Can your wages be garnished for an unpaid hospital bill?

Answer 1

The short answer is, "Yes". The hospital or its biller (who likely bought your debt) for just under cost) may charge interest of certain percentage depending on the state, usually around eight percent (minimum), depending on credit scores and/or their whim as allowed by law. You should look this up in a search engine rather than asking a site like this here: search 'medical billing interest charges' or something like that in Google and you'll find plenty of hits. Each state has its own laws, though, and these are unfortunately hard to find.

The law and the courts see it thusly, that a provider could be investing, gaining interest, or in some way putting their money to use to their benefit, which their debtors are therefore depriving them of; the nice thing about hospitals, though, is they are often understanding, and far more willing to negotiate reasonably than other types of creditors are. Just paying some money is not enough, either, to prevent their passing-on of the debt to a collection agency: you can't pay five bucks a month on a thousand debt--as a judge would tell you; two hundred, on the other hand, they might go for, (probably a little more, though).

Answer 2

Probably,in most states after due process has been followed by the creditor/plaintiff meaning a lawsuit was won and a judgment awarded; the judgment can be executed as a wage garnishment. Four states do not allow garnishment by creditors they are North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Pennsylvania.

Answer 3

Yes, definitely. Although, it will only show up on your credit report after the hospital has proceeded to turn the debt over to a collection company and the collection company obtains a default judgment against you. At that point, it will show up on your credit as a derogatory public record/lien/judgment.

Answer 4

I believe they can,you cant just stay in a hospital for free,it's not really fair to the other people who stay in their and pay tons of money for it. If you didn't pay when you were supposed to and they told you over and over about it and you still haven't paid then they have the right and a reason to.

Answer 5

this depends on a few different things. one, is the collector "assigned" to collect the debt by the original creditor? if so and you agreed in the original contract to do so, then you are stuck with paying them interest, fees and penalties. If this is a thrid party collector, such as you would find if the debt was sold, then no, it is not legal. the FDCPA covers this... it would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with the law to be sure that you don't get into a bigger mess than you are already in. you can find a copy of the FDCPA as well as a lot of other really good info at the FTC website.

Answer 6

Yes they can!!!!!!!!!!!!!