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!
Contact the hospital, it should have a financial assistance program. You’ll have forms to fill out and will need to provide the hospital with proof of your income and any assets / expenses you have. They should be able to lower your bill and set up a monthly payment plan.
There may be more complicated rules to follow since you are not from the US though.
i would tell them to eat it..your brother is right- they cant do anything except send you mail. although that seems to be some BS with your travel insurance. i would tell the hospital to take it up with them..let them duke it out..otherwise “oh well”
I think that jjols is essentially right.
They will probably write you letters asking for money. They might call you to ask for money. They will tell the American credit reporting agencies that you owe them money and won’t pay your bills. That will make it harder for you to borrow money from an American bank.
They are going to do all of this knowing that as long as you are not an American citizen and are not living in the U.S., there isn’t really anything that they can do to you.
They might send a bill to your brother, hoping that he will pay. If he is telling you not to worry about it, then I’m sure he knows that he is not legally responsible for your bills.
Ultimately, the hospital will decide that trying to force you to pay would cost them thousands of dollars and would almost certainly get them nothing. So they will not do anything more.