My debt is for a infection and I went to 3 different locations. One place said it was all paid for at One place by staff aides. The next place sent me 8 seperate bills for 4 doctors, clinics xrays, and ER. I did pay 89.00 before I left the clinic One bill is 1370.60 337.00 137.00 59.99, 35.00 33.00 etc then the next things after being home 3wks I get a debt. collector letter. I'm gonna give then 10.00 a month and spent 6.30 on stamps then be done till next month. Thank you for your informative..
I applied for assistance to a hospital for 2 surgeries, all other care, including PT. The state of VA won't let you get supplemental insurance if you are disabled unless you are 65. Totally ridiculous! So, I was on the hook for a large portion of the bills. Everything that Medicare didn't pay was forgiven. Never hurts to try! 🌞
I Began studying and learning consumer law since 2004, the FDCPA, FCRA, TCPA, and the FCBA. Due to that knowledge, I was able to resolve disputes with debt collectors outside of court and they ended up paying me for their violations of the law and my rights. Up to and including medical debt. Important point; Debt collectors violate the law every nano second of every day, using scare tactics to force consumers to pay the non-existent debts. I was threatened with a lawsuit from a debt collector once and I took the threat seriously and drafted a complaint for violations of the FDCPA and FCRA and sent it to them with a notice of intent to sue. The debt collector timely contacted me and we resolved their violations with a private settlement agreement and I didn't have to file the federal complaint., and I received a check from their corporation.
In my experence when you tell a doctor or hospital you can only afford $10 or $20 they tell you $50 is the least we can accept. Also if the doctors billing service doesn't file the claim right and insurance doesn't pay they will go after you for the bill. Glad to see this good advise.
Sooo what ARE you saying Betty? That Drs won't accept payments less than $50/mo? That even if they screw up "the claim" whatever you mean by that, which by itself makes no sense, they will "go after" you, whatever THAT means - you've changed tenses in the middle of a sentence. Please clarify or delete this confusing comment.
It seems to me that the best strategy when getting older is to not own a home, not have a bank account(or at least don't keep you money in one) and to show as little income possible. Then you can qualify for every government assistance under the Sun and you can also dismiss those inflated medical bills.
Actually there is no sense in designing a life so you don't have assets. Assets including homes and bank accounts can be protected. You are right that there is some help financially for seniors who are lower-income or poor. But designing a life to be in abject poverty to be able to qualify for nebulous government assistance isn't a good idea. Eric HELPS
Not if married and you go above their cap. We were over 12.00 that suk'd. You can put your land in a private 98 SERIES EIN out of public jurisdiction. Sealed You can also put it in someone else's name and remain owner. There are videos on it.
The local hospital in my hometown consistently sues and files certificates of judgements which are liens on my friends' homes so I'm financing mine with 100% mortgage financing through an entity owned by my irrevocable trust in case I need to file bankruptcy or foreclose on myself.
That is uncommon. Again if you pay something towards a bill a physician you see regularly would not be expected to cut you off as a patient. Eric HELPS
Even as a nurse , I gain much more than my salary . Just if we can be part of any investment plan, we won’t have to sit at home and wait on the government for their checks . We can show them we can do it without them then we wait for them till they need us .
Can a medical provider deny service based on non-payment of a previous bill? (Like Jeff's mechanic example). And by-the-way -- my heart doctor cut my treatments off over $77.
I think we went over this but to clarify. Yes, a private physician could deny services. If it is your regular doctor, they are being primarily paid by medicare. It is my experience that if you pay something perhaps as little as $10 per month the doctor will continue to see you. A public hospital cannot deny service for non payment and many have programs to waive fees. Eric HELPS
Senior Living has other videos that discuss how seniors property is protected under state exemption laws and even if a senior owned property over the state exemption it is not the practice of a judgment creditor to go after nonexempt property it just isn't done. Eric HELPS
Eric, are the pensions added into the total monthly income that's protected? For instance, if a pension is 600 and your SS, SSd, etc is 1000, my question is, is double the amount protected=3200?? Or is it just the SS which is 1000 will double to 2 grand. I guess what I'm trying to say is 3200 protected in the bank which includes the pension? Thanks
It is all protected including pensions, Social Security, and VA benefits just not necessarily automatically. Twice the amount of federal benefits including SS, certain federal retirement, and VA benefits received each month are protected automatically by federal banking regulations by the bank itself regardless of the source of funds in the account at the time of a garnishment. So in your case $2000. If there is an excess in the account that excess could be temporarily held up in the event of a garnishment- but it is still protected money. A challenge to garnishment or claim of exemption form would need to be filed with the court that issued the garnishment, which would order that protected money be released. Normally it doesn't go this far. Eric HELPS Nonprofit Law Firm
@@ericolsen2141 Okay because my Pension (ERISA) could be garnished, then I have to fight to get it released? I hope it doesn't go that far because without my Pension included with my RRB covers all my bills, including rent! Now i'm stressing LOL I'm a worry wart!
@@chantalsslippersondeedeesf4853 if your pension is deposited where your SS is and its less than twice no worry. The pension itself can't be garnished only if it is in a bank account then as explained it is protected under twice the amount of SS. It is extremely rare that we see a senior have a problem with their pension and ganishment. You don't have to fight to get it released it is pretty much automatic. And if there is no judgment what are you worrying about? Eric HELPS
@@HELPSLawGroup Because I think theirs a judgment in the making. I say this because I looked up my Court Records and seen Capital One filed, but, because of covid, the date is delayed. Helps is aware of what's going on.. That's why I asked because of the Court Documents filed not to long ago.. It can be overwhelming and scary!! .I NEVER have more than twice the amount in my account. By the time all my monthly bills are paid, theirs just a little left! Thanks for answering my question.
Sad thing the medical care you get can make you worse, antivirals are on the headlines now. Antibiotics have been several times. Steriods with a Liver disease can hurt your circulation. I swelled up with 4+ Edema, that's when you push on the swelling and the indentation lasts longer than 4 sec. Meaning really bad circulation. Watch your symptoms and write them down as adverse reactions. Good luck & ty
The hospital was charging money from my brother we went to FA to filled this application in the hospital I don'tknow but they keep asking for copaid he's a sick person with a lot of health issues and meds. So this copaids still coming in should he had to pay? He went to retirement and he's getting less money that ssi I appreciate your answer this for your help
Medicare supplemental insurance can add coverage for medical expenses not covered by regular medicare. It is an individual decision. This video discusses situations where seniors with lower income incur medical bills they are unable to pay. Eric HELPS
Thank you both for this great information. I was not aware they couldn't take your SS for hospital debt. What about debt owed to an rehab facility or assisted living facility?
@@ericolsen2141 From Lil Giant I understand what you are saying, but that wasn’t our experience in Illinois. My mother died in 2001 at age of 81 in a nursing home. Several years before she entered the nursing home, while living on (minimal) Social Security pension and my dead father’s retirement pension for Black Lung, she entered hospital for congenital heart disease. They needed to transfer her to another hospital for better doctor care and called a helicopter. The regular hospital helicopter was out on a call. They called a private helicopter company. She was strapped into a gurney and tried to refuse going. The helicopter guys insisted the doctor had ordered it, and took her gurney in spite of her protests. Later, they sent her bill to collections. She had paid them $25 a month for over two years. She did not have any more money than that. She owned her “home”-- cinder block workshop and unused dirt floor garage, with workshop divided into 3 rooms and a shower with plaster board. She supported my older brother, who was on disability on SSI. I lived in Wisconsin supporting my 8-year-old twin daughters, going into debt $25 more every week and living on one meal a day, working full time at best paying job in town, for those without a university degree. The helicopter company took my mom to court. The judge said she had to pay MORE! She continued to pay $25 a month. The collection agency stopped calling her. When she went into the nursing home her “house” was not forfeit because my brother was living there on SSI. The $25/month was still being subtracted from her monthly income when she died. (Court judgment, ya’ know.) Since the collection calls and letters stopped after the court case, I have always wondered if collections realized you cannot get blood out of a turnip-when she testified about her bills and supporting her son. I was totally shocked, however, by the judgment against my mother. I feel the judge should have let her keep her $25/month and not made her pay those many years before her death, when she had told them while on a sick bed she could not pay the bill for a private helicopter. She tried to refuse to go! I also wonder if it was the collections and not the helicopter company that stopped dunning her, or if they were connected. On the other hand, collections continued accepting the money.
@@henryvalero9235 If your moms only income was Social Security and retirement she didn’t need to pay one red cent. Federal law protects that income. Your mom was likely confused and didn’t understand and paid this money when she didn’t have to. I see Seniors either misled by debt collectors or confused regarding their rights paying debt they cant afford all the time. Even almost all so called non profit supposedly “charitable “ debt management companies never tell seniors their income is protected. Instead sign them making payments they don’t have to pay.Eric HELPS
Please clarify what was said at 2:59, when he said if there was more than double the amount of the social security checks in the account. What and who files the report? Is there a limit on the amount you can have and not have it taken? Thank you!
It is generally not the practice for doctors or hospitals to report past medical debt on credit reports. Debt collectors occasionally will do that. For seniors with lower-income choosing between food, medicine, housing and basics going without basic needs to keep a high credit score is not always a good idea or at all necessary. Seniors dont' need credit like younger persons. I have gone into detail on this in many responses in Senior Living videos.
@@HELPSLawGroup I was refused medical service due to owning $30.00 to a lab for blood work.. I paid 2 weeks later which caused my medical condition to worsen is that cause for legal action?
When you say my bank account is protected for twice the amount... If my SSI is $1,000 / month, am I protected for $2,000 or is it accumalted, meaning, that my bank account at the end of the year is $12,000, is it protected for $24,000 or only $2,000?
You are probably getting SSD or SS, not SSI. (maximum amount of SSI is $794 this year) No matter, twice the monthly amount of any form of Social Security and most other federal retirement benefits is protected by federal banking regulations no matter the source of actual funds in the account at the time of a garnishment. If you had more than that in the account it is still exempt and protected, just not automatically by bank. If you had, say, $2500 in the bank then $500 would be held up. You would need to file a challenge to garnishment or claim of exemption with the court showing that the money in the account was from an exempt source, SS. Eric HELPS
Many don't qualify for Medicaid. $2.00 over the state limit..no Medicaid. In CA easier to qualify. NC..so hard. Many not 8nsured at all here. Please look into states like NC ..different ballgame.
Mom, 85, can't pay medical bills but she pays often. She worries about her credit score..$5 a month she won't pay that little. She isn't eligible for Medicaid in NC..worse state ever.
I'm 66 and healthy now, but... What if in my future I accrue hospital/doctor bills and my only income will then be social security which I will collect at age 70. I can't afford Medicare Part B since I'll need every bit of the meager SocSec$ to live on and I have property tax, home insurance, car insurance, and utilities to pay. So if I get hospitalized I can not afford to pay. Won't they put a lien on my home? I have a ladybird deed to pass down my paid-off home to my only child without probate so this is my biggest worry, a lien.
We could spend all our time worrying about things that may or may not happen. The bottom line is your income is protected. There are ways to protect the equity in your home for you and your heirs. Eric HELPS
If the lawyer here really cares why don't they start a movement to fix this crappy system we have in this country, regardless of how you say we don't have to worry, it causes undue stress and medical issues, I literally stopped going to the doctor because of all the medical bills being on Social Security, the medical complex is broken it needs to be fixed this is not going to help it will not stop the bills or the harassment
@@HELPSLawGroup ok. We need that last $30,000 to live on. I've also heard that to qualify for Medicaid, you can have only $25,000 in IRA or savings. My wife is only 60. I'm 68.
Yeah this whole Medicare system sucks. You work all your life to have something only to find out you really need to get rid of it all or lose the only thing the majority of us only have. Were insurance poor you pay monthly Medicare, monthly insurance, as well as copays and deductibles and still get a bill there’s something wrong
That's a lie we have to pay our own doctor bills 20 percent and our own prescriptions coverage they take 174. Every month for crap coverage. If you owe the doctor he won't see you again as it is doctors don't want ppl on Medicare bc the government takes forever to send them payments. If you own a house they take it when you die so don't fix it up. We can't keep the same doctor bc we owe them to much so pay them or look for another doctor. Seniors have to beg for food beg for help to pay prescription beg for help to pay the 20 percent of doctor. There is no non profit hospital except maybe catholic ones. But the wontvtake you without insurance. It's the doctors were you rack up bills and it's embarrassing to go to Doctor you owe money to and no they won't take you unless you pay what you owe. So all this shit is a lie. Yeah you can go to emergency room they can't turn you down but doctor office can and you will Waite and Waite 3 to 4 hours in emergency room. You ppl are not helping your part of the problem. And Cov c is a joke you still have to pay 20 percent of coverage and they don't give you a food card every month that's a lie to. Coverage C cost 139. Dollars and you still have to pay 20 percent so what good is it.
I really appreciate your Channel the older I get. I'm able to help others as well
Thank you! We appreciate your comment and we hope we can continue to help you!
Can a doctor refuse treating you again if you are not paid up with them?
My debt is for a infection and I went to 3 different locations. One place said it was all paid for at One place by staff aides. The next place sent me 8 seperate bills for 4 doctors, clinics xrays, and ER. I did pay 89.00 before I left the clinic One bill is 1370.60 337.00 137.00 59.99, 35.00 33.00 etc then the next things after being home 3wks I get a debt. collector letter. I'm gonna give then 10.00 a month and spent 6.30 on stamps then be done till next month. Thank you for your informative..
Happy to help.
Good to know for all seniors..
We are glad our video helped you. Thank you for watching.
I applied for assistance to a hospital for 2 surgeries, all other care, including PT. The state of VA won't let you get supplemental insurance if you are disabled unless you are 65. Totally ridiculous! So, I was on the hook for a large portion of the bills. Everything that Medicare didn't pay was forgiven. Never hurts to try! 🌞
wow, we are glad thing worked out for you!
How did you find out it was forgiven? I get letters from well care saying what I may get billed for every month.
I Began studying and learning consumer law since 2004, the FDCPA, FCRA, TCPA, and the FCBA. Due to that knowledge, I was able to resolve disputes with debt collectors outside of court and they ended up paying me for their violations of the law and my rights. Up to and including medical debt. Important point; Debt collectors violate the law every nano second of every day, using scare tactics to force consumers to pay the non-existent debts. I was threatened with a lawsuit from a debt collector once and I took the threat seriously and drafted a complaint for violations of the FDCPA and FCRA and sent it to them with a notice of intent to sue. The debt collector timely contacted me and we resolved their violations with a private settlement agreement and I didn't have to file the federal complaint., and I received a check from their corporation.
Thanks for sharing.
It is nice to know that a hospital emergency services cannot turn you away.
Excellent information ! Need more info like this ! Thumbs Up !!
Thank you! We appreciate your comment and will continue to post information we hope you enjoy!
In my experence when you tell a doctor or hospital you can only afford $10 or $20 they tell you $50 is the least we can accept. Also if the doctors billing service doesn't file the claim right and insurance doesn't pay they will go after you for the bill. Glad to see this good advise.
Thank you for watching! We are glad we were able to give you some insight on this topic.
Sooo what ARE you saying Betty? That Drs won't accept payments less than $50/mo? That even if they screw up "the claim" whatever you mean by that, which by itself makes no sense, they will "go after" you, whatever THAT means - you've changed tenses in the middle of a sentence. Please clarify or delete this confusing comment.
It seems to me that the best strategy when getting older is to not own a home, not have a bank account(or at least don't keep you money in one) and to show as little income possible. Then you can qualify for every government assistance under the Sun and you can also dismiss those inflated medical bills.
Actually there is no sense in designing a life so you don't have assets. Assets including homes and bank accounts can be protected. You are right that there is some help financially for seniors who are lower-income or poor. But designing a life to be in abject poverty to be able to qualify for nebulous government assistance isn't a good idea. Eric HELPS
Not if married and you go above their cap. We were over 12.00 that suk'd. You can put your land in a private 98 SERIES EIN out of public jurisdiction. Sealed You can also put it in someone else's name and remain owner. There are videos on it.
Hospitals generally will not accept time payments for services. I have tried to do that on the past. They refuse.
The local hospital in my hometown consistently sues and files certificates of judgements which are liens on my friends' homes so I'm financing mine with 100% mortgage financing through an entity owned by my irrevocable trust in case I need to file bankruptcy or foreclose on myself.
Thank you and God bless you both!
You are very welcome!
Can you please update thos video. He doesn't cover what to do with collections. It's a couple year's later.
Thank you very much for all the great information you provide on this channel, it has been so much help for me...bless you all!!
Your broadcasts have been so helpful!
We're so glad! Thank you.
You have very helpful videos on a variety of topics. Thank you so much
You're very welcome! Please subscribe if you haven't already.
Another great video with great info... Love what y'all do!
Thank you Katrina. We appreciate you!
Thank you Eric Olsen... a great help to me and many others. Subbed/liked. Will pass the word around about your channel.
We really appreciate it.
My heart doctor ended my treatment over a $77 bill.
That is uncommon. Again if you pay something towards a bill a physician you see regularly would not be expected to cut you off as a patient. Eric HELPS
Even as a nurse , I gain much more than my salary .
Just if we can be part of any investment plan, we won’t have to sit at home and wait on the government for their checks . We can show them we can do it without them then we wait for them till they need us .
Thank you for sharing great information 👏🏾❤️
You're very welcome. Please subscribe to our channel for more informative videos like this one.
May God bless you both have a wonderful weekend ❤❤
Thank you. You, too!
Excellent program you have. I highly recommend your channel.
Thank you Jacinta!
I. Really. Like. This. Show. Thank. You
You are welcome. Please share the channel with your friends.
Can a medical provider deny service based on non-payment of a previous bill? (Like Jeff's mechanic example). And by-the-way -- my heart doctor cut my treatments off over $77.
I think we went over this but to clarify. Yes, a private physician could deny services. If it is your regular doctor, they are being primarily paid by medicare. It is my experience that if you pay something perhaps as little as $10 per month the doctor will continue to see you. A public hospital cannot deny service for non payment and many have programs to waive fees. Eric HELPS
Great information!
We are glad our video helped you Giselle. Thank you for watching.
What if señor has assets. Property.
Is the property at risk from medical debt collector lawsuit?
Thanks
Senior Living has other videos that discuss how seniors property is protected under state exemption laws and even if a senior owned property over the state exemption it is not the practice of a judgment creditor to go after nonexempt property it just isn't done. Eric HELPS
How about Veteran pension
@Grumpy Old Man thank you
Eric, are the pensions added into the total monthly income that's protected? For instance, if a pension is 600 and your SS, SSd, etc is 1000, my question is, is double the amount protected=3200?? Or is it just the SS which is 1000 will double to 2 grand. I guess what I'm trying to say is 3200 protected in the bank which includes the pension? Thanks
It is all protected including pensions, Social Security, and VA benefits just not necessarily automatically. Twice the amount of federal benefits including SS, certain federal retirement, and VA benefits received each month are protected automatically by federal banking regulations by the bank itself regardless of the source of funds in the account at the time of a garnishment. So in your case $2000. If there is an excess in the account that excess could be temporarily held up in the event of a garnishment- but it is still protected money. A challenge to garnishment or claim of exemption form would need to be filed with the court that issued the garnishment, which would order that protected money be released. Normally it doesn't go this far. Eric HELPS Nonprofit Law Firm
@@ericolsen2141 Okay because my Pension (ERISA) could be garnished, then I have to fight to get it released? I hope it doesn't go that far because without my Pension included with my RRB covers all my bills, including rent! Now i'm stressing LOL I'm a worry wart!
@@chantalsslippersondeedeesf4853 if your pension is deposited where your SS is and its less than twice no worry. The pension itself can't be garnished only if it is in a bank account then as explained it is protected under twice the amount of SS. It is extremely rare that we see a senior have a problem with their pension and ganishment. You don't have to fight to get it released it is pretty much automatic. And if there is no judgment what are you worrying about? Eric HELPS
@@HELPSLawGroup Because I think theirs a judgment in the making. I say this because I looked up my Court Records and seen Capital One filed, but, because of covid, the date is delayed. Helps is aware of what's going on.. That's why I asked because of the Court Documents filed not to long ago.. It can be overwhelming and scary!! .I NEVER have more than twice the amount in my account. By the time all my monthly bills are paid, theirs just a little left! Thanks for answering my question.
Sad thing the medical care you get can make you worse, antivirals are on the headlines now. Antibiotics have been several times. Steriods with a Liver disease can hurt your circulation. I swelled up with 4+ Edema, that's when you push on the swelling and the indentation lasts longer than 4 sec. Meaning really bad circulation. Watch your symptoms and write them down as adverse reactions. Good luck & ty
The hospital was charging money from my brother we went to FA to filled this application in the hospital I don'tknow but they keep asking for copaid he's a sick person with a lot of health issues and meds. So this copaids still coming in should he had to pay? He went to retirement and he's getting less money that ssi I appreciate your answer this for your help
Contact the HELPS Nonprofit Law Firm, call 1-855-435-7787.
Thank you Eric
You are welcome. Please share the channel with your friends!
I am 64 and still working full time....am I considered a "senior" or do you have to be 65 and retired for your info to be most relevant? Thank You!
Many HELPS clients are working and receiving retirement income. The laws protecting income from wages are partially state specific. Eric HELPS
Is it a good idea to have Medicare and supplemental plan "g" at a cost of $235.00 a month?
Medicare supplemental insurance can add coverage for medical expenses not covered by regular medicare. It is an individual decision. This video discusses situations where seniors with lower income incur medical bills they are unable to pay. Eric HELPS
Thank you both for this great information. I was not aware they couldn't take your SS for hospital debt. What about debt owed to an rehab facility or assisted living facility?
Social Security is protected from all creditors except for past due child support and certain government debt. Eric HELPS Nonprofit Law Firm
@@ericolsen2141 Thank you great information.
@@ericolsen2141 From Lil Giant I understand what you are saying, but that wasn’t our experience in Illinois. My mother died in 2001 at age of 81 in a nursing home. Several years before she entered the nursing home, while living on (minimal) Social Security pension and my dead father’s retirement pension for Black Lung, she entered hospital for congenital heart disease.
They needed to transfer her to another hospital for better doctor care and called a helicopter. The regular hospital helicopter was out on a call. They called a private helicopter company. She was strapped into a gurney and tried to refuse going. The helicopter guys insisted the doctor had ordered it, and took her gurney in spite of her protests.
Later, they sent her bill to collections. She had paid them $25 a month for over two years. She did not have any more money than that. She owned her “home”-- cinder block workshop and unused dirt floor garage, with workshop divided into 3 rooms and a shower with plaster board.
She supported my older brother, who was on disability on SSI. I lived in Wisconsin supporting my 8-year-old twin daughters, going into debt $25 more every week and living on one meal a day, working full time at best paying job in town, for those without a university degree.
The helicopter company took my mom to court. The judge said she had to pay MORE! She continued to pay $25 a month. The collection agency stopped calling her. When she went into the nursing home her “house” was not forfeit because my brother was living there on SSI. The $25/month was still being subtracted from her monthly income when she died. (Court judgment, ya’ know.)
Since the collection calls and letters stopped after the court case, I have always wondered if collections realized you cannot get blood out of a turnip-when she testified about her bills and supporting her son. I was totally shocked, however, by the judgment against my mother.
I feel the judge should have let her keep her $25/month and not made her pay those many years before her death, when she had told them while on a sick bed she could not pay the bill for a private helicopter. She tried to refuse to go! I also wonder if it was the collections and not the helicopter company that stopped dunning her, or if they were connected. On the other hand, collections continued accepting the money.
@@henryvalero9235 If your moms only income was Social Security and retirement she didn’t need to pay one red cent. Federal law protects that income. Your mom was likely confused and didn’t understand and paid this money when she didn’t have to. I see Seniors either misled by debt collectors or confused regarding their rights paying debt they cant afford all the time. Even almost all so called non profit supposedly “charitable “ debt management companies never tell seniors their income is protected. Instead sign them making payments they don’t have to pay.Eric HELPS
Please clarify what was said at 2:59, when he said if there was more than double the amount of the social security checks in the account. What and who files the report? Is there a limit on the amount you can have and not have it taken? Thank you!
Banks can identify the source of funds deposited. There is no report needed to be filed. Eric HELPS
I payed 75$ a month for 2 years
What about medical bills sent to credit report bringing down fico score from 750 to 580?
It is generally not the practice for doctors or hospitals to report past medical debt on credit reports. Debt collectors occasionally will do that. For seniors with lower-income choosing between food, medicine, housing and basics going without basic needs to keep a high credit score is not always a good idea or at all necessary. Seniors dont' need credit like younger persons. I have gone into detail on this in many responses in Senior Living videos.
Thankyou Eric.
If your home and vehicles are paid off will they put a lean them?
Here is a video from Senior Living that should answer this question: ruclips.net/video/5KF2ukqlpkk/видео.html
Also, is IRA money protected as well?
Yes HELPS
@@HELPSLawGroup I was refused medical service due to owning $30.00 to a lab for blood work.. I paid 2 weeks later which caused my medical condition to worsen is that cause for legal action?
When you say my bank account is protected for twice the amount... If my SSI is $1,000 / month, am I protected for $2,000 or is it accumalted, meaning, that my bank account at the end of the year is $12,000, is it protected for $24,000 or only $2,000?
You are probably getting SSD or SS, not SSI. (maximum amount of SSI is $794 this year) No matter, twice the monthly amount of any form of Social Security and most other federal retirement benefits is protected by federal banking regulations no matter the source of actual funds in the account at the time of a garnishment. If you had more than that in the account it is still exempt and protected, just not automatically by bank. If you had, say, $2500 in the bank then $500 would be held up. You would need to file a challenge to garnishment or claim of exemption with the court showing that the money in the account was from an exempt source, SS. Eric HELPS
Many don't qualify for Medicaid. $2.00 over the state limit..no Medicaid. In CA easier to qualify. NC..so hard. Many not 8nsured at all here. Please look into states like NC ..different ballgame.
Thanks for letting us know.
What age do you have to be to be considered a senior?
These protections apply to the type of income Social Security, pension, other retirement and disability regardless of age HELPS
Mom, 85, can't pay medical bills but she pays often. She worries about her credit score..$5 a month she won't pay that little. She isn't eligible for Medicaid in NC..worse state ever.
I'm 66 and healthy now, but... What if in my future I accrue hospital/doctor bills and my only income will then be social security which I will collect at age 70. I can't afford Medicare Part B since I'll need every bit of the meager SocSec$ to live on and I have property tax, home insurance, car insurance, and utilities to pay. So if I get hospitalized I can not afford to pay. Won't they put a lien on my home? I have a ladybird deed to pass down my paid-off home to my only child without probate so this is my biggest worry, a lien.
We could spend all our time worrying about things that may or may not happen. The bottom line is your income is protected. There are ways to protect the equity in your home for you and your heirs. Eric HELPS
CAN THEY SEND YOU FOR COLLECTIONS?
Sure but your Social Security and retirement income is protected. Eric HELPS
If the lawyer here really cares why don't they start a movement to fix this crappy system we have in this country, regardless of how you say we don't have to worry, it causes undue stress and medical issues, I literally stopped going to the doctor because of all the medical bills being on Social Security, the medical complex is broken it needs to be fixed this is not going to help it will not stop the bills or the harassment
I get finance aid @ the hospital I go to,
I thought medicaid will conduct estate recovery by taking your home. Medicare/Medicaid part ABC
Yes that is possible Eric HELPS
How do you not cover IRA? IRA mostly gone. Down to our last $30,000. Freeze so we can't withdraw from it?
I am not sure the question but an IRA is protected from collectors and doesn't need to be used to pay debt you can't afford to pay. Eric HELPS
@@HELPSLawGroup ok. We need that last $30,000 to live on.
I've also heard that to qualify for Medicaid, you can have only $25,000 in IRA or savings. My wife is only 60. I'm 68.
@@HELPSLawGroup the question was can the debt collector put a hold on your IRA.
@@loonhaunt No it is protected under federal law Eric HELPS
@@loonhaunt many Medicaid rules are state specific and too much detail to answer in a reply like this. Eric HELPS
Are these people 65 and older??? How about if you own something, like a house or property ,, are those safe?????
Contact the HELPS Nonprofit Law Firm, call 1-855-435-7787
There are several videos with HELPS on this channel that answer this question Eric HELPS
But it is medicine that is taking me to the cleaners.
Tabrez
Yeah this whole Medicare system sucks. You work all your life to have something only to find out you really need to get rid of it all or lose the only thing the majority of us only have. Were insurance poor you pay monthly Medicare, monthly insurance, as well as copays and deductibles and still get a bill there’s something wrong
We feel your pain.
I really hope to get a reply please
We're working on the proper answer. Thanks.
Be careful with Medicaid with a home in your name
Big deal. I get to keep my 1500 a month while they suck hundreds of thousands out of my savings?
Who is "they" and why are they taking money from you?
That's a lie we have to pay our own doctor bills 20 percent and our own prescriptions coverage they take 174. Every month for crap coverage. If you owe the doctor he won't see you again as it is doctors don't want ppl on Medicare bc the government takes forever to send them payments. If you own a house they take it when you die so don't fix it up. We can't keep the same doctor bc we owe them to much so pay them or look for another doctor. Seniors have to beg for food beg for help to pay prescription beg for help to pay the 20 percent of doctor. There is no non profit hospital except maybe catholic ones. But the wontvtake you without insurance. It's the doctors were you rack up bills and it's embarrassing to go to Doctor you owe money to and no they won't take you unless you pay what you owe. So all this shit is a lie. Yeah you can go to emergency room they can't turn you down but doctor office can and you will Waite and Waite 3 to 4 hours in emergency room. You ppl are not helping your part of the problem. And Cov c is a joke you still have to pay 20 percent of coverage and they don't give you a food card every month that's a lie to. Coverage C cost 139. Dollars and you still have to pay 20 percent so what good is it.