Medical Bills

[Jenn]

My husband had surgery on his back in feb and now all the bills are coming in for the 20% that we have to pay, and its about 3k- what are we supposed to do? I am not allowed to keep my 7k return but I am allowed to go into collections again because all of the "disposable income" that I have goes to the trustee. What are we supposed to do?

[arkienurse]

My husband had surgery on his back in feb and now all the bills are coming in for the 20% that we have to pay, and its about 3k- what are we supposed to do? I am not allowed to keep my 7k return but I am allowed to go into collections again because all of the "disposable income" that I have goes to the trustee. What are we supposed to do?

First, call the people you owe and see if they will work out a minimal payment plan. Explain about being in Ch 13 with all disposable income going to the trustee right now. I did so when my husband had emergency surgery for an incarcerated hernia in December. I decided how much I could pay a month, and kinda did a percentage thing for each bill I had to pay to decide how much to pay them per month. I told everyone no way could I pay more than x a month for now. I was lucky and no one turned my payment plan down, and as I get the smaller bills paid off, I add a few more dollars to the remaining ones. If they won't work with you, or if just a few refuse to accept small payments, contact your lawyer and have him petition the trustee to suspend payment for a month or 2 to get a handle on the ones that refuse to work with you. The trustee can allow you to skip payments in cases of unexpected expenses. Not saying he/she definetly will, but you don't know if you don't ask.