Two in three patients can't pay off their hospital bills

[HAB911]

Of hospital bills that were $500 or less, 68 percent were not paid off in 2016. That's up from 49 percent in 2014.

More than two-thirds of patients aren't paying their entire hospital bills, and that number could increase to 95 percent by 2020, according to a study from TransUnion, a company that helps hospitals collect unpaid bills.

Analyzing patient data from across the country, TransUnion found just under half of patients did not pay off hospital bills of $500 or less two years ago. The company attributed the increase to higher deductibles and patient responsibility growing from 10 percent to 30 percent over the last few years.

The Affordable Care Act has given more people access to health care, but it has driven deductibles up, in some cases, making it harder for patients to pay, said John Yount, TransUnion's vice president of product for the health-care division. Hospital margins are already between only 2 and 4 percent on average, Yount said, and that margin quickly narrows when more patients can't pay their bills.

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/26/two-in-three-patients-cant-pay-off-their-hospital-bills.html

[Achilleaze]

1. "Tuff." - republicans

"Our glorious & beloved Draft-Dodger-in-Chief, Comrade Casino, doesn't have that problem. So suck it up, sickly proles, and pull yourselves up by your own munificient inheiritance. Don't have one? Tuff. You must not be special."

- Republicans

[Wellstone ruled]

2. Well Doggie,who would a thunk.

They have not seen anything yer. If this Tax Rebate Bill Passes,TIMBER.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. And it's going to get much, much worse.

Patients will have to pay everything, not just the deductibles. This will drive more people into bankruptcy, just like in the bad old days before the ACA.

[roamer65]

4. The hospital I have had do my major surgeries offers 0 pct payment plans.

It's not in my interest to pay it off right away. Spread it out and let inflation destroy some of that debt.

In bankruptcies, first debt to get wiped out is medical debt, followed by unsecured credit card debt.

[onethatcares]

5. here in sunny west central florida

the one hospital does not take payments. You have to get a medical credit card and the interest starts at 8.9. If you miss or are late on a payment, it jumps to 24 per cent.

How many people have the ability to pay off 10K in short order if a car accident sends them there and they lose their jobs?

fuck we are fucked