Can paid medical bills in collections have a negative effect on your credit report? I mean can it keep you from obtaining a mortgage? a credit card? How is "medical bills in collections" weighed against "other collection accounts"?
MEDICAL IS A WHOLE 'NOTHER WORLD... As far as I know, MEDICAL is ignored on credit reports (many times)... I saw on TV, a trial where the judge TOLD a HOSPITAL to write off the bills, give the people a FULL REFUND OF ALL MONEY PAID, and remove ALL the information from their credit reports.
Man....I wish that was ME!! I hate my medical insurance co. They are soooo late when it comes to paying claims. Or maybe the hospitals are too quick in turning people over to collections. Either way...it's a nightmare. Thanks Georgie. =o)
You can pay ALL bills upfront and submit them to the insurance company. MANY TIMES, I have got a check BEFORE I had to pay the credit card...either way, I save money because I get cash back...1.00%...
This is a great idea, but it can come back to bite you. With PPO's especially, most providers will always bill for more than the allowed charge automatically and then accept the contract rate, trying to get more out of the insurer if possible. If you pay in advance, they will most often quote you the customary fee, and you can lose out with the insurance company reimbursing you less.
PPO...THAT'S LIKE A HMO...DON'T GOT IT...WOULDN'T TAKE IT ON A DARE... I HAVE 80/20 ANY DOCTOR, ANY HOSPITAL, ANY PHARMACY...AND HAS A MAXIMUM OUT OF POCKET...
My mother suffered with knee pain for 3 years before they finally "LET" her have replacement surgery. People have DIED because they couldn't get ANGIOPLASTY (EXPERIMENTAL), and ended up having a heart attack related to no ANGIOPLASTY!!!
mother2, I have a paid medical collection for $138. This has been the first decline reason code on a few cards, but I was still able to get several prime cards that used Equifax (the only CRA that reports it), and a mortgage in April 1997. The DLA is Jan 97, I think.
