Can you go to jail for unpaid medical bills?

My dad's first cousin, who I will call John, and his wife are asking my parents for money to bail John out of jail. John accrued a $1300 hospital bill last year. He went to court and was ordered to pay. To my understanding he said in court that he would use his tax refund this year to pay off the debt. However, in November he lost his job and his family used that money on other things. He got arrested last week and has been in jail ever since. His wife and kids are asking my parents for money to bail him out.

Is that even legal to put someone in jail for medical debt? Also I know I have heard that if you pay at least a small amount every month they cannot say anything...as long as you keep paying.

Regardless this story breaks my heart. What should they do? Can they file bankruptcy? Can they apply for a charity to pay the bill?

My parents want to help them out, but they are afraid they will never get paid back--they have had some problems with them in the past.

2009-07-04T18:24:32Z

I live in the United States. My parents live in Indiana if that helps.

2009-07-04T18:25:37Z

They are telling my parents that because my dad's cousin said in court that he would use his tax refund to pay the debt, and failed to pay, he was arrested.

2009-07-04T18:27:30Z

Yeah...I am thinking that someone isn't being 100% honest.

2009-07-04T18:41:22Z

Well...then according to the last couple of posts he is telling the truth. So because he said in court that he would pay the debt with his tax return, and failed to do so he got arrested.

2009-07-04T20:50:29Z

I just got an email from my mom and she and my dad went to the courthouse and printed off the court docket--everthing matches up with their story. Not only is my dad's cousin in jail, but as soon as he gets out after being in for thirty days his wife will serve thirty days. I suppose the judge didn't make them serve their sentences at the same time because they have kids.

Anonymous2009-07-05T00:46:41Z

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Can you go to jail for unpaid medical bills?

Wait I found something Kasey.

Are Debtor Prisons Returning To America?
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Hospitals hound uninsured patients for bill payments and now rank among America’s most aggressive debt-collectors using one of the harshest and least-known collections tactics of all: seeking the arrest of no-show debtors. We speak with Jim Bean who was jailed in Illinois in part because he failed to pay a hospital bill and we hear from the CFO of the hospital that sought his arrest as well as a member of a grass roots citizen action organization in Illinois.

?2016-05-28T12:41:46Z

1

dartagnon p2009-07-04T19:01:51Z

Maybe they're getting him for lying to a judge or something like that but as far as I know they can't arrest you for debts. No debtors prisons in the United States unless the court twists it about like it sounds happened in this case.

Sounds like he should at least try to get a Legal Aid attorney if he can't get a PD.

I owed the hospital $72,000 for a stroke and they wrote it off before they even presented the bill ... most hospitals have donors who will back these debts but the person has to apply for them and NOT promise to pay them and show they have no means to pay. If you're up front with them they will find a program that will take care of it for you. The hospital's main intention is to get paid but they usually need the patient's co-operation and perhaps the signing of a few documents to cover the hospital. The judge probably knew this and was upset that the proper channels had not been followed so he came down hard perhaps not knowing that your relative did not know that alternatives were available. Oftentimes the hospital will not volunteer the info unless asked since that could cause a run on the donors generosity and the hospital may fear the loss of some donors if that occurs.

I think the only step at this point is to bring in a public defender or contact Legal Aid in your area. They're not easy to find but if you contact your local county health clinic they should have a number for Legal Aid or be able to steer you to someone who does. The charities will all have the numbers too. Catholic Charities can often recommend a Legal Aid attorney.

I AM
Dartagnon

Anonymous2015-08-06T12:06:31Z

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RE:
Can you go to jail for unpaid medical bills?
My dad's first cousin, who I will call John, and his wife are asking my parents for money to bail John out of jail. John accrued a $1300 hospital bill last year. He went to court and was ordered to pay. To my understanding he said in court that he would use his tax refund this year to pay...

Spock (rhp)2009-07-04T18:34:19Z

my guess is that the bail money would disappear and never be repaid.

maybe the court is irritated that John received a court order and did not comply after promising to do so. that is called contempt of court and you can be jailed for it. in my area, that rarely lasts more than 30 days and is usually 7 days.

you don't file bankruptcy over 1300 dollars. the lawyer alone will probably want 700 or more.

like everyone else in this situation, John should imp along after he gets out of jail, take any work he can find, and try to make a deal with his creditors.

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