greenMark

Hi All,

I'm one of the DV lottery 2010 winners for USA and expecting the interview confirmation letter. I have travelled to USA once (in 2008) as a visitor and had emergency medical treatments from a hospital in California during that 10 days period. I was taken to the hospital by 911 emergency services. My wife signed all the documents given by 911 and the hospital. Later on we discovered they had sent the bills for the address where we were. (We never thought they are charging for these services, in UK they never charge.) My wife and I stayed at my uncle's place and this same address was given to the green card processing. But we didn't pay any of these hospital bills or Emergency service bills. (We were in UK when receiving bills). Will there be a problem at my Green card visa interview regarding this matter?

Manc

welcome to America.

Scouse Express

If there isn't a problem at your interview......there could well be a problem the next time you dial 911!

Our insurance premiums keep going up, partly to pay for those who skip-out on their obligations.

When my Mother-In-Law died, the cost of Ambulance and Paramedic services was $850....which was paid via Insurance.


Jim.

Mummy in the foothills

I thought the whole world knew that they needed to buy medical travel insurance to visit the US
It may not come up in the interview, but by now it would have been sent to a collection agency and when you apply for any credit in the US they will probably track you down and start to ask for their money. Start saving. Did your Uncle say how much the bills were for?

Duncan Roberts

It might come back to you, especially if the hospital passed on your debt and/or claimed government payment for all or some of it. If you are coming to the US you need to be aware that healthcare is costly and nothing like the NHS. It should be something that is carefully considered before making the move as it can drain all your money and leave you bankrupt.

I would advise you contact the hospital and find out what's what and then see if you can negotiate a discount, although since you skipped out on your debts I doubt they will be willing to offer you much of a discount if any. You should pay off the debt as it is your debt and is only adding to the healthcare issues we have here already then you should be in the clear. Most hospitals will forgive late payment as long as they get payment.

Rete

I would assume that you are not ignorant of the fact that the US does not have a Universal Healthcare system in place and that medical procedures are not free. I would also assume that you would know that you were to take a travel healthcare plan out for your visit.

If the bills were sent to your uncle's house why were they not forwarded to you by him for payment? It is your responsibility to pay the charges and do not be surprised if you it comes back to bite you in the arse and if you find that there is a warrant out for you when you next enter the US.

bevinva

For once I am happy to live in Virginia Beach, home to an all volunteer free rescue squad. They are outstanding. I think a man down the street has serious health problems and no insurance, they are at his house every other day.
http://www.rescue14.com/
http://www.plazarescue.com/

Bob

Getting a greencard won't be a problem...getting credit history to get and do anything else once here could be...

Get in touch with the hospital, sort it out....or don't bother coming back to the US.

scrubbedexpat091

Generally for 9-11 services:

Fire department services, free and paid via taxes.

Police- Free via taxes.

Ambulance- generally a fee attached even when the service is provided via the local fire department or city.

There are differences state to state, city to city but generally this is what you can expect, haven't lived in a city yet where police or fire bill for actual emergency calls, fire will at times charge for false alarms or if you set the fire etc.

Ash UK/US

A little off topic but generally aren't you only charged for the ambulance if you use them. For example, you pass out and before you come to some one has called 911, you come around, ambulance arrives but you refuse to go with them to the hospital... you are not charged, correct?

Bob

Depends, you might get a charge for wasting their time, but probably not in the situation you noted. You probably will get charged for non emergency calls of a ambulance, like being in labour or breaking an arm...which is daft.

Where we used to live in Maine, years back, in the lakes area, the town provided the service for free which was nice, not seen it since, but there are some nice places that do it....

scrubbedexpat091

Labor would be considered an emergency and your almost always better off calling for paramedics vs trying to rush to the ER yourself.

Broken arm depends on the severity of the break, a compound fracture would most certainly be a emergency.

The company I did billing for only charged for services rendered, so if we did not transport we didn't bill you anything, my mom's company where she was a paramedic however charged 75 call out fee if no transport was needed.

greenMark

My Uncle said that I do not need to pay those bills, Can they track me without any SSN?

bevinva

Were these bills sent to you uncle's address? Why would he not have told you about them? SSN or not they are still your bills and a silly thing to not pay and risk losing your dream of moving to the US. How much are they? I would at least set up a payment plan, the debt isn't that old.

Duncan Roberts

You do need to pay for them because they are your debt. It's no different to using a credit card and then not paying the bill and saying you don't have to. They can track you down without an SSN, actually pretty easily if you move here, they will pass the debt to a collection agency. honestly, I'm at astounded that you are so unaware of the US healthcare system and so nonchalant about skipping out on a debt for services you used!