Posted by Racer on July 25, 2006, at 18:43:12
In reply to People, I am getting financially F-KED by hospital, posted by PhoenixGirl on July 24, 2006, at 17:35:17
I'd recommend paying careful attention to Snoozin's advice, since s/he is in a position to know a lot about this sort of thing.
I'd also advise you contact your county department of mental health (or just department of health, if your county doesn't break it out), and explain that you can't pay. Ask them what to do, ask them to step in. There's a limit to what they can do, but if you "throw yourself on their mercy" -- by which I mean, be very submissive, make it clear that you're asking for them to help you work this bill out, not telling them they have to make it go away, etc -- they're likely to be able to do something.
I've been in your situation, and the private ambulance that was used to take me from the psychiatric emergency room to the hospital cost a fortune. They could just as well have had me transported some other way, but they used a private ambulance service. That was about $2,000. And the ambulance company refused to negotiate the bill. So, I feel your pain.
It [emulates a Hoover], no question. And it doesn't sound as though you got any help from the hospital anyway. (Oh, and why didn't they just transport you in a police cruiser? That's just Revenue Enhancement for the ambulance company, if your area is like mine.) I'm very sorry it's all happened.
Good luck.
poster:Racer
thread:670098
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20060721/msgs/670450.html