Question:
Can a hospital refuse to treat you if you have a bad debt there?

I had emergency surgery about 8 years ago and couldn't pay for it because I had no insurance. Now I am considering weight loss surgery but I am worried that they won't treat me because of that incident. I have insurance now.    — [Anonymous] (posted on April 25, 2001)

April 25, 2001
Private hospitals may have that right. You should check with them (which I'm sure is not a nice thought).. they may have passed that debt off to an agency by now. If its a charitable or not for profit hopsital they may have a charity program you could apply for to reduce the debt or make reasonable payments. Good luck.
   — Dawn R.

April 25, 2001
Most debt falls off the record in 7 years call the hospital and ask what can it hurt and maybe if the bill is still on the books you can make arrangements for payments...
   — Kathleen M.