Getting healthcare treatments has become costly now. It is difficult to bear the expenses of your cure along with paying heavy medical bills. According to a study, patients in the US owe $220 billion worth of medical debts. This amount only seems to rise in the coming years. However, this leads to the incapability of paying excessive medical bills. But here a concern arises in the minds of patients: Can you go to jail for not paying medical bills?
Since each industry has its laws, healthcare too runs on certain regulations. So what does the law say about unpaid hospital bills? Let’s have a thorough look at this situation and find out what consequences you will have to face if you don’t pay bills on time.
What Law Says About Unpaid Medical Bills
Before considering anything, first of all, you must take the law into account. Every country has its laws, but in general, they are all the same. This legal consideration will help you take the right step towards your healthcare bills. Let’s see what common United States laws say about unpaid bills so you can find out can you go to jail for not paying medical bills.
Civil Debt Collection
Hospital bills that are not paid are treated as civil debts which is the same as unpaid credit card bills or loans. Here, healthcare providers or debt agencies handle your case and can take it to civil court to recover the debt amount.
Credit Reporting
Unpaid bills have a direct negative impact on your credit score. Again healthcare providers and collection agencies can report unpaid accounts to your relevant credit bureaus which minimize your chances of getting loans at a good rate in the future. Hospital debts have a more serious impact on your credit score than you can ever imagine.
State-Specific Laws
Though we are providing a general overview of unpaid medical bills, it is essential to look after your state laws. Each state differs in healthcare regulations. Where some states treat unpaid hospital bills as a legal case, some consider this in the favor of patients and allow them to avail payment options.
So, Can You Go To Jail For Not Paying Medical Bills?
To provide a precise answer, you can’t go to jail only for not paying medical bills. You might face legal consequences as well as financial issues, but going to jail is not the case. However, healthcare providers might hire collection agencies to contact you and collect the bills, which may result in garnishing wages and a low credit score.
So this statement is wrong that you could be jailed if medical bills aren’t paid. But if you are in such a situation, know some financial options to pay your bills or even make installments to avoid aggressive debt agencies’ tactics and impact on the credit score.
Ultimately, where going to jail in such matters is not possible, other problems will come your way. Know all the methods you can save yourself and your bank account from critical issues and choose the option that seems most appropriate for you.
Your Rights In The Situation
Now you know the real fact behind: can you go to jail for not paying medical bills. However, as a patient, you have several legal rights when it comes to medical bills and your financial issues. Keep these all in mind so that no one can use harassing tactics to intimidate and threaten you regarding bills.
Right to Transparency
Above all, you have the clear right to know detailed expenses of medical services you received along with other out-of-pocket charges and applicable fees.
Right to Ask for an Itemized Bill
It is advisable to verify your bill charges using the itemized bill. This document is provided by the healthcare providers upon request in which each of your treatment expenses is listed along with details. Ask for the itemized bill and make sure all your bill charges are justified. This will decide your future steps towards paying the bill.
Right to Dispute Charges
Many times hospitals create wrong bills with undeservable charges. So when you doubt you are overly charged, you can dispute the bill. Ask your healthcare or insurance provider for the supporting documentation. You can also request the review of charges, which will further verify the authenticity of the bill.
Want to Reduce your Expensive Medical Bill?
Right to Financial Assistance
If you are totally incapable of paying bills, then you have a patient right to request financial hardship programs. You can explore different payment options and assistance opportunities to make your bill payment easier or less burdensome.
Right to Privacy
No matter how critical the case is, you have the right that your medical bill and hospital documentation will be kept secret and it won’t be sent to anyone, under the law of the most common HIPAA. Healthcare providers and insurance companies must use your data responsibly and keep it confidential.
Right to Fair Debt Collection
If your medical bills have been sent to collection agencies, then healthcare laws prohibit debt agencies from using abuse and aggressive tactics to collect money. They can’t harass the patients for their bill amount. But most of the time, these agencies cross their limits and use inappropriate ways to communicate with you and ask for the money. Here you have a steer clear right that they can’t do this to you even if you haven’t paid the bills.
Right to Know your Rights
Healthcare providers have a duty to inform each patient of their rights regarding the incapability of paying bills. They must provide accurate knowledge about what options you have when you can’t pay the bills, including disputing and payment options. It will help you get assistance early on before making the situation worse.
Payment Options You Have
Now that you know pretty much about can you go to jail for not paying medical bills and some legal rights, let us tell you a few payment options that will be proved valuable when you are not financially stable. Explore these assistance programs and pave your way to pay medical bills even if you are not capable of:
Payment Plans
Spread out the cost of your medical bills over time by taking advantage of the payment plans. Once the balance is paid off, you can work out a monthly payment installment according to your budget and make consistent payments.
Financial Assistance Programs
For patients who are experiencing financial difficulties and are unable to pay their medical bills, certain hospitals and healthcare facilities offer financial assistance programs. Depending on your need and income, these programs might offer charity care, sliding-scale fees, or discounts.
Healthcare Loans
Healthcare loans are personal loans that are intended exclusively to pay for medical costs; they have flexible payback terms and competitive interest rates.
Health Savings Account (HSA) Or Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
You can use the money in your HSA or FSA account to cover some medical costs, such as coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles. Tax benefits are provided by these accounts, including pre-tax contributions and tax-free withdrawals for approved medical costs.
Negotiation
To get your medical bills reduced, you can attempt haggling with your healthcare provider. In order to settle the debt for less than the entire amount owed, bargain for a lower payment amount, ask for a fast payment discount, or obtain a settlement agreement.
Government Assistance Programs
There are government assistance programs like Medicaid and Medicare that you may be eligible for, depending on your financial condition and other qualifying factors. Individuals and families with low incomes or particular medical requirements can receive financial aid as well as health care through these programs.
Credit Cards
You can use a credit card to pay for medical expenses, but you should be aware of the fees and interest that come with using a credit card for purchases. To reduce interest costs, if at all possible, select a card with a low-interest rate or an introductory 0% APR offer.
Secure Your Financial Health
We hope our detailed guide has answered your question: Can you go to jail for not paying medical bills? The next step is to protect yourself from legal issues, have some bill amount prepared, or go for an installment plan. It saves you from paying the bill upfront.
But if all these options are out of your reach, then make sure you are aware of your rights so that you don’t become a victim of unethical collection techniques. To end, the healthcare industry runs on laws, and keeping up with them will show the right path for you to walk upon.