Most of these are honest or careless errors not malicious efforts to defraud the system. Most facilities have social workers or case managers who can help someone apply for assistance if there is a real need. Not for profit hospitals must provide a certain percentage of charity care in order to maintain there tax exempt status, so most are willing to negotiate. Many times people get a denial from an insurance company and go ahead and pay for the uncovered services. Call the insurance company and see if it was a mistake.
Many times resubmitting the bill gets it paid.
Call the hospital and ask them to resubmit the charges. The most important thing to remember is that you must not ignore the bill. Call the billing department and make an honest attempt to address your issues or negotiate a fair payment schedule. It is important to know that with the new Medicaid back to work rules which cut coverage, charity care is on the rise. The cuts by the federal government are deep and most hospitals not the deep pockets that everyone thinks they are.