Comments Document

Support for HB1265 and HB1370

Please consider and pass this bill! BACKGROUND: I suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury back in 2017. I had no bills except my mortgage and one credit card when I had my injury. I was able to keep up with those bills, and regular living expenses through the end of that year. The following year, I had nothing. Friends, family, and church stepped in to help me keep my home and living expenses. There were medical bills over the course of that time until I finally had insurance, and then co-pays because when I got SSDI I lost Medicaid. I couldn't and still can't pay those bills. I have no savings and only SSDI - I can't work. Why do we need this bill? IMPACT TO ME The ER, doctors, radiologists all reported these bills as delinquent. They turned them over to a collection agency (different ones). They showed up as "turned over for collection" effective that date. I proved it was uncollectible, SSDI was my sole income. They sold it to the next agency. And it continues for 5 years from date of service. For me, I don't need / want a credit card, but I need a decent score. - I got turned down for a DEBIT card because of a recent "new" collection account. - As I need more assistance, I'll have to rent/buy somewhere I can afford (oh yeah). And each medical account that gets sold is reported as "new" when it's received, which becomes the apparent start date for that debt.... in the credit report. Part of this is a subject for another bill --- "You can't sell any known uncollectible bill (senior with fixed government income) to a collection agency. " Reality check - The probability / percentage of them getting a job or winning the lottery? Zero. I don't deserve to be locked out just because they keep reporting and selling my medical bills. My mortgage is paid on time every time. I have no other bills.