How to keep hospital bills from collections.

[myesha87]

I have 2 small children and recently I had to take both of them to the ER for strep.  I just received 3 hospital bills in the mail totaling $1000.  What can I do to keep them from going to collections?  It is my understanding that I have 15 days to pay in full or they automatically go to collections even if I set up a payment plan.  Is this true? Can anyone provide any insight?  

Thank you in advance!

[eharley0142]

Totally depends on the policy of the hospital you're working with.

Have you contacted the hospital about working out an arrangement to either pay over time, or reduce the amount if you can pay in full within (say) 2 weeks?

[guiness56]

Ask the hospital if they have any type of financial assisitance.  Most will, especially the bigger ones.

If they do, and you qualify, most, if not all of the debt can be wiped out.

[myesha87]

Thank you!  This forum is such a life saver.