I am a citizen of Russia (lived here all my life). I was visiting my brother on vacation last year in USA and had a seizure and small stroke so I had to stay in the hospital for a few days. They did a MRI, Cat scan and other things to see what’s going on. I am 60 and have a history of strokes, high blood pressure, diabetes so before I went on vacation, I purchased in Rusia health travel insurance for K. My hospital bill in Houston was K so I thought there will be no problem.
Last week ago, I received in Russia the hospital bill for K because insurance didn’t want to pay because of “preexisting condition”. My question is what can happen to me? I am very, very worried. My salary here in Rusia is about K a year so it’s normal that I can’t pay K hospital bill. My brother in USA says nothing can happen but I am really worried. I can’t believe anybody will just leave me alone for this much money. Can you please help in any way; what can they do to me? Thank you so much!
I guess people don’t seem to understand that I DO NOT LIVE IN USA. I live in Rusia. I was in USA only on a vacation. I don’t have credit report, social security etc. It’s like you getting sick when you visit China.
The worst that will happen is it will show up as unpaid on your credit report. They cannot garnish wages or sue you for unpaid medical bills. It’s against the law to deny anyone medical care no matter their ability to pay the bill.
contact the hosp, chances are that they will ask you to fill out some paper work about what you make and will be willing to reduce your bill- they pretty much all offer something like this- good luck
i understand the situation completely and happen to work in a dr office and deal with several hospitals-
again: call the hospital (or write them a letter) explaining how much you make and why you can’t pay the bill and ask them for paper work to fill out to prove that this is a financial hardship for you to pay this bill AND THEY WILL REDUCE THE BILLS SIGNIFICANTLY OR GET RID OF IT COMPLETELY!!! You can keep keep being worried that they will do something to you or you can contact them and have the bill taken care of!!!
well did the invoice come from the insurance company or the hospital? the federal government has whats called Emergency Medicaid (Most American’s don’t like the word medicaid but at the moment i work for them so i know this for a fact my law office is representing medicaid at the moment so i’ve learned all kinds of stuff about them.) Emergency Medicaid is for instances like this. You go to the hospital and its a life or death situation, they treat you and you can’t pay after a year they report it to medicaid and medicaid picks up the bill… (for citizens if this happens as soon as your home and feeling better call your local medicaid office and ask them what to do for emergency medicaid. if they try to tell you your state doesn’t participate they are lying.. its not state run its federally run. )
now if the russian insurance company is pushing you for money i’m sorry but your going to need to set up some sort of payment plan. you shouldn’t have to pay it at one time but over months. good luck