Can I still go to the same doctor?

[curve31]

If I include the bill I have with my doctor will I be able to continue going there? Even if I pay it before I file, will they know that I have filed? Thanks.

[IamOld]

Well, ethically the dr should not stop seeing you...but that doesn't mean they won't. I believe that IF you pay the doc BEFORE you file, then they are not a creditor, and they won't know...won't get included as a creditor.

[keepmine]

If you include a medical bill in a Chapter 7, it's up to the individual doctor if they'll continue to see you. Nothing in the bk code prevents you from repaying anyone you like post discharge.
If, you pay it prior to filing be sure it's not over than $600 within 90 days of filing. That way, you don't create a preference issue.

[curve31]

It's only $155 and its to a hospital really. It would be easier not to pay it but I can. I'm just not sure, ethically, what I should do.

[IamOld]

You can pay that if you want - hospital will not!! care in the future if it's discharged in BK. Ethically? Hospital billing and ethics should not be used in the same breath. I would sleep soundly.

Example - I'm fighting (on principle) a $300 deductible erroneously billed by my community hospital - letter from CEO from TWO years ago, says I'm right they're wrong - now, some as*hat collection agency is billing for $413. They can go (as Catleg I think would say) pound sand.

Spouse had several surgeries several years ago at "major university hosp" - we had excellent insurance - PPO paid $2,700 to hospital paid in full. If we had no insurance their full price would have been $14,000.

So I would sleep very soundly at night.

Sorry - if I sound bitter on this topic against hospitals etc., I am...
:-)

[curve31]

My lawyer had no qualms with listing it so I guess I shouldn't either. I just really like my doctor and I don't want to ruin that over $155. BUT I don't want to pay money I don't have to either. And please don't apologize for being bitter, I'm sure it's not without reason.

[AngelinaCat]

If you need to set up a plan with your primary care physician, then I would do that, but with a hospital? I wouldn't worry about it.

One of the debts we discharged was a medical charge left over from 'Hub's prostate cancer surgery back in 2004. We had been making regular payments toward this particular provider (anesthesiologist, I think) and gotten the bill down to around $1,000. Suddenly we got a 'nastygram' from them saying we had violated our agreement, and they were sending the bill to a CA. We sent our own 'nastygram' back informing them that we had been paying as agreed, and that THEY had violated the agreement by sending us this letter, and so they could just go and jump off a cliff, that we were filing BK.

And that was that!

[tobee43]

angelinacat is suggesting exactly what we did. we were going to through a long illiness at the time, actually had included and proved over 2k in medical and meds in our sch i and j's. of course we had a "doctors' note to back it up.

as far as the hospitals and "other" doctors we hit over 200k in bills, but kept the main doctor that still had to do 3 more surgeries, the rest we let go, and as angelina did, we continued payments to her since we knew we still needed her for the next year or more.

[disconapper]

I included medical bills in my bankruptcy because I do not have health insurance at this time. All my bills were for ER visits, my only option really for medical treatment and they were emergencies, not common colds or anything like that. I had a couple of kidney infections last year and the beginning of this year. I know the emergency room can not refuse treatment to anyone, they did not even know I did not have insurance until after I was treated and they did not care in the slightest bit. So if it's a hospital bill, I bet it's not a big deal at all, ...but you can pay if you wish, that's your choice.

[IamOld]

My lawyer had no qualms with listing it so I guess I shouldn't either. I just really like my doctor and I don't want to ruin that over $155. BUT I don't want to pay money I don't have to either. And please don't apologize for being bitter, I'm sure it's not without reason.

Thanks! As the other wiser heads than me stated, if you want to keep this dr and/or will be seeing him/her in the future, pay it...BUT if it's to a HOSPITAL...well, that's another story...