AboutLisa Lindell Expertise Consequences to the patient and family, reply by healthcare facilities, statistics and types of medical errors.
Experience Extensive personal experience during my husband's 108 day hospitalization.
Publications 108 Days
Education/Credentials Author of the book "108 Days." Speaker at patient safety events across the country, student of medical errors. I've been a patient safety advocate for years.
Question my daughter was seen at the ER on feb 10, she was 17 i was with her and signed the papers. On feb 13 she turned 18. i have not paid the medical bill nor do i have the means to do so and cant afford medical insurance. i got a call from a medical collection company today asking for my daughter they insisted that she was responsible! i also made sure that i wrote minor child on the papers that i signed. this is freaking me out. she was not 18 on the tenth when she was seen. i live in florida. is this legal and what can i do to correct it? please help!!!
Answer I am not a lawyer and should get get legal counsel. However, minors can not be held liable for debts. Collection agencies are the scum of the earth, real bottom-feeders. I would write a letter and send it certified mail indicating to them that as a minor child she has no obligation for this debt. Period. From then on I'd just ignore them.
As the parent and responsible party, I'd send a separate letter directly to the creditor (the hospital/doctor/whoever you owe the money to) and try to negotiate a repayment plan. Start by offering them thirty cents on the dollar and work from there. I would not even have a conversation with a collection agency.
