question about medical bills

[kathy4530050]

Someone posted a question about dental bills that has caused me to be concerned about my medical bills. I am currently seeing a medical specialist and physical therapist (same clinic) and have no health insurance. My monthly payments to this clinic are about $250 and I have to pay the bill in full each time I go. I will definitely have paid this clinic more than $600 by the time I file. Will this be a problem? Is this a preferential payment?

[lrprn]

I will definitely have paid this clinic more than $600 by the time I file. Will this be a problem? Is this a preferential payment?

If you are paying as you go, it sounds like your accounts could be at zero owed on filing day...true? If that's possible, then you can plan your filing so that on filing day you won't owe your medical specialist and PT anything and won't have to list them as creditors.

[kathy4530050]

Great--that's good news. My balance will definitely be $0 on the day I file.

[StartingOver08]

And Kathy, if the Trustee brings up the $250 expense per month, this is a health issue. You have NOT been irresponsible - you are doing the right thing. Keep medical receipts just in case the Trustee asks, but they should not ask if they are zero balance and not on your petition.

[kathy4530050]

And Kathy, if the Trustee brings up the $250 expense per month, this is a health issue. You have NOT been irresponsible - you are doing the right thing. Keep medical receipts just in case the Trustee asks, but they should not ask if they are zero balance and not on your petition.

Good, good, good. Have the receipts. Big relief. Thank you.

[LuciluS]

Kathy:

Also, if you have prescriptions from the Medical Specialist or any Doctor and get them at the same pharmacy, or for that fact different pharmacies, you should be able to get the 'year's worth' to add to your budget. You just have to show your driver's license and fill out a form at the pharmacy or if you use a Major one like Wal-Mart you can download it right off their webpage.

My husband and I both have insurance. Well he has Medical Insurance from his employer and I have Medicare and a Supplemental Policy. With insurance, our prescriptions are over $500 a month. I gave up trying to keep all those receipts as our little local pharmacy will print out whatever dates we need.

Hubby has been in the hospital since last Wed. and his insurance has a $500 deductible and $2,500 out of pocket expense. In Feb. of this year, I spent $4,464 in dental work and see a Pain Management Doctor each month.

I know the Trustee will question our astronomical health bills. I keep the medical bill, attached to the insurance statement & either make a copy of the cancelled check or a copy of the debit card page from my bank statement and tape it to the bill. Gee, I've already got 2 thick folders and it's just April.

[kathy4530050]

Wow Luci,

You make my medical bills look like peanuts. I have all of my receipts for prescriptions and my doctor visits, so hopefully I'll be ok. I wasn't as concerned about exceeding the monthly limit for medical expenses (have to!) as I was about paying this bill and dealing with that 'preferential payment' thing. Hope your husband is ok now. . . sounds like you all are dealing with plenty. Like you, I'm going to a pain management clinic. The stress of this financial mess certainly doesn't help with pain, does it?