If you didn't prior, this is why one should utilize healthcare services appropriately. See a pcp or go to urgent care for non life threatening issues. After hours? Wait til morning at all costs. Sooooooooo many people utilize the ED as their pcp which isn't surprising considering the average Healthcare literary level is of a 7th grader for most Americans. $1500-2000 is a pretty average emergency department visit bill across the nation for just seeing a physician/apn. If you got labs or any other testing done, jack it up some more. CT or MRI, you're fucked and guaranteed to hit that deductible and out of pocket max. It sucks when you're getting charged astronomical prices but unfortunately that's the way US healthcare billing works. They charge 10x for something, then the insurance negotiates different prices, and you get a modified bill. It's all a bunch of crap how shit is billed. Every facility has different algorithms.
Curious what was your diagnosis that they gave you? What did they do?
It sounds like you have a high deductible health care insurance plan which many of us do. If that's the case, I'd recommend looking into an HSA or if you're still in school have your parents do that.
But in terms of debt collection, after 6-12 months the health system will turn your bill over to a collection agency. It depends on the hospital. Some collection agencies report to the credit bureaus but many do not for health care expenses. Honestly you could call to ask. You can also negotiate with debt collectors for a discounted price (e.g. 50% off) and demand and get confirmation in writing that they do not report or remove the report from the credit bureau. Also many hospitals will be willing to work with you and reduce your bill if you complain enough. At the very least, pretty much all hospitals will have a way for you to start a zero interest payment plan for your bill ($125/month over 12 months is a lot nicer than a surprise $1500 pay in 3 weeks bullshit notice). Many Healthcare bills go unpaid which is probably part of the reason costs are so high; to account for the gabronies who won't or can't pay.
If it does get forwarded to a debt collector and you start getting phone calls and letters, unless it's on your credit report, just don't reply assuming it's been a couple months. If it is on your credit report, and you wish to get it removed, then you will have to negotiate with the debt collector, who is usually a piece of shit person. If you don't care that it's on your report and don't wish to pay, it will be gone in 7 years, however if you contact the debt collector or do anything with that debt or pay any portion of it, that 7 year clock resets.
Source: My parents were shitheads about paying bills so when I got to college and pulled my credit report, I found out I had all sorts of medical debt, but thankfully only one was reported. I've also had a few unfortunate times where my debt got forwarded to collections and they either stopped calling me or I paid them off for a fraction of the initial cost.
If you get a debt collection letter or call always contact your health system to make sure they did indeed send it off to collections, how much, and to what company. Very important to avoid scams.
Tldr: Lots of info here. Probably doesn't matter if don't pay but might. I have pretty extensive experience in paying and/or not paying medical bills.
Edit/addition: just because your debt goes to collection, does not mean it will end up on your credit report. Also debtors cannot garnish wages and generally cannot take you to court for medical debt.
**This post was edited on Jan 8th 2020 at 7:31:54pm
