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Imagine getting sick, getting bills you can't pay, then being sent to jail | tennessean.com | The Tennessean
Hoagland had refinanced his Nashville home to pay off the $25,000 tab for his weeklong diabetes-related stay at Southern Hills Medical Center.
The new mortgage left Hoagland out of medical debt but afraid to get sick again.
Unfortunately, he did. In 2004, Hoagland was in a health insurance waiting period on a new job when a cold turned into two days at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. This time, the bill was just over $1,200.
I can totally relate to this family. 2 years ago I was sued by a doctor 2 days before Christmas. I had just begun receiving disability 2 months before and before the court date I had called to arrange a payment schedule. I was told that they would accept no less than half the total bill with the other half being due in 30 days. There was no way I could come up with that.
The bill is just under $2000 and my income just over $600 a month.
The day of the hearing, everyone was allowed time to try to work out an arrangement in the hallway before having the case heard. I offered again and was told the same as the first time I talked to the person.
I told the judge during the hearing and the doctor's "spokesperson" said they would garnish my wages. Turned out they couldn't garnish a penny or put any lien on my bank account because my entire income is Social Security and SSI.
If they had been willing to work with me I would have made every payment on time. About 6 months after the hearing I got a bill with a hand written note stating that "even $10 would be a help".
They made me get out in a blizzard, 2 days before Christmas, spend a whole DAY in the court house AFTER having to spend almost a half HOUR begging the guard at the door to let me in and taking my money and my house keys to "HOLD", when I was sick.
It's disgusting how people are treated when they are sick and even more disgusting to hear millionaires in congress talking about us like we're NOTHING.
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