Last night, I watched part of the debate between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
As the candidates spent the first 17 minutes of the debate discussing healthcare insurance, it occurred to me that the last time I was in Small Claims Court that most of the cases on the docket involved defendants who were being sued for unpaid medical bills.
I did a quick search of active small claims cases filed by ECHN (Manchester Memorial Hospital) and Hartford Hospital in Connecticut small claims court.
As of this morning a search for ECHN turned up 1,000 active small claims cases (which is the maximum allowed by a search meaning there are likely more than 1,000 active cases).
A search of active cases for Hartford Hospital returned 514 active cases.
I did not check every case to see if it was a collection matter but if I had to guess the vast majority of the cases were for unpaid medical bills.
I also did not check the regular civil docket which would include cases where the alleged damages (unpaid medical bills) are in excess of $5,000.00.
I’m not sure of the solution but clearly there is a problem.
The saddest thing about individuals sued by hospitals is being sued at a hospitals FULL LIST CHARGES. Insureds benefit from negociated ,deeply discounted rates. The un-insured get sued at FULL cost.I would guess that"s double…or more.Then, it"s a wage execution for 10 years. VERY SAD.
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Full list charges.. PLUS post judgment interest in a magistrate"s discretion…which some majistrates"s DENY. Maybe FULL LIST PRICES are …shall we say …adequate!!!!
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Something needs to be done regarding the COSTS of healthcare. It is ridiculous. My son cut his finger badly on a Sunday and it was to the bone! I thought he needed stitches and brought him to the er. Well my 10 minute visit with the doctor and some adhesive on the wound cost over 1500 dollars… One of the medical bills being sued for. If I had known, I would have bought some elmers glue for a dollar and spiffed it up.. just joking.. but seriously.. maybe they should have advise lines in the hospital or something, saying alternatives routes you can take/whether or not the injury is worth the money they will charge! and bill like $100 for a 5 minute consult… its INSANE.. oh.. not to mention, I DO have insurance.
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