And when you don't pay, they sell your debt on to collections. Collections will sue to get a judgement against you, which will allow wage garnishment and other types of confiscation. Finally, say goodbye to your credit rating.
They charge because the power in the hospital/patient relationship is so very asymmetric.
Generally, yes, they'll have to see a judge. Not always, but usually. However, it's really common for debt collectors to present a judge with a stack of cases for entry of judgement. Can be a few hundred at once, it's a scaled process. So going before a judge isn't really a barrier for debt collectors.
Of course for a debtor, it's a different ideal. May have to take time off work, find child care, etc. Very unbalanced power in the debtor/creditor relationship.
And when you don't pay, they sell your debt on to collections. Collections will sue to get a judgement against you, which will allow wage garnishment and other types of confiscation. Finally, say goodbye to your credit rating.
They charge because the power in the hospital/patient relationship is so very asymmetric.