B2 – Upper Intermediate
We often hear about patients suing doctors or hospitals for negligence or some kind of medical malpractice.
However, some hospitals in America are doing it the other way around. They are taking some legal actions against their patients.
Read the article to find out why some US hospitals sue patients.
Vocabulary Questions:
- What is “wage garnishment“? “More than two-thirds of hospitals are filing lawsuits or taking other legal measures, including garnishing wages and placing liens on homes or property.” Use this word in a sentence.
- What does “(property) lien” mean? “More than two-thirds of hospitals are filing lawsuits or taking other legal measures, including garnishing wages and placing liens on homes or property.” Use this word in a sentence.
- What does “saddled with” mean? “At a White House event in April, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said, “Too many families across the country are saddled with crushing medical debt.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- What are your thoughts on hospitals aggressively going after patients for unpaid medical bills?
- How can this impact patients with huge medical debts?
- What are things being done in order to address the issue of hospitals suing patients who have increasing unpaid hospital bills?
- What impact could these solutions have on the healthcare system in America?
- Does this also happen in your country? Why or why not?
4 replies on “Hospitals Sue Patients for Medical Debts”
1. On the one hand, I understand that the hospitals are doing their job since as a private company, their aim is to make profits. Besides, all the equipment and staff will be paid from the patient’s payments. If nobody paid for their treatments the hospital would have to close. On the other hand, it seems inhuman that a person who needs a medical care can die because they do not have enough money to pay for it.
2. I suppose that patients with huge medical debts will avoid going to the hospitals as much as possible. The problem will arise when the disease becomes so serious and there is no other way but going there, and the solution is even more expensive or has been too late to cure it.
3. According to the article, the US Government is collecting information from different providers about how they are managing the bill collection and when they finish to analyze them, they intend to publish some policy recommendations
4. It seems that the Government is concerned about the problem and one solution that they have in mind is to finance part of the hospital’s expenses. I do not think that they can do it because the next problem is where they would get the money to finance these costs.
5. In my country, there is a National Security system which covers all the medical and hospital expenses except for dentistry. This system is paid by all the active workers who a part of their monthly salary is retained to cover any medical assistance they or their family can need.
Good job working consistently on your skills.
Take a look at better words you can use in this sentence:
Happy writing!
Discussion Questions:
What are your thoughts on hospitals aggressively going after patients for unpaid medical bills?
I think, we are very lucky in Spain having a National Security Healthcare system, that allows us to have the right of free healthcare. Is not the case in the USA and for me is unbelievable to think how the American People don’t fight for this right. Health is the most important think. Regarding the situation of the Healthcare System in the US, I think Hospitals are doing their job like other kind of companies in a tough capitalism system, there is not their problem, is a National Health problem for the USA Government.
How can this impact patients with huge medical debts?
They should pay their health debts, in the same way like other kind of debts, the problem is that in this case is related with their health, and if they can’t afford them, they will have problem in the USA American Health System because they maybe will not be accepted next time… It’s very sad but is true.
What are things being done in order to address the issue of hospitals suing patients who have increasing unpaid hospital bills?
Regarding the article, I think the USA Government is trying to follow closely all this process put in motion for Hospitals and Collectors to be sure everything is legal and accomplish to the law, but, in my opinion, is not enough. They are looking also to subside the hospitals with the debt of people that can afford it, I think this is more useful measure.
What impact could these solutions have on the healthcare system in America?
I think, if the USA Government is going to subside the Healthcare System they will need the approval of Congress and Senate and this measure will probably follow by an increase of taxes in the American Society.
Does this also happen in your country? Why or why not?
Fortunately not, as I said before we have a National Health System and its for free for Spanish and not-national (under some circumstances).
Good work continuing with your writing practice through this exercise.
Here are some minor corrections you can make in this sentence to improve it:
Cheers to more future entries from you.