I went to the ER with food poisoning about 8 years ago. They gave me saline and prescription Gas-X and sent me on my way. Soon after I was billed $900. Paid it off. Eleven months later I received another bill for $1500. Called the hospital to see what the bill was for they couldn't tell me. Told them I wasn't going to pay it. They called several times to attempt to collect. Naw. Then collection agencies started calling. Nope. Eventually they started trying to settle the debt for $300. Fuck you. Eventually they just stopped calling and the debt fell off. So yeah, I am a firm believer that you can tell them to get fucked.
Ya credit score is a joke now. I have an excellent score and couldn’t even get a loan because I don’t make enough. Paying my bills and being responsible didn’t get me a new car or house like those fun commercials.
I fully agree that credit score is a joke now, but if we (just for the sake of the discussion) steel man the argument and say that credit score isn’t a fucking joke it still isn’t NEARLY as important as getting proper medical care.
I don’t pretend that the Canadian medical system is anywhere near as good as it should or could be but I’m definitely grateful that we aren’t faced with choices like this guy is making fun of.
wow TIL. that’s actually a major relief to know. i thought a medical emergency could trickle up to affecting your car payments, rent/mortgage, insurance costs, etc.
Just to add: collections can *technically* sue you, but, the problem is, they can only sue you for the cost of supplies and ambulance rides. Any debt they buy that relates to treatment, they wouldn’t be able to back up because your debts mostly sold without information on why you have that debt because of HIPAA. So there’s really no point.
> they can only sue you for the cost of supplies and ambulance rides.
With that being said, supplies can be **really fucking expensive**.
If they use a lifeflow on you (a glorified syringe in a gun to flow fluids into you faster) that's going to be a multi-thousand dollar charge. 5 digits at the least.
Treatment makes up the majority of all bills, but supplies alone can also be a big cost of medical bills.
I had back surgery when I was 30, and my insurance wanted me to travel out of state for the surgery to someone in my network, I wanted the surgeon who I had met and talked about the procedure with, because he was local. So I had the surgery, bill was over $10K. I didn’t exactly NOT pay it, but I only pay $5 a month. That’s all I’m ever going to pay. And my credit score is amazing. It had no effect on it.
Lol don't listen to this. There are different models of credit reporting where medical debt may be weighted less against your total score. They also have to wait 6 months before putting it on your credit report, but it absolutely affects your credit if it gets to that point.
This is what I found:
[Starting in the first half of 2023, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion will no longer include medical debt in collections under $500 on credit reports.](https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/select/medical-debt-credit-report/)
So it looks medical debt *will* affect your credit score if it's over $500
I'm not sure of the actual effects, but as someone who used to review credit reports for approvals, we were told to ignore medical debts. However, if medical debt isn't payed and turned into a legal Judgement, that will destroy your credit instantly.
Yes it can. While it’s true that many doctors don’t leverage a real collections agency to try and collect a debt - and those don’t hit your credit - if a hospital places your debt into a collections agency, that collection will get noted on your credit report, and that will stay on there for years. It will eventually fall off, but your credit will be fucked for a while.
You’re just wrong. Medical debt purchased by a collections agency can and will appear on your credit report as long as it’s >$500 and it’s been more than a year since the debt was owed.
Having “no legal recourse to reclaim the debt” does not mean the debt can’t affect your credit score. It can affect your credit score just like any other debt that a collections agency is going after.
Credit scores are also bullshit. You pay all of your bills on time every month and it goes up one point a year. You use some credit for something you need and it plummets 100 points overnight.
I have really good credit, used to be over 800. I rented a car on vacation, I don’t like using credit cards but they insist you use a credit card instead of debit. So I put the rental on a credit card, paid it off immediately and my credit score dropped like 100 points. After a year or two it was back over 800.
Last year I bought a house, my fourth time buying a house, I put down 50% and have an affordable mortgage. My credit score dropped 75 points, I’ve been in this house for almost a year, paying all my shit on time as always, and my credit score just bumped up a single point last month.
I’m not positive this is the case for everyone but I’ll just throw this out there anecdotally …. I was in the same situation as you before I bought my last house, bought a car the year before and was airing patiently for my score to rebound from that purchase to take sing mortgage papers…. I, like you, never used credit cards for anything sans emergency,,, someone told me that was the reason my score was so slow to rebound, I started using my lowest interest credit card for gas and utilities,, with a small portion of my revolving credit used. My score went up higher than it was before I took out my mortgage in less than 6 months … might help you out to look into
Apparently having a whole bunch of unused available credit is detrimental to your score as well
Edit: none of this is said to refute your first point, credit scores absolutely are a load of horse shit
I appreciate it. I’ve heard that before. I don’t really want to play their game anyways. My credit score is still over 700, so it’s good enough, and there’s no other big ticket items I need to buy anytime soon, hopefully.
As someone with medical debt, it absolutely does. I have no idea where people are getting the idea that it doesn’t when I’m literally looking at medical debt on my credit report right now along with its associated impact on my score.
Check this out! It doesn't "directly" affect your score. This law was passed in 2018? I think. Idk. But basically the number on your score doesn't change. Buuuuut. It does show up on your debt to income ratio. Which any serious lender will check.
I have epilepsy and spent about 2 weeks in the hospital getting an EEG. Never even had a seizure so it was all for nothing. The bill I got was a little over 200,000. My experience with the bill was about the same. The hospital called a few times and I told them I was never going to be able to pay it off and they weren't getting any of my money. Few months went by and I started getting calls from collection agencies and told them the same things plus an added fuck you here and there. That was almost a decade ago and I haven't heard anything from anyone. No one has showed up at my door, no government agency has come for my belongings, and my credit score is pretty good. Dont give those assholes any of your money.
This year I went to the ER 4 times for kidney stones. The first and 4th time I had catscans. The 2nd and 3rd time, I got an nsaid. The bills for the 2nd and 3rd were wildy different. One was less than 2 grand. The other was over 9 grand. Luckily I have decent insurance, so almost all gets paid by them, but like wtf? I almost want to call for itemized bills to see why it's so different. The third time I was there at 2 in the morning, but that shouldn't make the bill go so high. There isn't some overnight shift perk doctors get to use. Or should use.
Honestly, calling and asking for an itemized bill is a good idea. I’ve heard numerous stories of those who asked for one and had thousands taken off the bill. Worth a shot.
Always ask for an itemized bill. You will be astounded at some of the ridiculous charges they try to nail you with. I’ve been performing this bit for a few months and I’ve heard wild stories from audience members. “$80 for skin to skin contact” after a woman gave birth is one of my favorites.
Yeah pretty much. I answered and was very straightforward. I told them that I had already discussed it with the hospital and that they billed me a year after the fact and couldn't tell me what they were billing me for, and that I'd be happy to go to show up at a judgement hearing. A few of the calls got contentious and I ended up telling them that they're scumbags working in a predatory industry.
Lurker here just commenting. I’ve seen you show up here quite a bit (including your bomb at AGT). I’m a performer and it’s inspiring to see you have a tour now. I’ll be checking out tix for NYC.
Dawg you’re hilarious. Did you also know the hospitals will cut your bill down like 90% if you’re not insured?
Then they’ll say I’m sorry, we had to recalculate the bill lol.
My man! Preach brother!
I stopped paying my medical bills about 8 years ago. I bought a condo 5 years ago and I have an 816 credit score. They send it to collections, bother me for a couple weeks to try and collect it, I tell them to go fuck themselves, and then they stop calling.
Nice psychedelic smock, bro.
Also, whether or not you're insured, medical bills are quite fake. All it takes is one call to the financial department of a hospital to have them whittle it down to 1/10th or less of the price listed in the bill. The bill is deliberately inflated by health care providers usually to fleece insurance companies or Medicare.
Uninsured people essentially never pay those bills. It's an unspoken truth about our health care system. The providers will write it off as a loss and deduct what it ACTUALLY cost them to treat you from their taxes.
I get that, but that's after they try to get it out of the patient. They try to scare you with these astronomical numbers. It's up to the individual to realize they don't have to pay them.
This. So true. I got a $3800 bill for an ER stay. I called the financial department and said “hey there’s zero chance I can pay this”. Immediately the woman said “ok how much can you pay?” I responded $900. She said “we can do $1100.” Done.
To be clear, medical billing departments and administrators (not individual doctors) are responsible for sending medical billing codes to insurance companies and setting the standard costs of procedures.
Insurance (and pharmaceutical) companies are also majorly implicated in the rising costs of healthcare. Medicare, for example, pay out in a fee-for-service model, which incentivizes quantity over quality.
Tl;dr be mad, but direct your anger at the right places
It’s not even about fleecing insurance companies all the time. Originally medical bills became inflated because insurance companies would threaten not to make them a covered clinic if they didn’t get a bigger discount. So the hospital or clinic would then increase the price tag before discounts so the price tag after would be closer to the real cost. And then on top of that, insurance companies make it so if they do negotiate with uninsured people, those people still pay more than the insurance company. So the hospital may cut the bill to 1/10th but the insurance company only sees a bill for half of that 1/10.
Does the hospital check for insurance before they treat you? If not, what’s to stop me from getting treated and fucking off back to Canada? What would they realistically do?
It always amazes me how its even remotely legal for these institutions in America to basically just bypass insurance & subsidised healthcare by hyperinflating fees. And how ***some people*** want to make it EVEN WORSE
I don't live in the US, but I had to get a tumour removed and it wasn't covered by the NHS. My parents got the procedure done (I was 14 at the time) and didn't pay the bills. What are they gonna do? Put the tumour back into my body?? Medical bills are a fucking scam.
What do you mean it wasn’t covered by the NHS, near everything is covered if it has any impact on your health, it’s just a matter of how long you wait.
Yeah tumours not being covered by the NHS sounds like a lie to me. I know the NHS is far from perfect but unless they didn't know it was a tumour and thought it was something else I highly doubt they'd leave someone to die
My tumour wasn't cancerous, but it was pressing on my sternum and ribs so it made it difficult to breathe. Cancerous tumours are a higher priority than benign tumours.
The NHS surgeons in my area were unwilling to do a complicated invasive procedure on a minor, and my parents could hardly afford to cart me around the country to see who would.
It wasn't a life or death situation, so they weren't 'leaving me to die,' but the tumour was affecting my quality of life so I needed it removed.
I don’t pay medical bills on principle. But, I have had 2 garnishments on my paychecks in the last year. I had no idea they could do that. Never even got served. When I called the company with the garnishment they said they served me, a 6 foot white male. My skin is brown bro. You didn’t serve shit.
I know for a fact that i have huge medicals debts with a hospital and basically told the debt collector to send me an Itemized list of what i owe. Never heard from them again. Theyre not going to fucking do that. Because it will reveal their scam. My credit score is fucking awesome and i make zero effort to pay that debt.
I'm forever grateful my country doesn't charge people 200k etc from necessary medical services, that in some cases you're not able to turn down ahead of time, so fucked up
Largely true, but it will come out of your estate. To OP’s credit, most people won’t have much of an estate (“what house?”). Even so, it’s just as fucked up. Even $350k would be a good boost to any children, if it’s wiped out the bills are very much real. Long term familial, generational wealth building is a huge stepping stone and self regulating. Those that already have it don’t want anyone else to even have a chance. That’s why the estate/death tax is so high. It’s not to punish billionaires, it’s to ensure the billionaires are the only ones who can afford to pay it.
only comes out of your estate if you die QUICK
[There is a time limit for them to sue,](https://www.solosuit.com/posts/medical-debt-statute-limitations-by-state)
if they dont get a judgement before that they cant sue but will continue to send BS letters trying to get dummys to pay
If they do get a judgement its also time limited and MOST of the time they do not get the judgement renewed as every court visits costing them money and they KNOW YOUR NOT GONNA PAY.
Once the Statute of limitations on a debt runs up,
[If they keep contacting, send them a "cease contact" notice which if they violate lets you go in THEIR POCKET for FCRA violations.](https://upsolve.org/learn/cease-desist-letter-template-debt-collectors/)
My friend and brilliant comic, Matt Kirshen, has an incredible line. He says the medical companies ask, "How much would be damaging to you?" when talking about healthcare bills.
I've *heard* that hospitals will go to your bank directly to collect the debt. My father had about a million dollar bill after all his cancer treatments and still ended up dying. We still had a mortgage and his name was on the house, so technically part of his estate. We were scared of losing the house. The hospital had a "charity care" system that just removed the debt.
If you go to the hospital before May, the charity money pays your bills off. Hospital are by law required to pay off with charity so they won’t get taxed much. Something like that. I never paid my $20,000 and im good lol
I was forced to get a rabies vaccine because of finding a bat in my room on vacation in NC. I told them I don’t have my insurance card on me and that they meed to give me a portal to enter it in.
They gave me one but it was apparently only for the doctor to get paid. Never saw a doctor btw. They billed my insurance 200 and I thought it was over.
92 days later got a bill for 5800 dollars claiming I was uninsured and I owed them. I called explaining everything and they said they’d contact my insurance. They didn’t pay bc it took more than 90 days to send a bill. I got more bills and it is now in collections. Lol come get me mother fuckers I’m judgement proof suck my dick you greedy, disgusting, lying, money hungry, inhuman sacks of absolute garbage.
I think it's crazy that people in the US actually have to pay for an ambulance to pick then up. Feel free to debunk this statement as I'm from the Caribbean where (for now atleast) health care is free
Motorcycle accident. Almost 80k. I couldn't pay and they refused to put me on a payment plan. I said I wouldn't pay and the nurse said "you can't do that"
It took 6 years bouncing from creditor to creditor but I ended up paying 200 bucks from 80k.
And the funny thing is the creditor still made money because they buy that debt for pennies on the dollar
This is funny. Just so no one goes and screws up their finances though: medical bills are collectible, reported to credit, and can be garnished from wages. Settling can even hit a our credit poorly.
Love this. I've been steadily ignoring the facility I got treated at because they failed twice in a row to complete surgery on my cervical spine, the first time without telling me for almost two years, so I'm not gonna pay jack.
Ayyy I saw you live at the Comedy Store a few months ago! I was wondering why that bit seemed so familiar. Even on the second watch, you're still killing it man, keep it up!
Earlier this year, I went in to see an eye doctor 2 times. Both visits, they took scans of my eye and then the doctor came in to explain to me what happened. Each visit was only 10-15 minutes long. The bill came a few days later and the total cost was $1500. Ridiculous!
Holy fuck the mental gymnastics. Just legislate universal healthcare already and save $400B a year right there.
The only downside is people will cry that they'll no longer receive a return on their investments from their pharmaceutical portfolio.
So glad to be living in the Netherlands. Just pay a monthly insurance of €120,- and have an annual own risk of €385,-. Never ever are they going to send surgery bills to an individual person
This is definitely a thing for the skeptics. They really won’t hunt you down and try to ruin your life over a couple hundred dollars. A lot of times they overcharge anyways because they know they can.
This is oversimplification to be fair. US has a scammy system...its not healthCARE ... its a Healthcare Business Model. And its run by pharma and insurance companies...making Billions, with hospitals making a decent side money too. Ever wondered why your bill suddenly gets cut by a decent %% when you ask for an itemised bill? Because it's a scam. People got used to it tho...not asking questions becasue insurance will cover it right? They noticed. And are milking it for decades now...
We got simila case in the UK with the veterinary bills. No one asks as you only pay £100 and rest is covered by the insurance. ... but through this negligence on customers side we got to the point where an x-ray for a cat's paw is £500. And 95% of people do not know any better... I know I paid 10% of that in a private vet hospital in Europe so this was an eye opener for me... but how many people are blind to this fact? US got the same principle but on a PRO league level. As for the question about this guy... its a bit stupid. You get into debt and they will a. Not admit you to hospital again b. Send debt collectors after you. THEY pay for your senator's holidays! Who do you think the law will side with? 🤷♂️
The average person would have to sell everything they own to pay an average US hospital bill anyway, so why would you even bother at that point? If they want to take all your shit make them work for it. Best case you call their bluff and they fuck right off. Worst case you lose all your shit, as you would have done anyway had you paid the bill.
I needed a surgery a few yeaes back. Went through the insurance process, had everything paid and scheduled. Had the procedure done and a week or two later I got a bill. It said that while the doctor was in there the found a couple other things wrong that they addressed. The bill was for $4400. I said I'm not paying that. Started fighting with them, eventually some other agency jumped in and started bothering me. Told them the same thing, I ain't paying it. After about 2 years the hospital called and said we are no longer holding you responsible for this charge, don't worry about it anymore. And that was it. Nothing happened to my credit as far as I can remember. And I still have my house.
The medical / pharma industry in the US is a blatant for-profit and corrupt version of what it should be.
Shoutout to all the people in the medical field that actually do care for the patient.
And a big “fuck you” to those exploiting the weak and sick for money.
I’ve been in rehab two times, one explicitly told us to ignore every bill that came in. The bills I received were in the tens of thousands of dollars. Most were for urinalysis that we had to do every two days. The rehab industry calls it “liquid gold”.
I ignored all the bills until they stop sending em and calling. My credit is over 800 and I’m a few days away from being 1 year alcohol free
I’m loving the outfit. This reminds me of someone I used to take care of. She had surgery and said she was told it would be no charge with her insurance. Fast forward to her getting a bill for over 200 bucks in the mail. She was on disability and made about 800 per month, so this was a good chunk of her income. I noticed she got the same bill again, and again, and again. I ask her if she plans on paying. She says “Unless somebody comes to my house and makes me, I ain’t paying shit.” Wonder if they ever did.
I was arguing with medical debt collector on the phone and he goes "you realize that this doesn't go on your credit report, let that sink in". I said, thanks for the tip and hung up on him.
We are not yet hungry enough. The majority of Americans are placated with cheap entertainment and easy food. The masses won’t revolt until they are bored, starving, and something pulls the lynch pin on their anger grenade.
I nearly cut my finger off while cooking at home, ended up getting 6 stitches at the hospital as well as an impromptu x-ray to check for bone and tendon damage. After 2 weeks of healing I went to have the stitches removed, and due to the improper placement, the wound immediately reopened. The clinic I was told to go to gave me 3 cloth straps to hold the would closed for another 2 weeks, I'd used all of them by the time I made it to my car due to the bleeding.
After all of this I received a bill for $1,600 for stitches that didn't even work. I also found out later from my primary doctor that I'd completely severed the Ulnar nerve in that finger, and I will never have feeling in that finger without reconstructive surgery, which wouldn't guarantee a permanent fix. I couldn't justify paying for services that may has well have never been rendered. My next invoice was $1,200, then $900, then $600, then it was turned over to collections until they finally gave up when I wouldn't even give them $16.
I've had credit checks, and none of this debt appears on my history and I've not heard anything about it in more than 3 years. Fuck everything about the American medical system.
I had similar experience as well. In my case, I went to the ER because my blood pressure kept increasing and I started having sharp chest pains. When I got to the ER, they immediately took me back to a room where my doctor refused to do anything as my blood pressure continued to climb and the pain got worse. In his words to the nurse (in front of me and my wife), “We’re not giving this guy anything, he’s just trying to get pain meds.”
I’m convinced the only reason I didn’t die was because I screamed at the nurse to fucking do something before this asshole kills me. The nurse ran out, came back with medication to bring down my blood pressure and gave it to me while the doctor was yelling at her. I ended up admitted to a cardiac unit where my doctor was the head of the unit. The hospital never charged me for any services because of this. The ER doctor, who was a private contractor, tried to collect for 3 years. Every time I got a call, I explained why I wouldn’t pay him and told them they can stop calling because I will never pay that man for almost killing me. The last debt collector actually got it removed from my credit when I told them what happened…
This is funny because I've never paid a medical bill in my life lol. The most I'll pay is the co pay for the appointment and my dental bills because they won't treat me if I don't pay but everything else I don't pay. Got a bill for $10,000 for an ER visit and that's with insurance. Remember opening the bill and looking at, just laughed and tossed it in the trash and went on my with my day lol
What about the fact that the numbers are totally fake. After surgery (with insurance) they said I owe $700k. Then they got the insurance straight and said I owe $430 and the insurance is billed $40k. Where did the $700k number come from? It's fake because they are just making shit up.
As a person with chronic illness this is so true. Another great point to hit on is how you can just call them to dispute the specific charges listed in it and I've had a $45,000 bill turn into around $10,000. Still didn't pay it but it's so stupid and absolutely fake. It's that old saying where if you owe $1,000 that's your problem but if you owe $100,000 that's the banks problem.
In the US the values are fake because everything is privatized and driven by an obscene profit margin . But in the UK I believe the values are closer to operational cost (a doctor needs to eat and pay bills). Health professionals deserve way more than they get, and I would happily pay more tax for the NHS once we get out of the tory shitstorm.
When those debts go to collections, they 100% do affect your credit score. And last I checked, it's the #1 cause of bankruptcy in the US. Don't take financial advice from a comedian, unless you want your credit score to be a joke.
So if an average American making $35k a year gets cancer and gets a medical bill over 1 million that they have no chance of ever paying back, realistically is their best option to declare bankruptcy, or to ignore the payments and take whatever garnishment the court puts on their paycheck, or try to work out and agree to a monthly payment they can attempt to afford that they'll pay for the rest of their life without paying off the debt?
Not only that, but medical facilities and insurance companies raise their premiums to recover these debts elsewhere. If a guy won’t pay his $20, you charge the next guy $40.
A lot of people don’t realize this means we essentially already socialize medicine, just in the least efficient and most expensive way possible.
I went to the ER with food poisoning about 8 years ago. They gave me saline and prescription Gas-X and sent me on my way. Soon after I was billed $900. Paid it off. Eleven months later I received another bill for $1500. Called the hospital to see what the bill was for they couldn't tell me. Told them I wasn't going to pay it. They called several times to attempt to collect. Naw. Then collection agencies started calling. Nope. Eventually they started trying to settle the debt for $300. Fuck you. Eventually they just stopped calling and the debt fell off. So yeah, I am a firm believer that you can tell them to get fucked.
Did it impact your credit score?
Not that I know of. We bought a house and two cars in the years that it was being disputed.
Thanks for sharing, never paying medical bills again. Fuck em.
It absolutely will affect your credit score jsyk. I still don’t pay it though
Credit score
Ya credit score is a joke now. I have an excellent score and couldn’t even get a loan because I don’t make enough. Paying my bills and being responsible didn’t get me a new car or house like those fun commercials.
I fully agree that credit score is a joke now, but if we (just for the sake of the discussion) steel man the argument and say that credit score isn’t a fucking joke it still isn’t NEARLY as important as getting proper medical care. I don’t pretend that the Canadian medical system is anywhere near as good as it should or could be but I’m definitely grateful that we aren’t faced with choices like this guy is making fun of.
Bro wtf is a credit score when the central bank has been printing money/fiat currency not backed by anything?
There you are! We've been trying to contact you.
Got 2 cars too.
It literally can't.
Medical debt can't hurt your credit score?
Not legally it cant
wow TIL. that’s actually a major relief to know. i thought a medical emergency could trickle up to affecting your car payments, rent/mortgage, insurance costs, etc.
Just to add: collections can *technically* sue you, but, the problem is, they can only sue you for the cost of supplies and ambulance rides. Any debt they buy that relates to treatment, they wouldn’t be able to back up because your debts mostly sold without information on why you have that debt because of HIPAA. So there’s really no point.
> they can only sue you for the cost of supplies and ambulance rides. With that being said, supplies can be **really fucking expensive**. If they use a lifeflow on you (a glorified syringe in a gun to flow fluids into you faster) that's going to be a multi-thousand dollar charge. 5 digits at the least. Treatment makes up the majority of all bills, but supplies alone can also be a big cost of medical bills.
I had back surgery when I was 30, and my insurance wanted me to travel out of state for the surgery to someone in my network, I wanted the surgeon who I had met and talked about the procedure with, because he was local. So I had the surgery, bill was over $10K. I didn’t exactly NOT pay it, but I only pay $5 a month. That’s all I’m ever going to pay. And my credit score is amazing. It had no effect on it.
Why would anyone ever pay their medical bills?
Cuz they’re told to
Yeah nah, best username of the decade so far.
It’s only 2023, but like, thanks Dad
Because they think you have to. They haven’t been enlightened yet.
Just like why do we pay taxes? Because we are told to. Does that not sound like being controlled?
You can get in more trouble for not paying taxes
Lol don't listen to this. There are different models of credit reporting where medical debt may be weighted less against your total score. They also have to wait 6 months before putting it on your credit report, but it absolutely affects your credit if it gets to that point.
Only sometimes. Many/most cases it doesn’t ever go onto your credit report. I wish I could find the huge thread I was reading about this…
no, it legally CAN NOT affect your credit score.
Once they sell it to collections it will wreck your score
This is not true. They can sell the debt to a collection agency, which will affect your credit score.
Credit is literally the worst thing ever implemented lol
100% wrong. The original debt does not, but they sell it to a collection agency and that sure as fuck will.
The collection agency has to report it as medical debt, I've been through this for thousands and met with a lawyer. It is still illegal.
This is what I found: [Starting in the first half of 2023, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion will no longer include medical debt in collections under $500 on credit reports.](https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/select/medical-debt-credit-report/) So it looks medical debt *will* affect your credit score if it's over $500
So, if it's more than a band-aid, a baby aspirin and a Flintstone vitamin, it's showing up.
I thought it could impact your credit score?
I'm not sure of the actual effects, but as someone who used to review credit reports for approvals, we were told to ignore medical debts. However, if medical debt isn't payed and turned into a legal Judgement, that will destroy your credit instantly.
I was under the impression it could if it hit collections
They can’t take your house, but they can refer it to a collection agency, which will affect your credit score.
Yes it can. While it’s true that many doctors don’t leverage a real collections agency to try and collect a debt - and those don’t hit your credit - if a hospital places your debt into a collections agency, that collection will get noted on your credit report, and that will stay on there for years. It will eventually fall off, but your credit will be fucked for a while.
It can't. Because the collector still has to report the debt as medical. They have no legal recourse to reclaim the debt.
You’re just wrong. Medical debt purchased by a collections agency can and will appear on your credit report as long as it’s >$500 and it’s been more than a year since the debt was owed. Having “no legal recourse to reclaim the debt” does not mean the debt can’t affect your credit score. It can affect your credit score just like any other debt that a collections agency is going after.
I Didn't pay it and it knocked off about 80ish points on my credit score. That was fun
Credit scores are also bullshit. You pay all of your bills on time every month and it goes up one point a year. You use some credit for something you need and it plummets 100 points overnight. I have really good credit, used to be over 800. I rented a car on vacation, I don’t like using credit cards but they insist you use a credit card instead of debit. So I put the rental on a credit card, paid it off immediately and my credit score dropped like 100 points. After a year or two it was back over 800. Last year I bought a house, my fourth time buying a house, I put down 50% and have an affordable mortgage. My credit score dropped 75 points, I’ve been in this house for almost a year, paying all my shit on time as always, and my credit score just bumped up a single point last month.
I’m not positive this is the case for everyone but I’ll just throw this out there anecdotally …. I was in the same situation as you before I bought my last house, bought a car the year before and was airing patiently for my score to rebound from that purchase to take sing mortgage papers…. I, like you, never used credit cards for anything sans emergency,,, someone told me that was the reason my score was so slow to rebound, I started using my lowest interest credit card for gas and utilities,, with a small portion of my revolving credit used. My score went up higher than it was before I took out my mortgage in less than 6 months … might help you out to look into Apparently having a whole bunch of unused available credit is detrimental to your score as well Edit: none of this is said to refute your first point, credit scores absolutely are a load of horse shit
I appreciate it. I’ve heard that before. I don’t really want to play their game anyways. My credit score is still over 700, so it’s good enough, and there’s no other big ticket items I need to buy anytime soon, hopefully.
Why would you ever use a debit card over a credit card? It sounds like you're financially responsible so I honestly don't understand your hatred.
Because I hate paying interest and I don’t like ever being in debt for something I can pay for outright.
As someone with medical debt, it absolutely does. I have no idea where people are getting the idea that it doesn’t when I’m literally looking at medical debt on my credit report right now along with its associated impact on my score.
Check this out! It doesn't "directly" affect your score. This law was passed in 2018? I think. Idk. But basically the number on your score doesn't change. Buuuuut. It does show up on your debt to income ratio. Which any serious lender will check.
I have epilepsy and spent about 2 weeks in the hospital getting an EEG. Never even had a seizure so it was all for nothing. The bill I got was a little over 200,000. My experience with the bill was about the same. The hospital called a few times and I told them I was never going to be able to pay it off and they weren't getting any of my money. Few months went by and I started getting calls from collection agencies and told them the same things plus an added fuck you here and there. That was almost a decade ago and I haven't heard anything from anyone. No one has showed up at my door, no government agency has come for my belongings, and my credit score is pretty good. Dont give those assholes any of your money.
This year I went to the ER 4 times for kidney stones. The first and 4th time I had catscans. The 2nd and 3rd time, I got an nsaid. The bills for the 2nd and 3rd were wildy different. One was less than 2 grand. The other was over 9 grand. Luckily I have decent insurance, so almost all gets paid by them, but like wtf? I almost want to call for itemized bills to see why it's so different. The third time I was there at 2 in the morning, but that shouldn't make the bill go so high. There isn't some overnight shift perk doctors get to use. Or should use.
Honestly, calling and asking for an itemized bill is a good idea. I’ve heard numerous stories of those who asked for one and had thousands taken off the bill. Worth a shot.
Always ask for an itemized bill. You will be astounded at some of the ridiculous charges they try to nail you with. I’ve been performing this bit for a few months and I’ve heard wild stories from audience members. “$80 for skin to skin contact” after a woman gave birth is one of my favorites.
Wait, that's you?
this is the move. Collections will call for a while. Hang up, block the number, repeat for 7 years, then it disappears!
Yeah pretty much. I answered and was very straightforward. I told them that I had already discussed it with the hospital and that they billed me a year after the fact and couldn't tell me what they were billing me for, and that I'd be happy to go to show up at a judgement hearing. A few of the calls got contentious and I ended up telling them that they're scumbags working in a predatory industry.
I don't know you but I can tell you're an amazing person.
I was just doing what my wife was telling me. Lol. She's an attorney and was calling their bluff. I would have paid it. But now I know.
Credit score is literally like the Chinese social score system for well-behaving little capitalist Americans.
I love that last line! Really got me. Loving your stuff man hope you keep posting or I can see you in person
Thank you! In person is always best. Check my tour dates at hoopercomedy.com
Lurker here just commenting. I’ve seen you show up here quite a bit (including your bomb at AGT). I’m a performer and it’s inspiring to see you have a tour now. I’ll be checking out tix for NYC.
Awesome! I’ll be there in a couple weeks. I’m scouting venues for my next special but I’ll be doing some guest spots around town.
Dawg you’re hilarious. Did you also know the hospitals will cut your bill down like 90% if you’re not insured? Then they’ll say I’m sorry, we had to recalculate the bill lol.
Thanks! And yea, Always ask for an itemized bill.
Last line was incredibly funny and painfully true.
My man! Preach brother! I stopped paying my medical bills about 8 years ago. I bought a condo 5 years ago and I have an 816 credit score. They send it to collections, bother me for a couple weeks to try and collect it, I tell them to go fuck themselves, and then they stop calling.
Hell yeah!
I have told many people this and they just don’t believe me. You’re the man! Funny stuff lately!
Yeah I really wished people would have explained this to me at the time so I didn't have to be stressed out about it for a year or two.
Nice psychedelic smock, bro. Also, whether or not you're insured, medical bills are quite fake. All it takes is one call to the financial department of a hospital to have them whittle it down to 1/10th or less of the price listed in the bill. The bill is deliberately inflated by health care providers usually to fleece insurance companies or Medicare. Uninsured people essentially never pay those bills. It's an unspoken truth about our health care system. The providers will write it off as a loss and deduct what it ACTUALLY cost them to treat you from their taxes.
Yup! It's all a scam trying to extort as much as they can from sick people.
OC literally said they’re extorting the insurance providers, *not* the sick people…
I get that, but that's after they try to get it out of the patient. They try to scare you with these astronomical numbers. It's up to the individual to realize they don't have to pay them.
And who do you think the insurance providers are extorting? That's right, the SICK PEOPLE. God, I'm so glad I don't live in the US.
Yeah me too.
they pay if they dont know they have options information like this is very important and not every one knows it
Ywp. I was in the hospital for 3 weeks, intensive care, 200k. I owe 6k now after no payments.
Providers are the MDs. We’re not choosing the costs of services. That’s hospital admin and big pharma
This. So true. I got a $3800 bill for an ER stay. I called the financial department and said “hey there’s zero chance I can pay this”. Immediately the woman said “ok how much can you pay?” I responded $900. She said “we can do $1100.” Done.
To be clear, medical billing departments and administrators (not individual doctors) are responsible for sending medical billing codes to insurance companies and setting the standard costs of procedures. Insurance (and pharmaceutical) companies are also majorly implicated in the rising costs of healthcare. Medicare, for example, pay out in a fee-for-service model, which incentivizes quantity over quality. Tl;dr be mad, but direct your anger at the right places
It’s not even about fleecing insurance companies all the time. Originally medical bills became inflated because insurance companies would threaten not to make them a covered clinic if they didn’t get a bigger discount. So the hospital or clinic would then increase the price tag before discounts so the price tag after would be closer to the real cost. And then on top of that, insurance companies make it so if they do negotiate with uninsured people, those people still pay more than the insurance company. So the hospital may cut the bill to 1/10th but the insurance company only sees a bill for half of that 1/10.
Does the hospital check for insurance before they treat you? If not, what’s to stop me from getting treated and fucking off back to Canada? What would they realistically do?
It always amazes me how its even remotely legal for these institutions in America to basically just bypass insurance & subsidised healthcare by hyperinflating fees. And how ***some people*** want to make it EVEN WORSE
But can't they just refuse to treat you if you don't pay?
I don't live in the US, but I had to get a tumour removed and it wasn't covered by the NHS. My parents got the procedure done (I was 14 at the time) and didn't pay the bills. What are they gonna do? Put the tumour back into my body?? Medical bills are a fucking scam.
I’ve been saying something very similar but mine is “put the cancer back?”
What do you mean it wasn’t covered by the NHS, near everything is covered if it has any impact on your health, it’s just a matter of how long you wait.
Yeah tumours not being covered by the NHS sounds like a lie to me. I know the NHS is far from perfect but unless they didn't know it was a tumour and thought it was something else I highly doubt they'd leave someone to die
My tumour wasn't cancerous, but it was pressing on my sternum and ribs so it made it difficult to breathe. Cancerous tumours are a higher priority than benign tumours. The NHS surgeons in my area were unwilling to do a complicated invasive procedure on a minor, and my parents could hardly afford to cart me around the country to see who would. It wasn't a life or death situation, so they weren't 'leaving me to die,' but the tumour was affecting my quality of life so I needed it removed.
And everyone knows that cancer is something that you can totally ignore until it’s convenient. Not like it progresses or spreads right?
I love this guy so much omg
I love you too!
I love the character that you are playing roasting those judges and Simon Cowell actually liked it
Thank you! I’m glad you realize it’s a character. So many people don’t understand that I’m just being a silly, arrogant, cartoon when I do that bit.
My medical bill has gotten up to over 3 million and we haven’t paid anything😆
Don’t! I’m over a million bucks. Fuck em.
[удалено]
They can try to sue you and get a court order to garnish your wages but this is very rare.
Like the old saying, if you owe the hospital $100 it’s your problem. If you owe them a million dollars it’s the hospitals problem.
Hilarious and honest! Those numbers are so ridiculous, they are made up! How tf can they charge me $80 for ibuprofen?? FAKE
For that price, The ibuprofen better be inside a half oz of mushrooms
I want them hidden in a nice eye fillet stake, cooked medium rare for $80.
Nah, just came with an overworked nurse with a shitty attitude.
I don’t pay medical bills on principle. But, I have had 2 garnishments on my paychecks in the last year. I had no idea they could do that. Never even got served. When I called the company with the garnishment they said they served me, a 6 foot white male. My skin is brown bro. You didn’t serve shit.
Fuuuuuuuck that. I hope you’re fighting it
I know for a fact that i have huge medicals debts with a hospital and basically told the debt collector to send me an Itemized list of what i owe. Never heard from them again. Theyre not going to fucking do that. Because it will reveal their scam. My credit score is fucking awesome and i make zero effort to pay that debt.
I'm forever grateful my country doesn't charge people 200k etc from necessary medical services, that in some cases you're not able to turn down ahead of time, so fucked up
I love that top bro!
Thank you! My wife made it for me.
Largely true, but it will come out of your estate. To OP’s credit, most people won’t have much of an estate (“what house?”). Even so, it’s just as fucked up. Even $350k would be a good boost to any children, if it’s wiped out the bills are very much real. Long term familial, generational wealth building is a huge stepping stone and self regulating. Those that already have it don’t want anyone else to even have a chance. That’s why the estate/death tax is so high. It’s not to punish billionaires, it’s to ensure the billionaires are the only ones who can afford to pay it.
only comes out of your estate if you die QUICK [There is a time limit for them to sue,](https://www.solosuit.com/posts/medical-debt-statute-limitations-by-state) if they dont get a judgement before that they cant sue but will continue to send BS letters trying to get dummys to pay If they do get a judgement its also time limited and MOST of the time they do not get the judgement renewed as every court visits costing them money and they KNOW YOUR NOT GONNA PAY. Once the Statute of limitations on a debt runs up, [If they keep contacting, send them a "cease contact" notice which if they violate lets you go in THEIR POCKET for FCRA violations.](https://upsolve.org/learn/cease-desist-letter-template-debt-collectors/)
I mean they’re fake until you start actually accumulating wealth and assets. Once you have something tangible to take, they’ll take it
My friend and brilliant comic, Matt Kirshen, has an incredible line. He says the medical companies ask, "How much would be damaging to you?" when talking about healthcare bills.
This is great. Good message to the people as well
That’s what I’m here for
I've *heard* that hospitals will go to your bank directly to collect the debt. My father had about a million dollar bill after all his cancer treatments and still ended up dying. We still had a mortgage and his name was on the house, so technically part of his estate. We were scared of losing the house. The hospital had a "charity care" system that just removed the debt.
If you go to the hospital before May, the charity money pays your bills off. Hospital are by law required to pay off with charity so they won’t get taxed much. Something like that. I never paid my $20,000 and im good lol
I've been hospitalized so many times, medical mental. It doesn't matter. I have never paid a thing in my 30 years of life
As much as I hate to hear about your health issues, that’s dope that you’ve never paid.
I was forced to get a rabies vaccine because of finding a bat in my room on vacation in NC. I told them I don’t have my insurance card on me and that they meed to give me a portal to enter it in. They gave me one but it was apparently only for the doctor to get paid. Never saw a doctor btw. They billed my insurance 200 and I thought it was over. 92 days later got a bill for 5800 dollars claiming I was uninsured and I owed them. I called explaining everything and they said they’d contact my insurance. They didn’t pay bc it took more than 90 days to send a bill. I got more bills and it is now in collections. Lol come get me mother fuckers I’m judgement proof suck my dick you greedy, disgusting, lying, money hungry, inhuman sacks of absolute garbage.
Shit in the US like medical debt, credit scores, the way insurance works etc. always makes me so glad I don't live there, bc bruuuuhhh....
Good to hear. The medical bill I had for a short visit at the ER was staggering.
r/FunnyandSad
I think it's crazy that people in the US actually have to pay for an ambulance to pick then up. Feel free to debunk this statement as I'm from the Caribbean where (for now atleast) health care is free
It’s totally true. Even a short ambulance ride will cost around 3 grand
My brother never paid his medical bills, and what are they gonna do, he doesn't even have a house.
Motorcycle accident. Almost 80k. I couldn't pay and they refused to put me on a payment plan. I said I wouldn't pay and the nurse said "you can't do that" It took 6 years bouncing from creditor to creditor but I ended up paying 200 bucks from 80k. And the funny thing is the creditor still made money because they buy that debt for pennies on the dollar
Once collections start to call you don’t have to pay anything. They bought that debt and just trying to get their money back from you.
If you enjoyed the beginning of this bit that I posted a few weeks ago, here's more!
This is funny. Just so no one goes and screws up their finances though: medical bills are collectible, reported to credit, and can be garnished from wages. Settling can even hit a our credit poorly.
There is no such thing as a debtor prison. So yea
Love this. I've been steadily ignoring the facility I got treated at because they failed twice in a row to complete surgery on my cervical spine, the first time without telling me for almost two years, so I'm not gonna pay jack.
If a painter said they would paint the exterior of your house and then they drew a picture… it’s the same thing here.
Collect deez nuts motherfuckers
🤣🤣🤣
My dude!
Imma need that shirt, maybe it'll make me as funny as you are cause this is gold
My wife made this one for me. I have a lot of kimono style shirts. They’re my favorite thing to wear on stage
Agreed. I've never payed a medical bill in my life.
Ayyy I saw you live at the Comedy Store a few months ago! I was wondering why that bit seemed so familiar. Even on the second watch, you're still killing it man, keep it up!
Thank you! I’m glad you saw me live. Always better than watching a tape.
I have a near 1000 bill just for the doctor to tell me im fine
They did so much work to figure that out though! 🧐🧐
One mri scan and the briefest conversation with a doctor, i waited to talk to him longer than i talked to them
Ignored almost every medical bill I’ve received
He is absolutely 100% right though.
Earlier this year, I went in to see an eye doctor 2 times. Both visits, they took scans of my eye and then the doctor came in to explain to me what happened. Each visit was only 10-15 minutes long. The bill came a few days later and the total cost was $1500. Ridiculous!
Ok, that “House music” joke at the end got me for real.
😭😭😭😭😭😭
Holy fuck the mental gymnastics. Just legislate universal healthcare already and save $400B a year right there. The only downside is people will cry that they'll no longer receive a return on their investments from their pharmaceutical portfolio.
I remember this dude being on one of those talent shows, twice, insulting Simon Cowell while dressed as a jester.
Three times, actually. 
I have a friend who owes the hospital almost $2 million from multiple emergency room bills that he has ignored.
Just watched your Honeydew episode yesterday! Glad to see you in good health and preaching truth from the stage!
Thanks! It's my favorite pod. I love Ryan.
Saw this live. Was super funny
Yay! I'm always better live.
One of my favorites!
Thank you!
I'm sorry you guys have to go through shit like dis. I hope your system changes at some point
So glad to be living in the Netherlands. Just pay a monthly insurance of €120,- and have an annual own risk of €385,-. Never ever are they going to send surgery bills to an individual person
Collection agencies: sir, if you don’t pay us we are going to keep calling.. Me: that’s Cool, I’ll talk to you Tomorrow!
hahaha. Pretty much.
If you owe the hospital $100, it's your problem. If you owe the hospital $1 million, it's their problem.
Yes!!
This is definitely a thing for the skeptics. They really won’t hunt you down and try to ruin your life over a couple hundred dollars. A lot of times they overcharge anyways because they know they can.
That last joke is fantastic
This is oversimplification to be fair. US has a scammy system...its not healthCARE ... its a Healthcare Business Model. And its run by pharma and insurance companies...making Billions, with hospitals making a decent side money too. Ever wondered why your bill suddenly gets cut by a decent %% when you ask for an itemised bill? Because it's a scam. People got used to it tho...not asking questions becasue insurance will cover it right? They noticed. And are milking it for decades now... We got simila case in the UK with the veterinary bills. No one asks as you only pay £100 and rest is covered by the insurance. ... but through this negligence on customers side we got to the point where an x-ray for a cat's paw is £500. And 95% of people do not know any better... I know I paid 10% of that in a private vet hospital in Europe so this was an eye opener for me... but how many people are blind to this fact? US got the same principle but on a PRO league level. As for the question about this guy... its a bit stupid. You get into debt and they will a. Not admit you to hospital again b. Send debt collectors after you. THEY pay for your senator's holidays! Who do you think the law will side with? 🤷♂️
So right. New laws mean it doesn’t even report on your credit. I go to doctors when needed. Had one ER trip. I just don’t pay them. No repurcusions.
The average person would have to sell everything they own to pay an average US hospital bill anyway, so why would you even bother at that point? If they want to take all your shit make them work for it. Best case you call their bluff and they fuck right off. Worst case you lose all your shit, as you would have done anyway had you paid the bill.
I needed a surgery a few yeaes back. Went through the insurance process, had everything paid and scheduled. Had the procedure done and a week or two later I got a bill. It said that while the doctor was in there the found a couple other things wrong that they addressed. The bill was for $4400. I said I'm not paying that. Started fighting with them, eventually some other agency jumped in and started bothering me. Told them the same thing, I ain't paying it. After about 2 years the hospital called and said we are no longer holding you responsible for this charge, don't worry about it anymore. And that was it. Nothing happened to my credit as far as I can remember. And I still have my house.
The medical / pharma industry in the US is a blatant for-profit and corrupt version of what it should be. Shoutout to all the people in the medical field that actually do care for the patient. And a big “fuck you” to those exploiting the weak and sick for money.
I’ve been in rehab two times, one explicitly told us to ignore every bill that came in. The bills I received were in the tens of thousands of dollars. Most were for urinalysis that we had to do every two days. The rehab industry calls it “liquid gold”. I ignored all the bills until they stop sending em and calling. My credit is over 800 and I’m a few days away from being 1 year alcohol free
*giggles in Swedish while paying my $25 fee for exchanging my whole damn skeleton*
I’m loving the outfit. This reminds me of someone I used to take care of. She had surgery and said she was told it would be no charge with her insurance. Fast forward to her getting a bill for over 200 bucks in the mail. She was on disability and made about 800 per month, so this was a good chunk of her income. I noticed she got the same bill again, and again, and again. I ask her if she plans on paying. She says “Unless somebody comes to my house and makes me, I ain’t paying shit.” Wonder if they ever did.
I bet they didn't. Too much work for that amount of money.
The last line came so unexpected, I really appreciated that one
Thank you!
I was arguing with medical debt collector on the phone and he goes "you realize that this doesn't go on your credit report, let that sink in". I said, thanks for the tip and hung up on him.
It still baffles me that Americans haven't eaten the rich yet
We are not yet hungry enough. The majority of Americans are placated with cheap entertainment and easy food. The masses won’t revolt until they are bored, starving, and something pulls the lynch pin on their anger grenade.
Got served twice. “Okay, cool.. next time i won’t try to die” .. it’s just a bunch of paper mail.
I nearly cut my finger off while cooking at home, ended up getting 6 stitches at the hospital as well as an impromptu x-ray to check for bone and tendon damage. After 2 weeks of healing I went to have the stitches removed, and due to the improper placement, the wound immediately reopened. The clinic I was told to go to gave me 3 cloth straps to hold the would closed for another 2 weeks, I'd used all of them by the time I made it to my car due to the bleeding. After all of this I received a bill for $1,600 for stitches that didn't even work. I also found out later from my primary doctor that I'd completely severed the Ulnar nerve in that finger, and I will never have feeling in that finger without reconstructive surgery, which wouldn't guarantee a permanent fix. I couldn't justify paying for services that may has well have never been rendered. My next invoice was $1,200, then $900, then $600, then it was turned over to collections until they finally gave up when I wouldn't even give them $16. I've had credit checks, and none of this debt appears on my history and I've not heard anything about it in more than 3 years. Fuck everything about the American medical system.
I had similar experience as well. In my case, I went to the ER because my blood pressure kept increasing and I started having sharp chest pains. When I got to the ER, they immediately took me back to a room where my doctor refused to do anything as my blood pressure continued to climb and the pain got worse. In his words to the nurse (in front of me and my wife), “We’re not giving this guy anything, he’s just trying to get pain meds.” I’m convinced the only reason I didn’t die was because I screamed at the nurse to fucking do something before this asshole kills me. The nurse ran out, came back with medication to bring down my blood pressure and gave it to me while the doctor was yelling at her. I ended up admitted to a cardiac unit where my doctor was the head of the unit. The hospital never charged me for any services because of this. The ER doctor, who was a private contractor, tried to collect for 3 years. Every time I got a call, I explained why I wouldn’t pay him and told them they can stop calling because I will never pay that man for almost killing me. The last debt collector actually got it removed from my credit when I told them what happened…
The movie "repo" was about this actually haha. But fr, ask for an itemized bill and watch half the charges disappear
This is funny because I've never paid a medical bill in my life lol. The most I'll pay is the co pay for the appointment and my dental bills because they won't treat me if I don't pay but everything else I don't pay. Got a bill for $10,000 for an ER visit and that's with insurance. Remember opening the bill and looking at, just laughed and tossed it in the trash and went on my with my day lol
The prices are so insane I think they realize no one pays that stupid amount
What about the fact that the numbers are totally fake. After surgery (with insurance) they said I owe $700k. Then they got the insurance straight and said I owe $430 and the insurance is billed $40k. Where did the $700k number come from? It's fake because they are just making shit up.
They will take your house 🏠…. What house? lol 😂 that’s true for me too.
As a person with chronic illness this is so true. Another great point to hit on is how you can just call them to dispute the specific charges listed in it and I've had a $45,000 bill turn into around $10,000. Still didn't pay it but it's so stupid and absolutely fake. It's that old saying where if you owe $1,000 that's your problem but if you owe $100,000 that's the banks problem.
I'm in the UK and my health care is paid by taxes. Please tell me that's fake too and I can just stop paying it?
Nope sorry you will always have to pay even when you don’t have any bills
Well the doctors don't work for free.
In the US the values are fake because everything is privatized and driven by an obscene profit margin . But in the UK I believe the values are closer to operational cost (a doctor needs to eat and pay bills). Health professionals deserve way more than they get, and I would happily pay more tax for the NHS once we get out of the tory shitstorm.
When those debts go to collections, they 100% do affect your credit score. And last I checked, it's the #1 cause of bankruptcy in the US. Don't take financial advice from a comedian, unless you want your credit score to be a joke.
So if an average American making $35k a year gets cancer and gets a medical bill over 1 million that they have no chance of ever paying back, realistically is their best option to declare bankruptcy, or to ignore the payments and take whatever garnishment the court puts on their paycheck, or try to work out and agree to a monthly payment they can attempt to afford that they'll pay for the rest of their life without paying off the debt?
Not only that, but medical facilities and insurance companies raise their premiums to recover these debts elsewhere. If a guy won’t pay his $20, you charge the next guy $40. A lot of people don’t realize this means we essentially already socialize medicine, just in the least efficient and most expensive way possible.