Little Tait's Preemie Hospital Bill

[WonderingInWA]

[quote="lilw

riter85"]Just checked the amount raised total and it is up from $16,250 to $16,950. If they keep going at the rate of lets say $700-$1500 a day, they might reach the $100,000. If they do raise that money, someone should email the Zimmermans and ask them if they would donate to another family if they did the same thing.

[salex]

[quote="lilw

riter85"]Just checked the amount raised total and it is up from $16,250 to $16,950. If they keep going at the rate of lets say $700-$1500 a day, they might reach the $100,000. If they do raise that money, someone should email the Zimmermans and ask them if they would donate to another family if they did the same thing.

Or, email them and tell them you are interested in raising some funds and ask them how they are planning to report the income on their taxes. I'd love to see them explain that one.

[WonderingInWA]

So again, we are back to these people just expecting people to GIVE them money and for the donors to pay the taxes on that money, too. That's just disgusting.

[lilwriter85]

[quote="lilw

riter85"]Just checked the amount raised total and it is up from $16,250 to $16,950. If they keep going at the rate of lets say $700-$1500 a day, they might reach the $100,000. If they do raise that money, someone should email the Zimmermans and ask them if they would donate to another family if they did the same thing.

Or, email them and tell them you are interested in raising some funds and ask them how they are planning to report the income on their taxes. I'd love to see them explain that one.

Good point there. I have also done some searches to see if the media in Alaska is covering this and so far it looks like no newspaper or TV station is covering it.

[Marian the Librarian]

Bumping to report that Doug Phillips (is a tool) has posted the following on his blog:

One of Vision Forum’s core commitments since our founding has been to fight for the sanctity of all human life.

Regardless of the circumstances of one’s conception or birth, every human life is created imago Dei — in the image of God. And no matter what transpires after one’s birth — be it a physical handicap, an economic challenge, or a chronic ailment — all human life must be viewed as sacred and must be fought for without compromise.

The fight for human life comes at a cost, however. The cost can be seen in the scorn and persecution hurled at those who won’t budge in defending the defenseless. But it is also financial in nature, oftentimes. Legal and hospital bills can be great when a precious life is at stake. Yet this is a burden worth bearing; it’s a small price to pay in comparison to the real treasure a human life represents.

Tait Zimmerman, a former intern of mine and a faithful brother in Christ, bore a great financial cost when he and his wife Lauren welcomed a premature son into the world three months early in November of 2008.

Little Tait Jr. is now a healthy 4-year-old boy who is a delight to his parents. He was a “million-dollar baby,†but thanks to various negotiations and payments made thus far, the hospital has agreed to accept $100,000 to close out the debt. The catch is this: The full amount must be paid within the next 90 days. The bill otherwise stands at around $350,000 — a $250,000 difference.

I would appreciate it if you would to take a few minutes and read the story of “Little Tait.†It’s a precious testimony of God’s grace. Please pray for the Zimmermans, and if you are able, please consider helping this precious family meet the time-sensitive financial obligation they face.

No mention of their choice to decline the Medicaid for which they were eligible.

[jaelh]

good sky dog.

Sorry people, but sweet mother of all that is good in the world, what type of fucked up medical system do you run over there? Every time i hear stories like this, i am confounded all over again. Mothers of young children dying, delighted the family will only have 50K debt when they're gone. Cancer patients who can't afford treatment. Costs for a medically necessary cesar. Getting a bill for premie treatment!? (twinmama, this is you, know these %&^* idiots).

This is..

Barbaric.

Monstrous.

Wrong.

Just plain wrong.

And these people are idiots. Idiots.

Viva la socialist medicine!

[WonderingInWA]

Bumping to report that Doug Phillips (is a tool) has posted the following on his blog:

No mention of their choice to decline the Medicaid for which they were eligible.

So which one of us is going to call it out on comments to this? No wonder they keep getting donations.

[twinmama]

Yup, jaelh, it sucks. It's hard to be pissed about the money when your babies lived and are doing great. Seems like owing money is a small price to pay for healthy little ones.

The absolute worst part of the system is giving birth to two babies you aren't sure are going to make it, then through your tears and terror in the hospital having to worry about how you will pay for all of their treatment. It's disgusting. Everyone told us not to worry about it and that we wouldn't end up owing a ton of money, but a $40,000 bill is a lot of money, at least to us!!! We just got stuck in a horrible in between position... not poor enough to qualify for government help, not wealthy enough to just pay the bill. Thankfully Obamacare will prevent lots of people from falling into the position we ended up in!

[Mama Mia]

So which one of us is going to call it out on comments to this? No wonder they keep getting donations.

I think it is a safe bet that if it was pointed out that the family turned down government assistance it would give a huge boost to their fund raising efforts.

People would see it as them taking a harder road to stand up for their beliefs.

[WonderingInWA]

I think it is a safe bet that if it was pointed out that the family turned down government assistance it would give a huge boost to their fund raising efforts.

People would see it as them taking a harder road to stand up for their beliefs.

Oh, yes, you are probably right. Hadn't thought of that. Shhh, don't let Dougie (Is A Tool) know, or he'll alter his blog post.

[rhianna]

Bumping to report that Doug Phillips (is a tool) has posted the following on his blog:

No mention of their choice to decline the Medicaid for which they were eligible.

I wonder how doug phillips (is a tool) feels about the death penalty. Does ATI or VF have a public stance on that?

[lilwriter85]

They current amount raised is now at $19,100. Yesterday it was $16, 950. My guess is that because of Doug's blog, some of the VF crowd donated.

[WonderingInWA]

I wonder how much Dougie (Is A Tool) will give them. I'll bet he'll make sure they get to their goal.

[formergothardite]

I'm really surprised they haven't been turned over to a collections agency before now. The hospitals around here will hound you to death over even tiny bills.

[Trynn]

You know, somewhere in the bible it talks about helping "those who are widows indeed." What Paul meant by that is that, in his day, the church was helping every widow no matter what. But some of these widows had wealthy male relatives who were taking care of them, and the widows were just using the church to get extra money. Or something like that.

These people are in a bad situation now, and if they had expressed some remorse for their bad decision, I might feel a bit more sympathy. However, They are not "widows indeed." They were offered a way to pay their bill and they refused.

If you believe in a God, He did TRY to help them. He tried to help them by offering medicaid. They refused. Not God's fault if you're going to refuse the help he offers.

[Wolfie]

I think there is some confusion about the difference between the Tait Fund (which was set up as a non-profit) and their fundraising that is NOT through the Tait Fund. Their current fundraising campaign is seeking donations directly to the family, not to the foundation. It is unclear to me what the foundation is all about or why they aren't asking for donations to be directed that way -- seems like they'd be more successful, but maybe the foundation lost it's NP status for some reason?

Maybe they'd have to pay taxes on it if it was given to them through the foundation.

[idonthaveajname]

Jesus fuck. I have a preemie NICU bill, for twins, that I will be paying off for 20 years. Yes, when my kiddos go to college, we will still be paying their birth bill. Because we didn't qualify for Medicaid and our insurance, which we DID have, was shit. Yet I've never begged on the internet because it's OUR bill. And because in my opinion, that hospital SAVED my boys' lives and they deserve their payment. Even if we're paying for 20 years.

.

I could have almost written this post word for word. I have b/g twins who are teenagers now. I had shit insurance when they were born. It took me 10 years to pay off the bill, no kidding. But I paid it, by myself. No "community" support required.

[dora]

.

I could have almost written this post word for word. I have b/g twins who are teenagers now. I had shit insurance when they were born. It took me 10 years to pay off the bill, no kidding. But I paid it, by myself. No "community" support required.

This sucks. I really feel for you guys. I too had preemie b/g twins, at 30 weeks, and can't imagine the additional stress it must cause knowing that every day they stay in NICU is costing you money. We have never had to pay anything for their hospital care or any of the therapies they have had since. Evil communist New Zealand, even when run by the National (right wing) party.

[idonthaveajname]

This sucks. I really feel for you guys. I too had preemie b/g twins, at 30 weeks, and can't imagine the additional stress it must cause knowing that every day they stay in NICU is costing you money. We have never had to pay anything for their hospital care or any of the therapies they have had since. Evil communist New Zealand, even when run by the National (right wing) party.

Thank you. I had mine right at 26 weeks. My bill arrived in a rather large box. :)

[jlbturtle]

Interesting, it must vary state to state based on how bills for preemie's work. My SIL just had twins at 32 weeks. They are VERY well off, but she was told that if preemie's are in the hospital longer than 30 days they automatically qualify for Medicaid and therefore they didn't see a bill. They also qualify for WIC which is crazy!

[Nothing2CHere]

I'm really surprised they haven't been turned over to a collections agency before now. The hospitals around here will hound you to death over even tiny bills.

This! LittleBabyNothing was born via c-section, and then about three weeks after he was born, he needed surgery. Even with pretty decent health insurance, we ended up owing the hospital a few thousand dollars. We were paying what we could each month, but evidently that wasn't good enough for the hospital. Not even six months had passed before they turned the balance over to a collection agency.

[twinmama]

Thank you. I had mine right at 26 weeks. My bill arrived in a rather large box. :)

Oh wow, 26 weekers! Mine were just 29 weekers, but the bill or list of charges for one was 17 pages and the other was 30something pages (he had surgery). It was crazy to see what each shot, monitor and examination costs exactly. Outrageous prices. $500 a day for use of a PULSE OX!

[formergothardite]

This! LittleBabyNothing was born via c-section, and then about three weeks after he was born, he needed surgery. Even with pretty decent health insurance, we ended up owing the hospital a few thousand dollars. We were paying what we could each month, but evidently that wasn't good enough for the hospital. Not even six months had passed before they turned the balance over to a collection agency.

We had really good insurance too, but with a c-section and NICU stay we still ended up owing around $5000. They sent people to the NICU to demand money. :shock: I do not see our hospitals waiting 4 years to get their money.

[Mama Mia]

We had really good insurance too, but with a c-section and NICU stay we still ended up owing around $5000. They sent people to the NICU to demand money. :shock: I do not see our hospitals waiting 4 years to get their money.

They state on their site that they have been paying on the bill all this time, just not enough to see an end in sight, and the hospital is willing to take the 100,000 as a settlement. They've probably been paying enough each month to keep it out of collections.

[idonthaveajname]

I was very fortunate. The hospital worked out a payment plan and never sent me to collections. They accepted a very paltry amount of money for several years until I could afford to do a bit more.