[HALLIEBETH87]

I don't understand how I will fix my life. Even when I feel good I have collection companies calling me from all my medical bills when I was in the hospital so many times. I called one back today to set up a paareyment arrangement, explained Im on disability and can pay only $15 a month. The total balance is over $1,000. She said $15 isn't near enough not even on a hardship account. I said I totally got where she was coming from but I cant pay it. She then started asking if I have parents who can help me and I just said "Well, my mom is disable and my Dads dead so no." Then she started asking do I have friends....family..etc. I said no. No one can help me with this.

I understand its her job and maybe she doesn't even like it and Im not mad at this "Rachelle" I spoke to. But I hate myself for being crazy and not working and not able to pay this stuff off. Its affecting my credit now. That's about all I had going for me.

Its not enough that Im stuck with this stupid illness but its destroys everything. We have to deal with everything else and then when wee do get help it causes more distress. Why even bother???????

I don't even see the point of trying anymore.

[SillyKitty]

Idk if it's true for every state, but in LA, if you mail a check they can't return it. That creates an unspoken pay agreement, so as long as you don't miss a $15 payment, there's nothing they can do. I'm on three $5 a month ones right now.

[Victoria'smom]

I've told people do not call and it will have to go on my credit report until something has changed. If any of these are in the past 3 months you may be able to submit them to medicaid for payment.

[Curious651]

I have heard the same thing about payment. If send something they have to accept. If not. Would check Local support from legal and see what options there are. I can assure you that you are not the only ONE to be facing this. Take some time and ask for help with local legal advice. Please don't give up. Once we give up it seems like we get buried fast with all the other crap. I am positive that the federal government has funds that cover certain bills with the hospital as well. Hang in there, thinking of ya.

[wildflowerchild25]

I'm in the same boat. I've got thousands of dollars from partial hospital and hospitalizations. A lot are in collections right now. I'm trying to work out how to pay them all the minimum amount and still be able to live. Besides that fact I find it impossible to keep track of the bills from month to month anyway. I can't manage it. Especially when I'm depressed. My husband and I just had a huge argument about it.

But as for medical bills I feel like they can't tell you how little you can pay. You should be allowed to pay whatever you can pay no matter what. The collections agency people are just pushy bc they want their money. I agree with the above posters, look into the legalities of the situation. I think you should be able to pay fifteen dollars if you that's all you can afford.

I feel like giving up too. But we can't. Not over medical bills. Someday we will get them paid off. Don't worry.

[tigersassy]

Hand raise. I'm on the same boat

[HALLIEBETH87]

I sent them a check for $10 and they will just have to be glad for it! You know why? Because I had to send four other checks for the same amount! I cant afford this and its SO HARD for me to keep up with payments anyway. Im always cycling and losing track of responsibility and then I get very irritable..

I feel like I cant do it.

[~Christina]

Can you set an appointment on your phone a few days in advance to remind you to mail out the checks?

I literally would not be able to navigate appts, bills and things without my cellphone and reminders.

[lilypup]

I'm sorry this is happening...I don't know how these people do their jobs. It's weird they want you to ask your friends for help. None of my friends are any better off than I am and they certainly wouldn't pay my medical bills.!

[~Christina]

Originally Posted by lilypup

I'm sorry this is happening...I don't know how these people do their jobs. It's weird they want you to ask your friends for help. None of my friends are any better off than I am and they certainly wouldn't pay my medical bills.!

Asking about family and friends its normal. I have also been asked to sell my car to pay off the bill or sell anything of value to pay it off ... They legally can do this..

These bill collectors are also paid a bonus if they bring in X amount of old bills..

This is why many Doctors are going to a cash pay only office.. You pay to see them and then file your own insurance.

No fair ,but life isnt fair

[Crazy Hitch]

Agree with all of the above. Feel like I'm pooping medical bills where the sun don't shine. Bought a house with my husband when I was "stable" in April. now I'm not working ..... I just don't know. The letters are arriving in the mail and I'm a bit like an ostrich with my head stuck in the sand.

[BipolaRNurse]

I hear ya! Between my husband's cancer and my bipolar and other medical issues, we're in debt to the tune of over $100K. That will never be paid off in this lifetime and I think they know it, but they keep treating us. It's weird though, I haven't gotten a bill from my pdoc's office since last fall and it's not even listed under any of my accounts. I'd HATE to see how much I owe him!! Then one of DH's cancer meds is over $6,000 a month, and the other is $8,000 but we get that one free.

In a way, it's just as well that we've become low-income, because they can't take money we don't have. Every now and again we get a bill collector who wants us to borrow money from family, sell stuff, go out and get a second job etc. but I just laugh at them---I don't even have ONE job, and our family members are little better off than we are. I'm paying $5 a month on my student loans, and they're accepting it as long as I keep up the payments. Again, something I'll never pay off, but at least I'm out of default status.

What's a little stickier is the fact that I haven't filed income tax returns in awhile. They come due at a time when I'm least able to keep my head together (early spring) and I've blown it off four years running. I don't think I owe them much, if anything, but I'm sure the IRS will catch up with me at some point. I say screw 'em, they can't take more than 15% of what little income we have, and they may not even be able to do that if I get disability payments which are less than $750/month. They can strip you, but they can't starve you. To hell with 'em all!