Did you know the U.S.A. still has debtor's prison?

[NightTrain]

Host Amy Goodman dedicated today's "Democracy Now" to a round table discussion of certain predatory practices that some hospitals use to collect outstanding debts. For me, the two most shocking and outrageous revelations were:

1. Uninsured patients often are charged anywhere from 100-500% more than an insured patient would have paid for the same care at the same hospital; and

2. There exists a perfectly legal practice colloquially known as a "body attachment," in which a creditor can have a debtor arrested and put in jail for the "crime" of being unable to pay his medical bills.

Un-fucking-believable....

[Racenut20]

1. Child Support, Court uses contempt of Court to jail the slacker

[Loonman]

2. A deadbeat buddy of mine used to go to court all the time

Because of his debts.

Maybe that's where he is now.

[Bunny]

3. Going to court is one thing.

Going to jail is altogether different. I don't necessarily have a problem with jailing deadbeat parents, because their payments are court ordered. But since when can you actually be put IN JAIL for not paying a medical bill? That's bull...

[Kolesar]

4. The podiatrist bills me for $90.00, but insurance bargains down to $42.00

But if I had no insurance, I would have to pay $90.00! If you have no one to bargain for you, you are totally out of luck. Your citation of a "body attachment" is totally new to me.

[terrya]

5. This is so Dickensian eom

[NightTrain]

6. Exactly! Reminded of me the Marshalsea debtor's prison in...

..."Little Dorrit."

[populistmom]

7. Has BUSHCo changed the bankruptcy laws yet?

I know they were trying to get it so people would still owe a portion to unsecured creditors even after bankruptcy. Has it happened yet?

[NightTrain]

8. Haven't heard anything in a while.

Seemed likely, though. Scumbags.