[lindsey2000k]

Going to go on a huge rant so if I make no since I'm sorry... I have been balling my eyes out since i got the mail 2 hours ago.

First it starts with Dh has had no raises since 2008. Then in January they announce the 3 month bonus that he has gotten every 3 months the last 12 Years he worked at this company are gone (comes to about $300.00 a month now gone) I used these to pay things such as the car insurance or pay off emergency stuff we had to put on the credit card.... Btw the credit card now has a $11,000 balance on it and maxes out at 12,000.

Febuary our mortagae company sold our loan to another company and this new company is changing all the rules on us and is telling us it's new government policy and we can't do anything about it. They raised our payment $50.00 a month because they say they have to have a larger cushion on our escrow account.

Today I get the mail and we have new insurance cards I notice hospital went from $150 to $300, urgent care from $50 to $75 and so on. So I log onto the computer because I know that can not be all that changed. I will rewind a litle 4 years ago when I had DD my hospital deductible was $1000.00 and the pay was $80/20. 2010 they raised that to $2000.00 deductible 70/30..... Boy was I shocked when I got my $4,000 d&c bill. But it stayed at $2000 70/30 last year and I figured would this year. My OB already made me pay the $2000 plus 30% ($2700,00) due by the first of April. Our tax return was $3000.00 so I thought I was doing great that I had all that paid off with the tax return because we have ZERO in savings.
Ok back to getting the mail today...so I log onto my health insurance web site to find out they our new deducible is $3500.00... ***?????


So now i have to pull another $1500 out of my ***** and pay $30% of the hospital bill.
I'm starting to get really scared here. We are already pay check to pay check and have cut out a bunch of extras like Internet on phones, home phone, my advertising is cut in half ect. My husband was on a job for the past year where he ade made $5 more an hour and that is about to end in a couple weeks.


Ladies I am scared.... What is this world coming to? We make to much to even think about assistance, but not enough tompaymour bills anymore.

I can't help you on much, but the hospital WILL work with you on the bills. As long as they are getting "something" each month, they can't turn in over to collections. Just work out a small payment plan. That's what we did. Then, within a few months, they offered us a sttlement, which was 50% of what we owed, and they would clear it. So that's what we did.

I'm sorry you guys are going through this. Money troubles just suck!!

[Pitridge]

I'm sorry, I'm really no help here, not because we don't money problems but because since I work for the State, they have an awesome maternity plan. I paid nothing out of pocket for DS and this time around it's the same.
I'm sorry, I know it's hard but try not to stress about it too much, the hospital will work with you on a payment plan.

[lindsey2000k]

Originally Posted by mom2moose

I can't help you on much, but the hospital WILL work with you on the bills. As long as they are getting "something" each month, they can't turn in over to collections. Just work out a small payment plan. That's what we did. Then, within a few months, they offered us a sttlement, which was 50% of what we owed, and they would clear it. So that's what we did.

I'm sorry you guys are going through this. Money troubles just suck!!

We tried that with thie d&c and they we're calling once a week asking when the next payment was even though they just cashed the check a day before. We asked for help and they said because we have insurance they are not allowed to help.

They also said I have to pay a min of $150 a month or they will turn me into collections... So I panicked and borrowed the money to pay them off.

I don't have any one to borrow from this time and the credit card is maxed out so I guess my only option if they want more than $10-20 a month is to file bank ruptsy on it

[humnck]

They can turn it over to collections, let them, if they don't accept small payments, at least you can show that you are making payments. Collections will just take payments too, if you can swing even $5-$10 a month. It will suck because they will call you often, but if it's the only other option against bankruptcy (which we just had to do about 6 months ago, because of the medical and credit card bills piling up beyond our control from my husband being laid off), it might be a better option - better for your credit. I hope you can get it worked out though, so that neither is an option!

[kzoo1280]

I hear ya...DH and I both work about 45 minutes from our jobs...in opposite directions. Since gas prices keep going up and up, we are losing more and more money to gas by the week. It's like getting a pay cut.

I'm so sorry that your insurance has gotten so crummy. It's an epidemic. My employer just changed their insurance plan too and we would be completely screwed with this delivery had I not had the option to get on my husband's insurance. And our deductable would have been $5000...yikes. What an awful thing to do to people.

I hope things get better on your end. Lots of *HUGS*

[Belita]

I don't have any advice but I hope that you are able to catch a break soon.

[3Sapphires]

I'm sorry it seems the middle class is getting screwed left right and center - we are in that mix too, we are at the point where I can't afford gas to get DH to and from work. We are bankrupting ourselves just so he can work.

We owe on our tax return, DH hasn't had a raise in 3 years and actually took a pay cut for this job, because we had to move as the house we were living in was for sale.

I'm sorry finances are so crappy right now. I know I feel your pain.

[..Penelope..]

I'm so sorry Just wanted to offer support.

[LindseyE117]

Do not let them bully you by saying they will send you to collections. LET THEM if they do. Collections will let you settle if the hospital does not. I just had the same issue with my hospital when I got a bill in for almost $2k. I called and they refused to settle with me or even make a payment plan without the payments being $500 a month. Also because I have insurance. I said pretty much well you either accept what I can pay or I cannot pay you anything at all. She told me that their business company will call me within the next week or so to figure something out. Hospitals just want to get paid and they will bully you to no end. As long as you make payments they will not send you into collections.

On a side note, NEVER claim bankruptsy on medical bills. I would suggest a consolidation loan with one lump payment before that. I had $25k in medical bills a few years ago and we paid what we could but we nearly drowned in them. I finally took out a consolidation loan on the recommendation of my MIL for $20k. It had a very low interest rate. It was paid off in 4 years. Our credit never suffered. As for the credit card, call and see if you can get your interest lowered. If not, make small weekly payments that equal one big monthly payment. That is what we do.

Girl . I sooooooo feel you. I have been there, done that, and I feel we are getting there again which frightens me. My sister even went off on me saying that if I could not afford the hospital then I should have never have gotten pregnant. I hung up on her, because what I was going to say was not nice at all. Again . I might just go make my family do a car wash to pay for my bills!!

[.:Shortcake:.]

Originally Posted by lindsey2000k

We tried that with thie d&c and they we're calling once a week asking when the next payment was even though they just cashed the check a day before. We asked for help and they said because we have insurance they are not allowed to help.

They also said I have to pay a min of $150 a month or they will turn me into collections... So I panicked and borrowed the money to pay them off.

I don't have any one to borrow from this time and the credit card is maxed out so I guess my only option if they want more than $10-20 a month is to file bank ruptsy on it

I am sorry your having to go through this. I did want to tell you though that as long as you do not agree to pay a certain amount a month and as long as you pay something even $5 a month they CANNOT turn you into collections. When DH started with his Lyme Disease and the insurance would not cover a thing I contacted a lawyer. He told me flat out that as long as on the phone, in person or in writing I did not say a certain amount and just tell them I would pay them what I can each month they can not legally turn you in. They can call and bug you but honestly I left them (and still do) leave messages on my machine. And don't let them fool you they can offer you a discount and more than likely will once they see you only pay a small portion a month. I know I have gotten several letters offering me around 50% off if I pay it in full in a lump sum but really we owe almost $30,000 for his medical bills and he still is going for treatment. I know it sucks trust me I do. Right now we are trying to get a loan for $20,000 for IVF but just take things one day at a time and remember when you die you can't take it with you. This is something that you don't have a choice over and they will just have to accept what you can pay each month.

[3Sapphires]

Originally Posted by LindseyE117

On a side note, NEVER claim bankruptsy on medical bills. I would suggest a consolidation loan with one lump payment before that. I had $25k in medical bills a few years ago and we paid what we could but we nearly drowned in them. I finally took out a consolidation loan on the recommendation of my MIL for $20k. It had a very low interest rate. It was paid off in 4 years. Our credit never suffered. As for the credit card, call and see if you can get your interest lowered. If not, make small weekly payments that equal one big monthly payment. That is what we do.

Never is kind of definite. My mom is in bankruptcy for my dad's medical bill, but the situation is different, they have an 80/20 plan, and the amount she owes is over 2million dollars. The only option was bankruptcy.

[ashj_1218]

I am so sorry I agree that the middle class working people get screwed. We are right there with you. We were drowning until about three months ago, when DH got an unexpected promotion. Without that, we would be looking at refinancing our house (is that an option?) to pay down medical and credit card bills. Our medical insurance sucks...and there is nothing we can do about it. DH works at a small company, with an average age of 48. The premiums take a huge chunk of his paycheck and the deductible is $4000. And then we pay 80/20 after that. Which, when you are taking $900 a month shots...can add up quickly itself!

I know I doesn't much help to hear that others are dealing with it too...but maybe it will make you feel less alone. And maybe something will fall into your lap. I know we were right to the wire (we had two cards an maybe less than 2000 left on them combined) and were getting scared. And then something good happened. So maybe some windfall (or stroke of luck) will make it your way?

Regardless, it is so unfair that insurance and jobs can screw with us just because we have to tolerate it. Its ridiculous.

[Shadeauxe]

I hear all of these stories of people with jobs who struggle, in part, because our healthcare system sucks and it baffles me as to why anyone would be opposed to universal health care. The naysayers say they don't want to have to support the jobless, but I most of the people having trouble are employed.

[3Sapphires]

the problem with the universal health care is the taxation that would come with it.

It will take 8 year of higher taxes to pay for 4 year of universal healthcare. I am already taxed enough. I already owe the government money this year. I still don's understand that, as we made less money this year than last, and last year we got a refund.

I can not physically afford to be taxed anymore.

You know what would make a lot more sense, rather than a tax on my income. A higher sales tax, and do away with income tax all together. That way, if you want something you have to pay a high tax on it. if you don't have the money for the tax, you don't buy it.

I think people having more MONEY in their pockets would encourage them to buy things. in turn stimulating the economy.

ok, this was a mash of all sorts of thoughts, but I'm tired.

my mom is in her situation because she decided to buy a cheap health insurance with no catastrophic insurance. My father has been in and out of the ICU for 4 months and has had 8 surgeries in those 4 months, and still is not better. If they had planned for the unexpected she might not be in such a financial mess.

[missy123]

I am in your situation but worse... we are on the fringe of being evicted out of where we live and I am struggling to figure out what to do. This is all insane for me to even put together in my brain as my DH/myself had a combined income of over 200K 2 years ago. Now we are broke and trying to figure out how to buy food. We have no health insurance and it is what it is. The economy has changed and we need to re-invent ourselves into different careers.

With the doctor bills... do not let them bully you around with the payments. I worked for a collection agency 10 years ago and honestly loved people like you. Most bill collectors get most of their pay/bonuses based on the dollar amounts collected... the more they collect the more they earn. So it is in their best interest to scare you into paying it off now. Consult a lawyer as to the current laws but I believe if you can only pay $10 a month then that is it. ((hugs))

[Pitridge]

Originally Posted by Shadeauxe

I hear all of these stories of people with jobs who struggle, in part, because our healthcare system sucks and it baffles me as to why anyone would be opposed to universal health care. The naysayers say they don't want to have to support the jobless, but I most of the people having trouble are employed.

I'm not going to get into politics but one of the things that shock me when I move here was the fact that there was no universal healthcare. Can't say that all but mostly every country in Europe has Universal Healthcare, they pay a whole lot more in taxes but everyone has it, and I never heard of anyone complaining on paying for people with no jobs.

[lindsey2000k]

Originally Posted by missy123

I am in your situation but worse... we are on the fringe of being evicted out of where we live and I am struggling to figure out what to do. This is all insane for me to even put together in my brain as my DH/myself had a combined income of over 200K 2 years ago. Now we are broke and trying to figure out how to buy food. We have no health insurance and it is what it is. The economy has changed and we need to re-invent ourselves into different careers.

With the doctor bills... do not let them bully you around with the payments. I worked for a collection agency 10 years ago and honestly loved people like you. Most bill collectors get most of their pay/bonuses based on the dollar amounts collected... the more they collect the more they earn. So it is in their best interest to scare you into paying it off now. Consult a lawyer as to the current laws but I believe if you can only pay $10 a month then that is it. ((hugs))

Its just crazy.... then this morning I log on and find out my cable bill just went up $25.00 a month REALLY? They usually just creap it up a couple bucks at a time but to jump $25.00?
So it looks like the one thing we have not canceled may have to go.

I hate to share how much we make but I only know you all online so it does not matter..lol Last year acourding to taxes Dh & I made $74,000 5 years ago I would have thought that was a lot of money because it was only about $56,000 when we moved here. This year he is off the pravaling wage and that will drop it about $10,000.
We bought our house in 2007 at the peak of the market for $156,000 money was a little tight then but the economy was so good we figured in a year or so he would have more raises and everything would be great. Later that year is when the economy started to go.... well it finally caught up with us at the end of last year. electric has doubled, grocerys have double, gas has trippled or more. We thought well maybe we could just get out of the house and down size but nope we can't do that cause we owe almost 150,000 still and our house is only worth $130,000 now. So our only option if it keeps getting worse is to just walk away and hope it doesn't mess our credit up so bad that we can still get a cheap appartment.... or move into my inlaws basement and I don't know if I can live in that yucky basement or with those people..lol


Its funny a couple years ago my mom said she can see things heading to the direction where we will be living as 2-3 family homes like they did long go. I just thought yeah right... but she just might be right.

I had a feeling something was going to happen with insurance... just had a feeling.
What is going to make us loss our house though is DH has a company truck and company gas card. So we have no car payment, insurance or gas to pay for him. Most of his jobs are an hour or more away, like right now he is 1 hour 30 minutes 1 way. I see then taking the trucks away with in the next year.

[LindseyE117]

Originally Posted by 3Sapphires

Never is kind of definite. My mom is in bankruptcy for my dad's medical bill, but the situation is different, they have an 80/20 plan, and the amount she owes is over 2million dollars. The only option was bankruptcy.

Holy cow! That is completely different! I have never heard of $2mil in medical bills unless it was an transplant or something similar. My dad has been on the waiting list for a liver for the past year and a half, and his surgery will be $100k. I was floored. He has to pay 20% of that. I told him that I do not care if I do not get an inheritance, I just want him better. I even offered him half my liver when I was not pregnant. It is not large enough to sustain him though.

As for universal healthcare, I am unsure what to think on that. I don't want to be forced to buy expensive insurance that I cannot afford. There are no breaks to the middle class. I honestly feel that the middle class should be considered poor right now. I know we are barely making it.

When I lived in Mexico, we had universal healthcare, and it nearly killed me because they do not care about you and it takes forever to get an appointment when sick. You have a "health card" that you bring in with you to the doctors office at opening, then you wait in line hoping to find an open time slot to see the doctor. BTW, you are assigned a number in the clinic, and each number has a group of doctors who work that day. So I was number 17, and I had to wait in number 17's line for up to 2 hours sick, hoping I made it in time to get an appointment. This usually meant waiting in line sick hoping to get an appointment, and then having to go back and wait to see someone. Usually we would go to the emergency room because of it. One time my son was running around and ran into the corner of the wall in our cement housr. He had a huge gash on his head that needed stiches. We waited 2 hours in the emergency room trying to stop the bleeding until they saw us. The time that almost killed me was I was burning up with 105 fever and unable to breathe. I have bad lungs and a history of pneumonia. They sent me home and said it was the flu. I ended up in the hospital 2 days later almost dying from lack of oxygen. I was blue. I had double pneumonia. Then again that was Mexico.

I had an extremely good friend years ago that lives in Scotland and uses the health care system there. Although he said he is grateful for it, he admits they suck too. It takes months to get approval for any procedure even if it is serious. You'd have to go into the ER almost dying to get it done right away. On the other hand, my good friend is an eye surgeon in the UK and he says the pay sucks to be a doctor, so only people who care get into the field there.

Anyway, enough of me going off subject. Lindsey I am sorry. Hopefully something will come along for you. It happens that way for us at times when we think we are at our lowest. Also, we were making $100k back in '06 and '07 when James and I moved in together. We make no where near that now, so I feel you. Insurance was better back then too.

[Hopefulpinkangel]

I know how you feel, we are in the middle "fall through the cracks" group too. Living paycheck to paycheck gets old really fast. We literally have nothing else we can get rid of. It's stressful.