Action 9 exposes medical debt trap targeting Central Florida families

ORLANDO, Fla. — Many viewers have reached out to Channel 9 after it bought $1 million worth of medical debt for $12,500 and erased it all.

But thousands of Central Florida families still face medical bills they can't afford to repay.

Action 9's Todd Ulrich seeks to help viewers avoid debt collection traps that turn medical bills into lifelong nightmares.

Doctor bills haunt Nancy Williams, so Action 9's story struck a nerve with her.

"I need help, because I'm going down," she said.

Williams is now chased by debt collectors. It really hit home when her spinal stenosis left her unable to move, but she refused to call an ambulance.

"I said, 'But it's going to cost me money.' So I didn't go," she said.

Action 9 bought medical debt through national charity RIP Medical Debt, forgiving the debt of about 1,000 Central Floridians.

But experts said at least 600,000 Central Floridians struggle with unpaid medical bills. Many have avoided treatments because they fear they'll be further indebted.

Pamela Brohez said she feels guilty that she must rely on her son to pay some of her medical bills. She now faces more chemotherapy.

"I feel so bad, because he takes so much time," she said. "There are times I'm not even opening up the mail. I can't."

Ignoring medical bills won't make them disappear, but not all debt is the same. Damage can be limited.

In Florida, residents are legally responsible to repay a debt for five years, so when debt collectors chase you for older bills, be careful.

"It's very unwise for a consumer to make a small payment, especially on a very old account," consumer attorney Jared Lee said.

Old debt will die, but there is a trap -- collection agencies ask for a small payments and promise to write off the balance. It's instead resold to another collector, renewing the debt for five more years.

The older the debt, the higher the chance patients can negotiate a lower payoff -- sometimes even 10 cents on the dollar.

Download: Free WFTV news app

But consumer experts have a warning:

"I would never rely on a verbal settlement offer," Lee said. "I would always get that in writing."

Patients are also advised to request written evidence of any debt demanded by collectors. Without that, the letters and calls must stop.

"It's just depressing," Williams said. "I have plenty to get fixed."

Cox Media Group