Rape kits aren't free? I figured that because it was a response to a criminal action it counted as more legal than medical... guess you learn something new every day...
BEING RAPED IS A FUCKING ELECTIVE PROCEDURE!?!?! ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW!?!?!
When I applied for a driver's license in Texas, they had a list of things that I could choose to pay extra for, one of which was donating money towards testing rape kits. It still infuriates that they tried to pass that off of random people.
One of the biggest scams the American Government ever pulled, was claiming that its responsibilities were actually that of the citizens, and that anyone who expects the Government to do anything but wield an iron fist is a "Whiny snowflake looking for a free lunch"
I'm not sure how old the image is, but I know many states (since this shit only happens in one place, it seems) have made laws requiring rape kits to be paid for by the police, even if you don't want a report. I don't exactly remember how it works, but you do have to report the crime to the police, so the hospital paperwork gets handled, but you don't have to have suffer through the interview of a detective or the DA's office.
A rape kit is to collect evidence. It has nothing to do with emergency contraception. The ER can prescribe something like Plan B for that purpose, but it is not something that a "rape kit" does.
I say just don't pay it. Let them threaten you all they want, they can't put you into collections for medical debt. Throw out their letters, block their collection numbers from calling you, don't give those slime balls a fucking penny.
It's not just about the money, seeing the UHC letter in your mailbox when you are not expecting it will bring back flashes of that night and that trauma.
It's like knocking on the door of a veteran at random intervals throughout the year too show them pictures of the war. It's dehumanising.
The debt falls off the credit report in several years.
It's also cleared by bankruptcy, and they can't go after your relatives for it, excluding your estate, and let's say that if you have medical debt, your estate probably isn't worth pursuing.
First off, how old's that tweet (or whatever platform that is) you're attempting to provide with "expert" legal advice?
Secondly: That's about the worst legal advice I've ever seen. There are actual productive approaches, but crumbling up the bills and sticking them in your ears, while going lalalalalalala I can't hear you? If you're not even disputing the claim, then you're about to pay the debt somehow, maybe even through seizure of your property.
Not with medical bills. Most of the time you can get away with ignoring them. They sell them to a collection agency for pennies on the dollar, you ignore the phone calls or demand proof that you owe the money.