Multiple accounts with same medical facility

[Anonymous]

I was struck with a devestating illness in which I was hospalized inpatient several times in one year each racking up over $2500 copays. To add insult to injury I then went for outpatient treatments at the same hospital had 52 treatments over the course of 26 weeks. The copay bills for this after insurance are more than a few years salary so no way I can pay them down. My question is this...each time I went for a treatment or visit the hospital creates a new account number so I now have like 50+ SEPERATE collections on my credit report even though the debts are all to the same place - hospital. Is this allowed? I've googled and googled and can't find an answer. Why aren't they bound to report it as one big collection? Thanks.

[gdale6]

Its legal, what a lot of the medical industry does is generate a new account number for each bill and they are each treated separartely. Ya I know it should be illegal..... Welcome to myFico

[Anonymous]

Neverenuff, I'm so sorry you are going through this. Sadly enough it is indeed legal. A few months ago I had 7 collections in my record. They were all medical collections for 3 separate hospital visits. Four of them were from the attending physician and the other three were from the ER however I had 7 collections for 3 visits!!! I was only able to get them removed by applying to charity care at the hospital for accounts from 2013. They let me do this and then granted me 100 percent charity care. I was about to get a really good paying job at the hospital and knew I would no longer qualify if I didn't make my move. After I applied it took them a month to approve and 2 months for the emergency physician doc's to approve their end. Then another month for it to come off my credit reports. I don't know your income situation but if you think you might have a chance of qualifying I'd suggest you head to the hospital right away and apply!!
It never hurts to try. Also try if you are a student!
Good luck.

[sgs71]

I'm in the same boat.  I have 14 seperate collections from the same facility and CA reporting.  It sucks for sure.  Been trying to work on these for the past couple months with no avail.  I'm sorry you are going through this as well.  I wish you the best of luck.