Medical Bills

[AnotherBK]

This may be a no brainer but we got our discharge on Dec. 22 and that same week my husband got sick and had to go to the ER (turns out he is diabetic). We dont have insurance.
So now the bills are coming in and it turns out the ER visit so far will cost us $5,146.
We dont have that kind of money and dont know what to do. I guess it would be to late to amend the bankruptcy right? I finally get my "fresh start" and it STARTS with a $5000 bill, just my luck.
BUT needless to say we have since applied for insurance and are waiting to be approved........no chance i could just send the bills ( slip them under the raydar) to my insurance after we're approved could i and hope they dont notice the date? You have to excuse me im grasping at straws.

[forgotten]

I'm sorry to hear that. Having something like that happen anytime is horrible.

Now the bad news... No, you can not ammend the bankruptcy to include debt that was incured after you filed.

You would probably be best off setting up a payment arrangement with the hospital. They are use to not getting paid so most are good about setting up reasonable payments.

I guarentee there is no chance they are going to pay any bills with a service date of before you were insured. I also hate to say it but chances are they are not going to approve you for insurance because your husband now has a pre-existing condition. Unfortionatly private health insurance policies in this country are for people who are healthy, people who have existing conditions need group coverage via an employer.

The only bankruptcy option would be to file a Chapter 13, however, you would not be able to obtain a discharge and would need to repay all the debt through the plan.

[keepmine]

You're pretty well screwed.
This is post petition debt and can't be added to your discharge. Noway I'd be a new policy holder and try and slip in a bogus claim.
This is why many of us tell people to delay filing until you do have a job with healthcare benefits or have your own insurance.

Try and negotiate something with the hospital.

[ToughTimes]

I echo keepmine: try to negotiate with the hospital.

I echo forgotten: hospitals are used to not getting paid.

My son successfully settled one of his (terminally ill) dad's hospital bills for 10% of the balance.

I'd be blunt with the hospital: "I can afford to give you <insert amount here> each month. I could lie and promise you more, but that is what I can afford, and that is what I will send."

[forgotten]

Awhile back I bad a hospital bill, I don't recall the exact amount but it was a few thousand.
As soon as I called and said I needed some type of payment arrangement they were nice as pie (and surprised sounding), I don't think they get many calls of people wanting to pay even if they can't pay it all right now.

I offered $100/mo thinking that was too low and they wouldn't go for it, instead they asked me, "are you sure? we can go lower if you want, make sure you can afford it because if you miss a payment we can't enter in to another arrangement.". Instead we decided on $50/mo and I could send $100 if I wanted, but wouldn't have to.

Edit: The key is to contact the hospital and not let it get to collections. Once you have went to collections its not going to be as nice.

[forgotten]

That same hospital is currently in discussions trying to see if they can get me a $80,000 procedure that is not covered by insurance done for $5k out of pocket for me. So, they may be extra nice... I don't know.