Paying Post Petition Medical Debt?

[Leahnc25]

Hi, I am 43 months into a 60 month Chapter 13. Hoping for discharge in March 2023!

We just had a recent trip to the ER & we just got the bill for $1600.00. The only way the hospital will take monthly payments is if I finance my debt through Commerce Bank Health Financing? They call it Patient Financing & flexible patient lending program...

They ask for my SSN but say there is no credit check. Its 0.00% interest with 24 monthly payments. I guess its like a loan payment & don't know how the trustee will handle it?

This is my only option for keeping it out of collections. I could wait until my discharge in 16 months to pay it, but that concerns me too.

I'm waiting to hear back from the Attorney but wanted to ask if anyone had this come up in Ch13?

Thank you!

[Carmella]

My gut feeling (and not legal advice by any means) is that it will be ok since it's this type of "loan". I know our silly cellphone plan (pay for the phone monthly for 2 yrs) is not considered "credit" or debt we shouldn't have. The reasoning our attorney told us was something like it's a payment plan not really a loan, if I remember correctly. And obviously the medical bill is for a darn good reason, not like you were out there living it up.