#HospitalFail Campaign: Spotlighting Predatory Hospital Tactics Against Consumers

“Landing on French’s doorstep that day was a growing conflict over skyrocketing health care costs pitting employer-based, self-funded insurance plans against hospitals.”

“In Connecticut between 2011 and 2016, physician practices, hospitals or collection agencies combined initiated 81,136 lawsuits in small claims courts, up to $5,000 per claim, against their patients to recover outstanding medical debts.”

“An ambulance took him to the hospital for emergency treatment, and when he said he wouldn’t be able to pay, staff reassured him that his expenses would qualify for something called indigent care…but after the client was discharged, two surprises came in the mail: a bill, and later, a lawsuit.”

“The warrant, he learned at the jailhouse, was for failure to appear in court for an unpaid hospital bill. Coffeyville Regional Medical Center had sued him in 2006 for $2,146, after one of Heather’s emergency visits; neither of his jobs offered health insurance. In the shuffle of 70-hour workweeks and Lane’s chemotherapy, he had missed two consecutive court dates. He was fingerprinted, photographed, made to strip and told to brace himself for a tub of delousing liquid. His bail was set at $500 cash; he had about $50 to his name.”

“When the uninsured gardener couldn’t pay his bill of about $15,000, the nonprofit institution took him to court.”

“I didn’t even know I owed money until I was sued … I was never told about charity care, even though I qualified for it.”

“Over the past several years, the Heries’ wages have been garnished almost continuously, with the money sometimes going to pay down one debt, and sometimes the other. They have chipped away, paying nearly $20,000, but still owe more than $26,000. Northwest also has a lien on the Heries’ home, meaning that they are unable to sell it or refinance their mortgage without resolving the debt.”

In a state with one of the highest rates of medical debt and personal bankruptcy, University Medical Center (UMC) of Southern Nevada is ramping up collections, placing liens on patients’ homes and hiring collection agencies to go after thousands of patient-debtors every month.

“This year, AHA board chairman Gragnolati’s Atlantic Health System, in northern New Jersey, sued patients for unpaid bills more than 8,000 times, court records show.”

“Ms. Price, 40, a nurse and local 4-H leader, has been sued five times by Carlsbad Medical Center, for bills totaling more than $17,000.”

“I really don’t know what else to say in my defense other than I am defenseless against these ruthless lawyers for the hospital. My family and I will never go there again for anything after this nightmare.”

“An Oklahoma Watch review of court records since 2016 found that dozens of hospitals across the state have filed at least 22,250 lawsuits against their former patients over unpaid medical bills.”

“A cashier at a Providence Health hospital in Oregon reported having wages garnished for outstanding medical debt to a doctor’s office. For one paycheck for 61 hours of work, she took home 54 cents after a garnishment and other deductions.”

“The lump turned out to be nothing, and she turned her attention to other matters. But after the next tax season, Paeschke got a letter explaining that her refund went to MUSC to pay an outstanding bill she didn’t realize she had. She doesn’t remember the amount she owed. It turned out the initial payment she made just covered a portion of the visit.”

“They said I’d be owing them all my life.”

“I literally have no food in my house because they’re garnishing my check”

“It’s not that we’re choosing not to pay, but there are other bills … My daughter has to eat, and if it’s choosing between that or paying a doctor bill, I’m going to choose her.”