they can adjust or write off the bill if you cannot pay... otherwise, start sending them 5-10 bucks a month, that's what I have been doing for a year now. They will keep billing you but as long as your making some sort of effort they cannot report to your credit and it will just be another bill you pay every month... to my surprise, the hospital was very understanding and they adjusted my bill considerably and allowed me to make 5-10 dollar payments. Hope this helps!
Posted 1/3/2012 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
Debts are extremely stressful for me. You can only do so much. I agree with the others, use it as a write off, call and make payment arrangements, and try to get them to agree to a reduced cost. As for the future, try to always do things in a way where you know what kind of bill to expect. I know it's difficult and sometimes impossible but we have to try. Get into PAP programs to save on medication if you can.
Posted 1/3/2012 6:14 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the tips. On this bill I have applied for financial assistance but it is still under review. At this hospital you have to submit a financial application and past taxes ect to see if you qualify for a payment plan or reduction. I didn't realize it was so much work just to set up a payment plan! They keep saying it is under review mean while my account has already been forwarded to their delinquent department!

It is hard for me because before this disease and all these bills I was the kind of person who always paid a bill as soon as it was due and could always pay all my bills. So when someone calls and says where is my money, it makes me feel bad!

Plus I hate all the little bills that come from everywhere. I still have bills coming from a pathologist here, a lab there, a doctor from who knows where! I feel nickel and dimed to death!

Fingers crossed I hear back soon and it is a reasonable payment plan!
Posted 1/10/2012 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
Do you use the discount cards for your RXs? Those helped me a lot!

Are you currently able to work? If your current work doesn't offer health insurance, maybe you could try looking into another job.... I know that sounds horrible, sorry. I've looked into a couple places for myself that are part time and offer some insurance.
Posted 1/10/2012 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
I know, it blows. I'm still paying off my deductible from last year. Have about $260 to go. I set up a payment plan of $28 per month. In my experiences, all I had to do was call and speak to someone and they set up a payment plan right then and there. Sorry they're giving you a hard time.
Posted 1/10/2012 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
Dont let it stress you. Pay what you can and even if bills go to collections and go on your credit, as soon as they are paid it comes off your credit. Ive been thru it all :) if you dont need good credit then who cares heh.
Posted 1/10/2012 8:18 PM (GMT 0)
Ugh, yes! Bills + Medical Record release are the worst.

Found out I owe $800 from a scope this summer but I never received a bill. Found out about it only in the form of a letter from a DEBT COLLECTOR. This is not what my credit needs at 23. I still haven't received a hard copy of the bill and there's no place to pay on online. I can't find out what it's for exactly and I don't wanna pay over the phone without all the information. Fortunately they've been understanding and got the debt collector to stop harassing me, but I'm worried about my credit.

Then, I burst into tears this morning when the hospital wouldn't let me fax my own medical release form to them to get TEST RESULTS from my hospital stay last week. I need the results! Now! And they want me to mail them. My own GI isn't within the hospital system so he hasn't been able to see the results. Insane.

Anyway, sorry you're dealing with it too! Fingers crossed the payment plan works out.
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