I have no medical insurance and i have a hospital bill for over
$ 4000.00 dollars and have no means to pay i need help with what i should do??

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Request for Question Clarification by missy-ga on 18 Sep 2002 11:37 PDT

Hi there.

What city and state are you located in?  You may qualify for your
state's Medicaid program, or be eligible for other forms of
assistance.  If you give me your city and state, I can get the
relevent addresses, phone numbers and guidelines for you.

--Missy

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Request for Question Clarification by nellie_bly-ga on 18 Sep 2002 11:43 PDT

Hello jj--

Don't panic yet. 

There are "indigent care" programs in most states that can perhaps
help you. Should that fail there are legal tactics you might use.
But so that I might provide you with more accurate information, please
tell me the state and city/region in which you reside. The name of the
hospital would also be useful, if you are willing to share it.

By the way, have you contacted the social services department of that
hospital? They deal with this problem all the time and would be able
to give you specific information.  Just keep in mind, their advice is
slanted a bit to the hospital's advantage. Still, in covering this
issue, for news stories, I've found them generally to be pretty
decent/sympathetic people.

Being in poor health and in financial straits is a very stressful
situation. I know. If you can kind of take a deep breath and realize
nobody's going to come take you away or take your house or the like,
it might help ease the panic just a bit.

So, give me a little more information, please, and I'll see if I can't
be of some better help.

Nellie Bly

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Clarification of Question by jj6261-ga on 19 Sep 2002 07:35 PDT

I live in pennsylvania and i just lost my job 6 weeks ago i
am however collecting unemployment. the hospital name is st. mary's
located in langhorne pa. thanks n awful lot for your feedback.
    Janet

Hi Janet--

As it happens, I, too, live in Pennsylvania and also near Philly.  

I telephoned St. Mary's billing department, and, as I assumed, they
have several ways they can help you. But first they'll have to talk
directly to you and review your individual record.

They will certainly work out an "affordable payment plan" with you. 
You may qualify for the hospital's own payment assistance.
You may qualify for Pennsylvania's ACCESS insurance through the Dept.
of Public Assistance.  If so, the hospital will help you apply.

Keep in mind, the hospital wants to help you to pay the bill. It is in
their interest to work with you.

You're obviously having a stretch of rotten luck right now. Do try to
keep up your courage.  You can get through this, and there are people
who will try to help you. And if you run into some that seem cold or
uppity don't take it personally. Remember you're not a bad person;
you're just having a bad time.


Please ask for a question clarification, if I can be of any more help.

Nellie

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Clarification of Answer by nellie_bly-ga on 19 Sep 2002 08:05 PDT

ooops  

just in case you don't have it handy, the number for the billing department at
St. Mary Hospital is 215-891-6500


Good luck.

Thank You so very much for your input Nellie You have saved me from
some sleepless nights thanks alot for your time and effort

Hi. I assume you are in the US. If you have a very
low income or no income you might qualify for govt
assistance on a state plan. This plan might qualify
you for insurance if you don't have any. Different
states have different plans, but the people at the
hospital could point you in the right direction. If you 
do have an income but just can't pay the whole bill right
now, hospitals are usually very willing to arrange a payment
plan. 

Good Luck

If you cannot pay your bill all at once (and few of us can,) most
hospitals are very cooperative in working out a plan of payment. I
once was saddled with $17,000 in hospital expenses after an emergency
surgical procedure. The hospital had a financial counselor who was
very helpful and considerate in assisting me to construct a plan of
repayment that spanned an eight-year period.