OT: father is visiting and hospitalized by stroke

[Eugene]

[quote=svelte]Another point no one has mentioned:

If you or your father do end up on the hook for the bill, you don’t have to pay the bill as it is written, which will probably be with exhorbitant rates.

You are free to NEGOTIATE DOWN the bill – a common thing is to negotiate it down to rates that insurance companies pay.

Found that little gem out when a relative found themselves in a bind…[/quote]

My mom had a situation of her own a while back (a surgery without health insurance) and I recall her saying that medical collectors are fairly toothless. I don’t know many details apart from the fact that she’s still “paying back” her five-digit bill at the rate of $30/month: $10 to the hospital, $10 to the surgeon, and $10 to the anesthesiologist. She has a house, a job, and some savings, and debt collectors could not or did not want to touch that.

So, it’s not true that we don’t have universal health insurance in this country. We do, it’s just remarkably distorted and dysfunctional.

[CA renter]

NicMM,

I’m so sorry to hear about your dad’s (and your) situation.

FWIW, many hopitals have a sort of charity arm, and can reduce the bill significantly. You might want to talk to them about it.

If this fails, do be open to seeking legal counsel.

Best of luck to you, and I hope your father gets better soon!

[CA renter]

NicMM,

I’m so sorry to hear about your dad’s (and your) situation.

FWIW, many hopitals have a sort of charity arm, and can reduce the bill significantly. You might want to talk to them about it.

If this fails, do be open to seeking legal counsel.

Best of luck to you, and I hope your father gets better soon!

[CA renter]

NicMM,

I’m so sorry to hear about your dad’s (and your) situation.

FWIW, many hopitals have a sort of charity arm, and can reduce the bill significantly. You might want to talk to them about it.

If this fails, do be open to seeking legal counsel.

Best of luck to you, and I hope your father gets better soon!

[CA renter]

NicMM,

I’m so sorry to hear about your dad’s (and your) situation.

FWIW, many hopitals have a sort of charity arm, and can reduce the bill significantly. You might want to talk to them about it.

If this fails, do be open to seeking legal counsel.

Best of luck to you, and I hope your father gets better soon!

[CA renter]

NicMM,

I’m so sorry to hear about your dad’s (and your) situation.

FWIW, many hopitals have a sort of charity arm, and can reduce the bill significantly. You might want to talk to them about it.

If this fails, do be open to seeking legal counsel.

Best of luck to you, and I hope your father gets better soon!

[desmond]

I will go against the grain here. Are you asking everybody else to pay for you dad? I am sure your dad would be proud of you, after all how many years did he pay for you? Does anybody ever do what is right anymore?

[desmond]

I will go against the grain here. Are you asking everybody else to pay for you dad? I am sure your dad would be proud of you, after all how many years did he pay for you? Does anybody ever do what is right anymore?

[desmond]

I will go against the grain here. Are you asking everybody else to pay for you dad? I am sure your dad would be proud of you, after all how many years did he pay for you? Does anybody ever do what is right anymore?

[desmond]

I will go against the grain here. Are you asking everybody else to pay for you dad? I am sure your dad would be proud of you, after all how many years did he pay for you? Does anybody ever do what is right anymore?

[desmond]

I will go against the grain here. Are you asking everybody else to pay for you dad? I am sure your dad would be proud of you, after all how many years did he pay for you? Does anybody ever do what is right anymore?

[Coronita]

[quote=bubble_contagion]My in-laws always buy insurance before visiting from abroad. My wife demands this from them to avoid the situation you just described. Travel insurance is very common in Europe. I guess they are aware that medical costs in the USA are very high and not covered by the goverment. My advise would be he pretends to be an illegal alien.[/quote]

This is water over the bridge, but I would agree with this comment. There are some companies here that sell visitor insurance too, particularly if the person/people are staying for awhile.

Sorry to hear about your situation. But try negotiating with the hospital/doctors if you start getting the bills.

[Coronita]

[quote=bubble_contagion]My in-laws always buy insurance before visiting from abroad. My wife demands this from them to avoid the situation you just described. Travel insurance is very common in Europe. I guess they are aware that medical costs in the USA are very high and not covered by the goverment. My advise would be he pretends to be an illegal alien.[/quote]

This is water over the bridge, but I would agree with this comment. There are some companies here that sell visitor insurance too, particularly if the person/people are staying for awhile.

Sorry to hear about your situation. But try negotiating with the hospital/doctors if you start getting the bills.

[Coronita]

[quote=bubble_contagion]My in-laws always buy insurance before visiting from abroad. My wife demands this from them to avoid the situation you just described. Travel insurance is very common in Europe. I guess they are aware that medical costs in the USA are very high and not covered by the goverment. My advise would be he pretends to be an illegal alien.[/quote]

This is water over the bridge, but I would agree with this comment. There are some companies here that sell visitor insurance too, particularly if the person/people are staying for awhile.

Sorry to hear about your situation. But try negotiating with the hospital/doctors if you start getting the bills.

[Coronita]

[quote=bubble_contagion]My in-laws always buy insurance before visiting from abroad. My wife demands this from them to avoid the situation you just described. Travel insurance is very common in Europe. I guess they are aware that medical costs in the USA are very high and not covered by the goverment. My advise would be he pretends to be an illegal alien.[/quote]

This is water over the bridge, but I would agree with this comment. There are some companies here that sell visitor insurance too, particularly if the person/people are staying for awhile.

Sorry to hear about your situation. But try negotiating with the hospital/doctors if you start getting the bills.

[Author]

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