BILLS BILLS BILLS

nicolegarza
nicolegarza Member Posts: 27
in Ovarian Cancer #1
so I dont want this to sound like I'm searching for anything from anyone but I have just passed 4 months or being considered clear... and Friday night I am served papers and being sued by a collections company... I freaked out and kinda lost it for a while... I know its my own fault for not dealing with the bills but really!!! I dont have the money and my insurance has already covered its part... I really should have done something but now I'm being sued!!! Its only $805 (one of many though) for labs that told the Dr's it was cancer but I guess they really need the money.... anyways I just needed to vent and get it off my chest! I gotta figure out something ... n fast!

Comments

  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    #2
    Nicole....I am thinking you
    Nicole....I am thinking you were early stage, correct? Diagnosed and treated 10-12 months ago? Have you been able to go back to work? If so, you might think about contacting the creditors and working out a payment plan with them. You cannot give them that which you do not have, and they surely know that.

    My (late) husband died of liver cancer and was too ill to work for a long time before he passed. His SS Disability did not start until just a few months before he died and the bills were considerable, even after the insurance paid. After all, 20% of $50,000 is still a LOT of money. I remember contacting the hospital and offering them $150 a month. They said it wasn't enough. I said, "Would you rather have nothing?" They settled for the 150.

    Do you live in one of the states where creditors can garnish your wages? That's not allowed in Texas, but I know it happens in some parts of the country. If that's a possibility, don't ignore or try to dodge them. Let them know you are willing to work out a reasonable payment plan.


    Best of luck,
    Carlene
  • carolenk
    carolenk Member Posts: 907 Member
    #3
    Out of money
    UGH! I have been threatened with the collections agency, too. I find the whole process so confusing.

    I had an out-of-network surgeon do the urgent bowel resection and the insurance company wouldn't reimburse me for even 1/2 of the amount.

    When I tried to appeal, the insurance company said I had to have the surgeon's office send in a "pre-authorization" and the surgeon's office said they never pre-authorize urgent surgery. Oh well...

    Maybe you can set up a payment plan?
  • Mwee
    Mwee Member Posts: 1,338
    #4
    Bills
    Don't panic. I know the feeling when you're so engrossed with diagnosis/treatments/labs etc. that even opening mail seems too much. Call the business offices of each of companies that have been sending you bills. Explain that you have a willingness to pay, but not the ability to pay in full. You can set up a plan to give them like $20 a month and as long as you pay them every month, they'll leave you alone. Try to get to them before they send it off to collection for those companies can be relentless and you don't need that kind of stress.
    (((HUGS))) Maria
  • nicolegarza
    nicolegarza Member Posts: 27
    #5
    yeah I know its my own fault
    yeah I know its my own fault for not contacting them and setting up plans but I just did not want to deal with that and now its way too late on most of them and I am really really stressing and I DONT KNOW WHY!!! I really feel sooo lost and scared. And yes they can garnish my wages... Im thinking of getting a loan and trying to pay them all off... I stress soooo much over money and I seriously can not help it...
  • nicolegarza
    nicolegarza Member Posts: 27
    #6
    Hissy_Fitz said:

    Nicole....I am thinking you
    Nicole....I am thinking you were early stage, correct? Diagnosed and treated 10-12 months ago? Have you been able to go back to work? If so, you might think about contacting the creditors and working out a payment plan with them. You cannot give them that which you do not have, and they surely know that.

    My (late) husband died of liver cancer and was too ill to work for a long time before he passed. His SS Disability did not start until just a few months before he died and the bills were considerable, even after the insurance paid. After all, 20% of $50,000 is still a LOT of money. I remember contacting the hospital and offering them $150 a month. They said it wasn't enough. I said, "Would you rather have nothing?" They settled for the 150.

    Do you live in one of the states where creditors can garnish your wages? That's not allowed in Texas, but I know it happens in some parts of the country. If that's a possibility, don't ignore or try to dodge them. Let them know you are willing to work out a reasonable payment plan.


    Best of luck,
    Carlene

    I was diagnosed in June
    I was diagnosed in June 28,10 and chemo for 3 months aug oct sept and yeah Adeno carcinoma endometrioid type stage 1A Ovarian/Uterine cancer

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