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Honored Contributor
Posts: 19,102
Registered: ‎06-17-2015

Re: Getting prior approval is becoming meaningless


@Nuttmeg wrote:

@


@50Mickey wrote:

 



I also saw this article on CBS News about the state of Kansas jailing people with unpaid medical bills.   Here is the link:

 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coffeyville-kansas-medical-debt-county-in-rural-kansas-is-jailing-peopl... 

 

The health system really needs fixed.


I read the article. They were not jailed for owning a medical debt. They were arrested for contempt of court for failing to appear in court twice about said bill.  Not a smart thing to do. 


@50Mickey 

 

I watched the video on CBSN. The court is making people pay money  $500 that do not have. Would you want someone to force you to appear in court, because you can't pay. Does this serve justice? 


@Nuttmeg   They would have had the chance to plead their case before the judge.  That was the purpose of the whole court appearance.

 

Before any further action could be taken against that couple, they had the right to present their case and reasons regarding lack of ability to pay.

 

Yes, justice would have given them this chance; they had the chance to work out something and chose to ignore the summons-twice.

"" Compassion is a verb."-Thich Nhat Hanh
Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,457
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Getting prior approval is becoming meaningless

[ Edited ]

@Cakers3 wrote:

@Nuttmeg wrote:

@


@50Mickey wrote:

 



I also saw this article on CBS News about the state of Kansas jailing people with unpaid medical bills.   Here is the link:

 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coffeyville-kansas-medical-debt-county-in-rural-kansas-is-jailing-peopl... 

 

The health system really needs fixed.


I read the article. They were not jailed for owning a medical debt. They were arrested for contempt of court for failing to appear in court twice about said bill.  Not a smart thing to do. 


@50Mickey 

 

I watched the video on CBSN. The court is making people pay money  $500 that do not have. Would you want someone to force you to appear in court, because you can't pay. Does this serve justice? 


@Nuttmeg   They would have had the chance to plead their case before the judge.  That was the purpose of the whole court appearance.

 

Before any further action could be taken against that couple, they had the right to present their case and reasons regarding lack of ability to pay.

 

Yes, justice would have given them this chance; they had the chance to work out something and chose to ignore the summons-twice.


@Cakers3

Did you read the story or watch the video? We are talking about people having a hard time paying medical bills. Can the husband or wife afford to take a day off from work?The answer is No. This a way for the person holding the medical debt to get a portion of the  $500 fine. A part of this fee goes to a attorney representing the debt holder. This tactic is hurting those least able to pay. 

 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 19,102
Registered: ‎06-17-2015

Re: Getting prior approval is becoming meaningless


@Nuttmeg wrote:

@Cakers3 wrote:

@Nuttmeg wrote:

@


@50Mickey wrote:

 



I also saw this article on CBS News about the state of Kansas jailing people with unpaid medical bills.   Here is the link:

 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coffeyville-kansas-medical-debt-county-in-rural-kansas-is-jailing-peopl... 

 

The health system really needs fixed.


I read the article. They were not jailed for owning a medical debt. They were arrested for contempt of court for failing to appear in court twice about said bill.  Not a smart thing to do. 


@50Mickey 

 

I watched the video on CBSN. The court is making people pay money  $500 that do not have. Would you want someone to force you to appear in court, because you can't pay. Does this serve justice? 


@Nuttmeg   They would have had the chance to plead their case before the judge.  That was the purpose of the whole court appearance.

 

Before any further action could be taken against that couple, they had the right to present their case and reasons regarding lack of ability to pay.

 

Yes, justice would have given them this chance; they had the chance to work out something and chose to ignore the summons-twice.


@Cakers3

Did you read the story or watch the video? We are talking about people having a hard time paying medical bills. Can the husband or wife afford to take a day off from work?The answer is No. This a way for the person holding the medical debt to get a portion of the  $500 fine. A part of this fee goes to a attorney representing the debt holder. This tactic is hurting those least able to pay. 

 


@Nuttmeg   You are missing the point.  You said he was thrown in jail for not paying his debt.  That was not true.

 

He was sent to jail for failing to appear twice in court-where he could have present his hardship to a judge.


You don't know if he could not take a day off from work; and while I find the lawyer disgusting, the fact remains the jail sentence had nothing to do with the debt.

 

Nobody likes to see people suffering from medical debt.

 

You are acting as though people are being thrown into prison with no due process.  You are wrong.

 

Believe what you want. 

"" Compassion is a verb."-Thich Nhat Hanh
Honored Contributor
Posts: 17,491
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Getting prior approval is becoming meaningless

Many states are in the process of setting up protections for surprise medical bills.

 

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