Depending on the study, illness related debt is the reason for between 42% and 50% of all personal bankruptcies. By contrast foreclosures are below 2%. Think of Obamacare (officially , The Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act ), as you like. Most people don’t agree with at least some provisions of the law. I disagree with many fundamental parts of it. It did , however, prompt action , and investigation at the state level. One nearly unanimous conclusion was that the uninsured, and underinsured were being treated unfairly. “Unfair”, by the common sense standard. The ones who could afford the least were being charged the highest rates, for the same service. The disparity of treatment has a direct correlation to the size of the care provider. The larger entities, abuse their patients more often, by larger amounts. Many states responded with laws requiring equal treatment, even before the law goes into full effect. New Hampshire was one of the first.
A healthcare facility is required to tell the patient that they will accept as full payment for the services , the amount that they usually charge the insurance companies. This amount is generally much lower than their uninsured rate, sometimes by more than 50%. They are required to do this at the time services are rendered and when they send out their invoice, which must be done within thirty days. I am astonished by the number , and the magnitude of the institutional disregard for the law. The victims are often the economically disadvantaged, with less education and fewer means to pay. I see too many bills from too many institutions to too many middle and lower income people. Those who know less, make the best victims. I see too many legal claims brought where they seek the full freight, without so much as at least suing for what the law allows, not what they think they can get away with. Some administrators just don’t know better. A few choose to ignore the law. Their lawyers should know better, and they are sworn to the tell the court all the governing law, even the ones which might not advance their cause. The law went into effect three and a half years ago, and it gave six months’ notice to all , so they can comply. There is plenty of blame to go around, but those charged with knowing the law, and informing their clients, have little excuse for failing their oath.
