Medical care can be costly, and you could find yourself in debt if you struggle to pay your expenses. Furthermore, a hospital or healthcare facility can initiate a lawsuit and sue you for your debts.
Knowing your rights can help you navigate these tricky legal situations if a medical provider or collection agency attempts to summon you to court.
Dealing with collections
Your hospital may send your bill to collections if you do not pay an outstanding medical bill after a few months. Some hospitals have internal collections departments, while others use third-party agencies. If you have a medical bill in collections, you can look into debt relief programs and Medicaid. You can also try negotiating various with your healthcare provider to reduce your debt.
Responding to summons
Eventually, a hospital or collections agency can send you a legal summons. It is very important that you answer a summons if you get one. You can face serious legal consequences by failing to appear in court. Many people facing medical debt lawsuits consult attorneys to determine the best strategy for addressing their issues.
There are multiple ways that people with medical debt can defend themselves. For example, you can dispute the charges if they are excessive. Furthermore, you can claim insufficient income if you cannot afford to pay. If you did not receive a notice of debt from the hospital, you could use that information in your legal defense also.
Medical debt can be stressful, especially if you encounter legal issues. When facing a medical debt lawsuit, you can explore various tactics and determine a path that protects your rights.