Hospital Bills

Langlo Family · #1 (**permalink**) 02-07-2007, 08:26 PM

So here's the deal...

My wife and I have accumulated some Hospital Bills after our daughter's birth. My number one priority has always been to take care of our huge credit card debt. I guess our Hospital Bills got overlooked and we were sent to collections. I know thats bad, but hey, it happened. Now they are charging us interest. I asked one of my friends what he did with his hospital bills and he said that he continued to pay $20/month until he had enough spending money saved up to pay off the total balance. He had told me that since it wasn't credit card debt, it won't affect my credit score the same way credit card debt would be. My wife thinks that since the Hospital Bills are now exceeding our Credit Card debt total and the interest rates are higher than our CC, we should pay the Hospital Bills first. I still think the Credit Cards should come first since we almost have them paid off. Any suggestions or ideas? Also, is there any way to stop the Hospital Bills from charging interest? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

sweeps · #2 (**permalink**) 02-08-2007, 05:37 AM

I don't know if hospital debt is better or worse for your credit score than credit card debt. But I can say for sure that collection notices on your report aren't good. I think you should try calling the hospital and arrange a payment plan. They're usually good about that and it should keep them from taking further collection action against you.

Also you may want to ask advice over at creditboards.com. They're the experts in this kinda thing. Good luck!

LuxLiving · #3 (**permalink**) 02-08-2007, 06:53 AM

Help - I guess I don't understand saving up money to pay something off later-especially if you're already in arrears????????????

I'm w/Sweeps, contact the hospital and make some kind of arrangement that you KNOW you can handle and then live up to your agreement.

Is there a reason you can't pay on both at the same time?

vsjhoc · #4 (**permalink**) 02-08-2007, 07:20 AM

Make sure you get itemized bills from the hospitals. They are notorious for double billing, over billing, and charging you for items and services you didn't receive. Get those things cleared up and then negotiate a payment plan.

puppypal · #5 (**permalink**) 02-08-2007, 07:31 AM

vsjhoc
I agree
it seems in todays world of computers these machines give the hospitals an edge if you allow it. I got an idemized statement and they had charged me for like 35 diabetic supplies and the funny part is I do not have diabeties. Had to go round and round with thiem but the bill got not down 2300.00 for it.
For goodness sake i am Hyperglycemic and that is related but it is low blood surgar and I had to get the blood work to comfirm that my surgar wasn't low and it was a huge stink!

fairy74 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-08-2007, 09:08 AM

I agree double check the bill, call the hospital and make payment arrangements, it is important to get the credit card paid off, but I'd try and pay on both at the same time. I also agree that collections notices, regardless of the type of debt, are not good things to have on your credit report...

PrincessPerky · #7 (**permalink**) 02-08-2007, 09:43 AM

hyper would be diabetic, hypo would be low wouldnt it?

hypo thermia...cold, hyper kid too much sugar..thats how I always remembered it anyway...

regardless, if you can get a bill itemized do it, if it is too late, keep it in mind for next time.

IMO if you can get it out of interest bering by agreeing and keeping to paying 20 or so a month, do it, if it is to late, keep in in mind for next time and pay something on all debts each month, but put the most you have torward a higher interest bill, unless one or two months will completly pay off the small amount bills...