Health Care still sucks
Apr. 8th, 2010 09:53 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
grrgoylI thought I had the medical bill thing under control. I was paying everyone every month, only $50 but I figured that was better than nothing. Everyone was happy.
Then this weekend I received a letter from one of my debtors offering me a "hardship discount"; this was surprising, as I thought I had been rejected from any hardship eligibility. Basically the letter said they'd forgive $289 from my bill, leaving a balance of $110 that I had 30 days to pay. Well, I'd be a fool not to take this offer, and fully intended to do so come next paycheck. The beginning of the month is rough for me, as I'm sure it is for many of us, because that's when mortgage (and rent for other people) is due.
Then a week later I received what looked like a statement (from what I first assumed was a different company) showing all my payments, except it was stamped in ominous red letters "FINAL NOTICE" and included a little note at the bottom that read, "Despite our numerous attempts, you refuse to honor your debt. As such we have no choice but to refer your account to a collections agency unless you pay the balance in full." The balance, mind you, was $400, which would be a piece of cake if not for all these other people who also wanted to get paid.
I wished there was an actual person whose nose I could angrily thrust this paper under and point to the part showing all my payments. How am I "refusing to honor my debt" when I'm sending them money every month? If I wasn't giving them anything they would have every right to get their panties in a twist. But for god's sake, I'm doing the damn best I can.
Tery said they were probably used to people not paying them anything so their default strategy was heavyhanded scare tactics, but again I say I'm giving them money -- all the more reason I would think they'd be downright giddy even with just $50 a month.
I fully intended to say most of this to them when I called the next day, but as it turned out, the "We've had it with your stubborn refusal to pay us" people were one and the same as the "We're cutting you this fantastic break and taking all this money off your bill" people. Curiouser and curiouser.
So I talked to Gabriela, speaking in a stressed, defensive tone until I realized the above. "You have until April 26th to pay the $110," she said, as if today were the 27th.
"I realize that, and I intend to, but today's only the 5th!" I pointed out exasperatedly.
"Oh, right. Well, I'll put down in your file that you'll pay by April 26th. Disregard the second notice."
For the love of....
Then I got one from a different debtor (at least, I HOPE it's a different one or I just give up) insisting I call to either pay the balance in full (this one was $942, yeah, right) or set up a payment plan. Since I don't want to go through this rigamarole every single month, I called, even though I consider myself already ON a payment plan.
This operator did get to hear some of my choice thoughts, mainly because she was doing her level best to make me feel like a worthless piece of shit because I don't have $900 lying around I can shoot off to her.
"Can you pay the balance in full today?
"No," I said through gritted teeth.
"Can you pay half this month and half next month?"
"No."
"Can you pay it over three months?"
How long could we play this game? "I could, if I didn't also owe about four other people, and unfortunately everybody wants their money."
I know she's only doing her job. I know her job must really, really suck, if this conversation was any indication. But honestly, they make you feel like you're the only one in financial straits and why CAN'T you pay your bill right away like everyone else does? Like I'm singlehandedly sucking health care dry in this country.
So I let her talk me into a 12-month plan at $78 a month, just to get her off my back. Not as comfortable as $50, but since I'm saving all that money with the other people I actually just broke even. And that's about the best I can hope for, I guess.
Of course, that leaves three other companies that could produce fresh new threats any day now. We'll see.
~*~
In happier news, I can now keep this blog going for one more year thanks to the thoughtful and independently wealthy![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
kavieshana, who bought me LJ time! To pay her back I plan to steal a bunch of her icons.
Then this weekend I received a letter from one of my debtors offering me a "hardship discount"; this was surprising, as I thought I had been rejected from any hardship eligibility. Basically the letter said they'd forgive $289 from my bill, leaving a balance of $110 that I had 30 days to pay. Well, I'd be a fool not to take this offer, and fully intended to do so come next paycheck. The beginning of the month is rough for me, as I'm sure it is for many of us, because that's when mortgage (and rent for other people) is due.
Then a week later I received what looked like a statement (from what I first assumed was a different company) showing all my payments, except it was stamped in ominous red letters "FINAL NOTICE" and included a little note at the bottom that read, "Despite our numerous attempts, you refuse to honor your debt. As such we have no choice but to refer your account to a collections agency unless you pay the balance in full." The balance, mind you, was $400, which would be a piece of cake if not for all these other people who also wanted to get paid.
I wished there was an actual person whose nose I could angrily thrust this paper under and point to the part showing all my payments. How am I "refusing to honor my debt" when I'm sending them money every month? If I wasn't giving them anything they would have every right to get their panties in a twist. But for god's sake, I'm doing the damn best I can.
Tery said they were probably used to people not paying them anything so their default strategy was heavyhanded scare tactics, but again I say I'm giving them money -- all the more reason I would think they'd be downright giddy even with just $50 a month.
I fully intended to say most of this to them when I called the next day, but as it turned out, the "We've had it with your stubborn refusal to pay us" people were one and the same as the "We're cutting you this fantastic break and taking all this money off your bill" people. Curiouser and curiouser.
So I talked to Gabriela, speaking in a stressed, defensive tone until I realized the above. "You have until April 26th to pay the $110," she said, as if today were the 27th.
"I realize that, and I intend to, but today's only the 5th!" I pointed out exasperatedly.
"Oh, right. Well, I'll put down in your file that you'll pay by April 26th. Disregard the second notice."
For the love of....
Then I got one from a different debtor (at least, I HOPE it's a different one or I just give up) insisting I call to either pay the balance in full (this one was $942, yeah, right) or set up a payment plan. Since I don't want to go through this rigamarole every single month, I called, even though I consider myself already ON a payment plan.
This operator did get to hear some of my choice thoughts, mainly because she was doing her level best to make me feel like a worthless piece of shit because I don't have $900 lying around I can shoot off to her.
"Can you pay the balance in full today?
"No," I said through gritted teeth.
"Can you pay half this month and half next month?"
"No."
"Can you pay it over three months?"
How long could we play this game? "I could, if I didn't also owe about four other people, and unfortunately everybody wants their money."
I know she's only doing her job. I know her job must really, really suck, if this conversation was any indication. But honestly, they make you feel like you're the only one in financial straits and why CAN'T you pay your bill right away like everyone else does? Like I'm singlehandedly sucking health care dry in this country.
So I let her talk me into a 12-month plan at $78 a month, just to get her off my back. Not as comfortable as $50, but since I'm saving all that money with the other people I actually just broke even. And that's about the best I can hope for, I guess.
Of course, that leaves three other companies that could produce fresh new threats any day now. We'll see.
~*~
In happier news, I can now keep this blog going for one more year thanks to the thoughtful and independently wealthy
kavieshana, who bought me LJ time! To pay her back I plan to steal a bunch of her icons.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2010-04-08 05:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-09 12:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-09 12:23 am (UTC)Oh, well. This afternoon was rough so bad feelings were at the surface anyway. ;)
YOU CAN'T HAVE THIS ONE
Date: 2010-04-09 01:26 am (UTC)These collections people are ridiculous. I got a phone call today from my doctor's office, threatening to send me to collections over an uninsured $5 I didn't know I owed on an old bill. I just got the bill in the mail two days ago.
Re: YOU CAN'T HAVE THIS ONE
Date: 2010-04-09 03:05 pm (UTC)$5? Really??? It's like the people who don't pay them have created such a big chip on their shoulder, every little penny sticks in their craw (how many more idioms can I stick in this sentence?)
Especially when you consider the collections people must charge something, so how much would it cost the doc to send a bounty hunter after that $5 (that you only just recently learned about)?
But WTF is wrong with insurance that they paid for everything except that $5?? I hold them most responsible considering how much profit they make every year.
Re: YOU CAN'T HAVE THIS ONE
Date: 2010-04-09 03:57 pm (UTC)My doctor's office just got bought by another practice, so their billng system is all screwed up. Did I tell you about the bill I paid twice last year because they insisted I hadn't paid it? I think what happened with the $5 is they charged me too much on something, so they were holding onto money I didn't know about, then I racked up another bill which was cancelled out except for that $5.
I got another call from an agency this morning, so I called them freaking out. Turns out they were looking for the guy who used to have my number. Two years ago.
Re: YOU CAN'T HAVE THIS ONE
Date: 2010-04-09 09:09 pm (UTC)You paid a bill twice? How hard is it, really, to keep all this shit straight? I hope everyone who thinks the current system is just fine is reading this.