On a Yahoo group we are discussing medical bills. One of the members
who claimes to be VERY knowledgeable about this subject (also her
father) has posted the following:

__________________________________________________ ____________________
"You cannot lose your house *unless* you declare bankruptcy, and there
is no reason whatsoever that you should do so for medical bills - in
fact, it would be a very bad idea.

As long as you continue to live in the house and pay the mortgage, your
house cannot be taken if hospitals sue you - simple fact, Federal law.

Moreover, they won't sue you. That's why you need the social services
department of whatever hospital you use - you go to them, make it clear
that you are unable to pay, and they will absorb the debt, and pass it
along to the state and federal government."
__________________________________________________ ____________________

I've never heard of any such federal law & was wanting to know if anyone
else has. It seems to me that I have read on this group or perhaps
another BK group that people have been sued for medical bills & the
hospitals have been able to garnish wages, place liens on property, etc.

Nancy

This is completely wrong.

A hospital or other health care provider can sue you, get a
judgment, and sell your house to satisfy the judgment (unless
there would be a state law exempting your home, which very few
states have). There is no such federal law.

In fact, back when I did collection work for a hospital, I did
just that--got a judgment, and sold the house to satisfy the
bill.

--
Brett

************************************************** ***************
* Personal Injury/Malpractice Bankruptcy *
* *
* BRETT WEISS, P.C. *
* Attorneys at Law *
* Maryland, D.C. and Federal Bars *
* lawyer@erols.com *
* http://www.erols.com/lawyer *
* *
* Small Business Estates & Estate Planning *
************************************************** ***************

The Small Print: This response is for discussion purposes only.
It isn't meant to be legal advice and you shouldn't treat it as
such. If you want legal advice, speak with a local lawyer
familiar with your state's laws who can review *all* of the facts
and the law applicable to your situation.
************************************************** ***************


"nancy" <nancy@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:bi3naj$4vpmu$1@ID-83759.news.uni-berlin.de... On a Yahoo group we are discussing medical bills. One of the
members who claimes to be VERY knowledgeable about this subject (also
her father) has posted the following:
__________________________________________________ _______________
_____ "You cannot lose your house *unless* you declare bankruptcy,
and there is no reason whatsoever that you should do so for medical
bills - in fact, it would be a very bad idea. As long as you continue to live in the house and pay the
mortgage, your house cannot be taken if hospitals sue you - simple fact,
Federal law. Moreover, they won't sue you. That's why you need the social
services department of whatever hospital you use - you go to them, make
it clear that you are unable to pay, and they will absorb the debt, and
pass it along to the state and federal government."
__________________________________________________ _______________
_____ I've never heard of any such federal law & was wanting to know
if anyone else has. It seems to me that I have read on this group or
perhaps another BK group that people have been sued for medical bills &
the hospitals have been able to garnish wages, place liens on
property, etc. Nancy

Wow, Brett. That's pretty brutal, man. ;)

J.

Brett Weiss wrote: This is completely wrong. A hospital or other health care provider can sue you, get a judgment, and sell your house to satisfy the judgment (unless there would be a state law exempting your home, which very few states have). There is no such federal law. In fact, back when I did collection work for a hospital, I did just that--got a judgment, and sold the house to satisfy the bill.

That was my job...and is part of the reason why, when I started
my own practice instead of working for someone else, I began
handling consumer bankruptcies.

--
Brett

************************************************** ***************
* Personal Injury/Malpractice Bankruptcy *
* *
* BRETT WEISS, P.C. *
* Attorneys at Law *
* Maryland, D.C. and Federal Bars *
* lawyer@erols.com *
* http://www.erols.com/lawyer *
* *
* Small Business Estates & Estate Planning *
************************************************** ***************

The Small Print: This response is for discussion purposes only.
It isn't meant to be legal advice and you shouldn't treat it as
such. If you want legal advice, speak with a local lawyer
familiar with your state's laws who can review *all* of the facts
and the law applicable to your situation.
************************************************** ***************


"John" <jmeola75@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:6gu1b.29842$Vx2.13511423@newssvr28.news.prodi gy.com... Wow, Brett. That's pretty brutal, man. ;) J. Brett Weiss wrote: This is completely wrong. A hospital or other health care provider can sue you, get a judgment, and sell your house to satisfy the judgment (unless there would be a state law exempting your home, which very
few states have). There is no such federal law. In fact, back when I did collection work for a hospital, I
did just that--got a judgment, and sold the house to satisfy the bill.