Can this hospital ER bill be included in Chpt. 7?

[Susan]

I had to go to the ER because I had a weird "sensation"
in my ears and in the back of the head for like 5 days and it was freaking me out.

The Dr. looked in my ears and said they are ok. The Dr. must have spent
a total of 2 minutes with me. He gave me a list of 3 specialist to see

I received 2 bills :
$1000.00 from the Hospital
$300.00 from the Dr. ?

Funny thing too, as I was driving home from the ER, it cleared-up.
Later I realized it was from playing the headphones too loud.
I can't believe it's $1,300.00 ! They didn't do anything.
Can this included in Chapter 7?

[wnguyen]

I guess it could but I'm not a lawyer so don't take my words for it. It should be best to check with legal experts.

[frogger]

I don't know of any reason that it could not be included provided you had not filed before you went to the doctors.

[tcreegan]

Medical bills no different

Medical bills are no different than any other debt. Any and all medical bills unpaid before you file need to be listed on the creditors matrix and will be discharged.

The trick with medical bills is that they are usually not on your credit report and people forget to include them. But even if you forget one, they are still discharged, you just show the billing clerk the BK notice and file date.

Many, many people are here b/c of medical bills. I filed with close to 40K in medical bills, including a couple of those OUTRAGEOUS ER bills. Now I go to a witch doctor instead of the ER, costs me a couple chickens...

Tom in Colo

[Susan]

Now I go to a witch doctor instead of the ER, costs me a couple chickens...

lol, . . the last time I was at the ER was around 1987. My last checkup was
10 years ago, and I was rushed in and out there so fast. They even
forgot to take my blood pressure.
I avoid Dr.'s at all cost. The body will heal itself if you take care of it.
Of course they do a great job in the ER, but medicine in America today is just insane.
Too many drugs, too many tests, too much fraud, too much paper work, etc,..
and most importantly, no emphasis on prevention.
If people just stopped eating all the garbage and started exercising,
there wouldn't be this problem in the first place.

[SMinGA]

If the bill is for services/visits from before you file: yes, include them. If you go to the hospital on 8/1, file on 8/5, then all bills from that visit can be included. Even though you won't have them all til after you file. If you go again on 8/6, you cannot include those bills.

My last ER visit was in 9/09. Turned out to be a kidney infection & $2,000 in bills between the hospital & doctor.

[tobee43]

ditto tom.....it can be included provided you didn't file yet.

[wonderingrov]

I had about $50k in medical bills I included in my bankruptcy from a stroke I had last year that wasn't covered by insurance. ER, regular hospital bill, radiology bills, this doctor....that doctor....and of course the other doctor....they just kept rolling in. I had one doctor come in, ask me 2 questions (one of which was "did you have a stroke") - and left. His bill was $500.

Anyway, the lawyer said to definitely list them all. I've still got a bit to go before (hopefully) being discharged - so far, no problems.