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What happens if I dont pay a medical bill ?

Jumboman

I was in a private hospital last week I had few medical tests done to try and find the cause of the health issue I have, I payed for all the tests but I got a bill today for 200euro for a "consultation" I had with a consultant.

I only spoke to the consultant for about 5 minutes he told me he was not able to find the cause of the illness I have.

Anyway I find it extortion that I'm been asked to pay 200euro for a 5 minute "consultation" and he is not even able to find the cause of my illness.

I'm wondering what will happen if I dont pay this money will I end up in court ?

I dont see why I should pay for a service I'm not happy with. I'd gladly stand up in court and say I dont want to pay the bill because he has not helped me or found the cause of my illness If i spoke to him for 30 minutes than the 200euro could be justified but not 5 minutes. This to me isnt much better than a scam.

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RobFowl

It's private heathcare so the bottom line is if you don't want to pay, fine don't go and see them.......

locum-motion

Cuchulainn1. wrote: »

Sorry but people who live in the real world do not charge a fee for spending five minutes telling you that they cant find a problem after getting paid to find said problem in the first place.

If I was a plumbing specialist and I couldn't find the cause of someones heating problem I would be embarrassed not charging them again.

"Specialist" my ass.

If you call out a plumber to look at your heating, and he looks and checks the pipes and says he can find nothing wrong, then you pay his call out fee.

You then call the gas fitter, who also has a look and says that the problem isn't the gas fittings, and you also pay his call out fee.

You then call out the electrician to see if the problem is in his area of expertise...

You see where this is going, don't you?

Of course, in all of this, the role of the GP is that of the handyman that you had in to put up a shelf and touch up the paint on the skirting board, and to whom you said "Here, have a gawk at that oul' boiler while you're here, will ya?" He had a look, and said "Ah, now... You need to get in a plumber... or a gas fitter... or an electrician. I'd say you should try the plumber first." Of course, you've to pay the handyman too!

dissed doc

Clearly the reality is: some people feel it's okay to not pay doctors and get free healthcare. Entitlement culture, there you have it in the face.

Jumboman

dissed doc wrote: »

Clearly the reality is: some people feel it's okay to not pay doctors and get free healthcare. Entitlement culture, there you have it in the face.

Thats not true I had already payed him 700euro for the tests.

MrCreosote

locum-motion wrote: »

Of course, in all of this, the role of the GP is that of the handyman that you had in to put up a shelf and touch up the paint on the skirting board, and to whom you said "Here, have a gawk at that oul' boiler while you're here, will ya?" He had a look, and said "Ah, now... You need to get in a plumber... or a gas fitter... or an electrician. I'd say you should try the plumber first." Of course, you've to pay the handyman too!

Hey! A GP isn't a handyman! A GP is a "specialist of generalism!":p

Anyway OP you're stuck with that bill I'm afraid. It sounds excessive alright but the specialist can pretty much set their fees. Maybe if you're not happy you could say about the anaesthetic and try to get an extra fee appointment to discuss things and get more bang for your buck.

One other thing- you didn't pay the consultant 700 for the tests, he just ordered them. Nothing is free- just that you're not paying directly in the public system.

gctest50

Jumboman wrote: »

Thats not true I had already payed him 700euro for the tests.

You did well there, a room private would be way more than that :

"For semi-private patients, €889 is charged in addition to the statutory fee of €75 per night. For fully private patients €1,017 is charged in addition to the statutory fee of €75 per night. "

http://www.stjames.ie/Patients/PatientCharges

Jumboman

gctest50 wrote: »

You did well there, a room private would be way more than that :

"For semi-private patients, €889 is charged in addition to the statutory fee of €75 per night. For fully private patients €1,017 is charged in addition to the statutory fee of €75 per night. "

http://www.stjames.ie/Patients/PatientCharges

I was only in a room for about 15 minutes the test took less than 10 minutes.

gctest50

Jumboman wrote: »

I was only in a room for about 15 minutes the test took less than 10 minutes.

I was just pointing out how much just the room alone would be (private) if you wanted one overnight.

You are just unhappy with whatever tests you had because once again you are "out in the wilderness" and wondering what it could be ?

Jumboman wrote: »

The main issue I have with a doc is that he wont let me get blood tests done. Theirs a condition I think I may have but the only way to rule it in or out is to have a blood test done but he says I dont need them......

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=85550631

There is only a few possible answers :

1) - Its in all your head - serious this - the stress of not knowing would make bits of you.

2) - Its a bit obscure/ being masked / behaving itself on test day - what test do ya do next ? you need the skills of a doctor for this

OMD

Jumboman wrote: »

I was only in a room for about 15 minutes the test took less than 10 minutes.

Why don't you tell us what the test was? Did the consultant perform the test or was it performed by someone else?
Was the €700 you paid to the consultant or could it have been the hospital portion of the bill? For example for a test like a colonoscopy you would have to pay the hospital about €700 and you would still have to pay the consultant seperately for doing the test.

You seem most annoyed that nothing abnormal was found. Now this could be because the consultant was totally incompetent or it could have been that there was nothing abnormal to find and your symptoms are nothing to worry about.

MicraBoy

Dude thinks he went to see Dr. House or something.

Vorsprung

OMD wrote: »

Why don't you tell us what the test was?

Mod Note

Just on this comment alone, please don't ask people to post their personal information on a public forum.

cypressg

OP this has happened to me before with a consultant and I never paid,then I started getting letters from a debt collection agency which I ignored and eventually they stopped.I think it's not worth their while taking you to court unless it's over 300 or something.The key is to never acknowledge anything-ie.don't reply to any letters.
It's theft yeah but I wouldn't feel too bad as the you're stealing from someone who is minted.

Anthony16

By "worth their while" I hope u mean the consultant is so minted that 300 is nothing to him which is probably true. However,in this case the consultant would win hands down if they decided to fully pursue it. You could then spend time in jail if u still refuse to pay,as an alternative. The ball is in their court

Jumboman

cypressg wrote: »

OP this has happened to me before with a consultant and I never paid,then I started getting letters from a debt collection agency which I ignored and eventually they stopped.I think it's not worth their while taking you to court unless it's over 300 or something.The key is to never acknowledge anything-ie.don't reply to any letters.
It's theft yeah but I wouldn't feel too bad as the you're stealing from someone who is minted.

I'd agree with everything you said expect the comment about theft. If their is any "theft" its the on the consultants part who is trying to pull a quick stroke.

Jessibelle

Is the €200 fee directly payable to the consultant though? Or does it include deductions for the medical secretary, rent of rooms, insurance etc? I'd be curious as to what the exact break down is, because if it's a case that after all that, they only come out with 50 euro, then it's roughly what you're paying to see a GP for the same amount of time, whereas if it's that in total to them, I'd wonder how they value their time, that it can come out so high?

gctest50

Jumboman wrote: »

I'd agree with everything you said expect the comment about theft. If their is any "theft" its the on the consultants part who is trying to pull a quick stroke.

Whatever about the bill for the minute ( too easy to say - i'm not the one getting shafted)

What about the most important thing ? Sorting your health out

You need to keep going until you find an answer. ( again way too easy to say)

The earlier you find out what it is and treat it, the better.

Otherwise you may run out of time and suffer needlessly and/or die.

beeno67

Jumboman wrote: »

I was only in a room for about 15 minutes the test took less than 10 minutes.

So you had a test that required an anaesthetic that made you drowsy. You then partially awoke from the anaesthetic. All this took less than 10 mins and then you had a 5 minute "consultation" and then immediately left the hospital. Really?

Mucco

Jumboman wrote: »

.......
Anyway I find it extortion that I'm been asked to pay 200euro for a 5 minute "consultation" and he is not even able to find the cause of my illness.
.......
If i spoke to him for 30 minutes than the 200euro could be justified but not 5 minutes. This to me isnt much better than a scam.

€200 sounds a lot, but we don't know what went into and before the 5 min consultation.
What struck me is that, if he spent 30 mins telling you he couldn't find the cause of you illness, you would be happy. But, because he only spent 5 minutes telling you he couldn't find the cause of you illness, you're upset. The outcome is the same either way, why does spending an extra 25 minutes make it better?

People normally spend more money for faster service: train v bus (in most countries), high speed train v slow train, express check-in at airports etc..... why does that not apply here?

Creasy_bear

Ring his receptionist, explain to her that you're not working at the moment and that if you knew you were going to be charged €200, there's no way you would have gone.

They won't chase you for the money, unless he's a proper Cnut.

Jumboman

beeno67 wrote: »

So you had a test that required an anaesthetic that made you drowsy. You then partially awoke from the anaesthetic. All this took less than 10 mins and then you had a 5 minute "consultation" and then immediately left the hospital. Really?

I was awake the whole time it was a mild anaesthetic, I left the hospital about 10 mins after speaking to the consultant.

Jumboman

Mucco wrote: »

€200 sounds a lot, but we don't know what went into and before the 5 min consultation.
What struck me is that, if he spent 30 mins telling you he couldn't find the cause of you illness, you would be happy. But, because he only spent 5 minutes telling you he couldn't find the cause of you illness, you're upset. The outcome is the same either way, why does spending an extra 25 minutes make it better?

People normally spend more money for faster service: train v bus (in most countries), high speed train v slow train, express check-in at airports etc..... why does that not apply here?

If I spoke to him for longer I could of asked him more questions and put forward possible reasons for my illiness but 5 mins is far to short to discuss what could be wrong with me.

Astala

I think it's incredible how people who are entitled to medical cards, receiving every benefit under the sun, are allowed to go and get themselves private healthcare. Just another example of how state benefits are being abused.

Doctors don't always have the answers. Go and pay your bill like any decent human being would.

gctest50

Astala wrote: »

I think it's incredible how people who are entitled to medical cards, receiving every benefit under the sun, are allowed to go and get themselves private healthcare.

You're a bit upset because someone is trying sort their health out ?

How about what must be an incredible amount of money wasted by mis/non diagnosis of problems in a timely manner because some doctors are so overworked by what's left of a health system ?

Astala

gctest50 wrote: »

You're a bit upset because someone is trying sort their health out ?

How about what must be an incredible amount of money wasted by mis/non diagnosis of problems in a timely manner because some doctors are so overworked by what's left of a health system ?

You fail to realise that public hospitals are over-stretched due to lack of funds, lack of resources, etc. This is partly due to the fact that people are taking the state for everything they have. This person is on a medical card, yet can afford private health insurance-do you not find something intrinsically wrong with that?

So, how about what must be an incredible amount of money wasted on people who are taking advantage of a system which needs to be drastically changed?

Laughably, this person is also taking advantage of private healthcare. Quite frankly, it's irritating how people on lower incomes which qualify them for a medical card are paying for private healthcare. It just doesn't make sense.

gctest50

Astala wrote: »

You fail to realise that public hospitals are over-stretched due to lack of funds, lack of resources, etc. This is partly due to the fact that people are screwing the state for everything they have. This person is on a medical card, yet can afford private health insurance-do you not find something intrinsically wrong with that?

So, how about what must be an incredible amount of money wasted on people who are taking advantage of a system which needs to be drastically changed?

Laughably, this person is also taking advantage of private healthcare. Quite frankly, it's irritating how people on lower incomes which qualify them for a medical card are paying for private healthcare. It just doesn't make sense.

Astala wrote: »

You fail to realise that public hospitals are over-stretched due to lack of funds, lack of resources, etc.

How did you arrive at that ?

Astala wrote: »

This person is on a medical card, yet can afford private health insurance-do you not find something intrinsically wrong with that?

Doesn't look like private health insurance to me ? could be wrong though.

Jumboman wrote: »

Thats not true I had already payed him 700euro for the tests.

**************************************************

Jumboman wrote: »

Laughably, this person is also.....

Nothing even remotely related to funny about it.

Jumboman

Astala wrote: »

You fail to realise that public hospitals are over-stretched due to lack of funds, lack of resources, etc. This is partly due to the fact that people are screwing the state for everything they have. This person is on a medical card, yet can afford private health insurance-do you not find something intrinsically wrong with that?

So, how about what must be an incredible amount of money wasted on people who are taking advantage of a system which needs to be drastically changed?

Laughably, this person is also taking advantage of private healthcare. Quite frankly, it's irritating how people on lower incomes which qualify them for a medical card are paying for private healthcare. It just doesn't make sense.

I don't have private health insurance I had to save up 700euro to pay for the tests. I'm not taken "advantage" of anything I have a serious health condition which I'm trying to get diagnosed. i'm also on a waiting list to see a consultant next year on the public system this is too long to wait for me so i payed to go private. The longer I wait the worse my health gets.

RobFowl

Jumboman wrote: »

i'm also on a waiting list to see a consultant next year on the public system this is too long to wait for me so i paid to go private.

I think the point of this thread was that you haven't and don't actually want to pay him

Jumboman

RobFowl wrote: »

I think the point of this thread was that you haven't and don't actually want to pay him

To date I've paid him 900euro (which includes the first consultation). I just don't believe talking to me for 5 mins about he has done tests on me should cost 200euro.

Peanut2011

Jumboman, the best advice I can give you regarding the issue is call the consultants office and look to speak to them in relation to the bill. Express your surprise and dismay at the fact that you received such a bill for what was effectively 5 min. (from what you have seen) and the fact you paid so much for tests beforehand.

See what they say! That should be you first point of call.

Now to move on to other posts:

Jumboman wrote: »

Would they use violence to try and get the money back ?

If a private company came looking for money I would just tell them any issue over unpaid debt is between me and the doctor in question and has nothing what soever to do with them.

If private company came looking for money it would be everything to do with them. They could have bought the debt of the consultant so now you owe them instead of the consultant. They could pursue you till the end.

They could bring you to court.

Cuchulainn1. wrote: »

The experienced medical specialist doesn't seem to be that experienced in medicine if he can't come up with an answer for the op!

Also private debt collection agencies have no legal standing in Ireland-just bin their letters with nothing to worry about or hang up the phone.

Private debt collection agencies have no legal standing, however they do have in-house solicitors who would initiate legal proceedings on their behalf. Now you have a legal issue!

cypressg wrote: »

OP this has happened to me before with a consultant and I never paid,then I started getting letters from a debt collection agency which I ignored and eventually they stopped.I think it's not worth their while taking you to court unless it's over 300 or something.The key is to never acknowledge anything-ie.don't reply to any letters.
It's theft yeah but I wouldn't feel too bad as the you're stealing from someone who is minted.

Just cos it did not happen to you does not mean it will not happen to OP and this is a very poor advice IMO. How long ago was this? Who was the agency, did they work on behalf of consultant or was is debt sold to them?

It all depends on the consultant and how they want the matter resolved, however I know some will go out of their way to pursue you to the end as if they don't the reputation of that could have a very negative impact on their cash flow!

As I said initially, speak to Consultant or his office and go from there!

gctest50

RobFowl wrote: »

I think the point of this thread was that you haven't and don't actually want to pay him

I think its a great genuine example of shock of the price of things like this and all the necessary extras.

Bit like when you order in a few escort girls and get a bit of a surprise that the champagne and charlie are not thrown in for free. And you'd have to have them like.
Otherwise you'd be "would you like some yogurt girls ? fresh fromage? only got it this morning"