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Couple left with $200k bill after baby born in US
(www.bbc.co.uk)
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this post was submitted on 21 Feb 2026
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I'm curious, what happens if you just don't pay? What if you just go back home and never come back?
I would say the hospital would sell it to a debt collector in the UK. If it gets to court you could argue incorrect jurisdiction as the contract would have started in the US but that's risking a lot on a technicality. You would also need to fork out for a solicitor, barrister and court costs. I think they did the right thing in shaming the insurance into paying rather than fighting the debt collector who has no shame.
Honestly if you never go back, not much. It wouldn't even impact your credit rating, and your country likely doesn't have the means to enforce it. I could imagine you get harassed by us debt collection agencies but they can't do anything about it either. If you're never returning to the US, it's fine.
You could likely even still holiday in the USA. It won't impact your visa as it's not a criminal offence either.
I'm not a lawyer, and could be totally wrong, but I asked my dad who is also not a lawyer.
They are bringing back debtor's prisons in some states, those debts they sell as unrecoverable are bought by shady companies, as in Utah, that sue for them in the big city, and if the defendant doesn't show up they get a default judgement and then get the judge to hold them in contempt, and jail them. If they pay they get out right away. After they get out of jail the holder of the debt can just file for another action and contempt you again, as I understand it.
And they aren't the only state either I hear, they were one of the first to end run around the prohibition, I think case law, on debtor's prisons, over 10 years back.
After 7 years without any payment, most debt including medical debt and standard loans are discharged. The non-payment is key. Even sending a cent will restart the obligation to that debt
If the debt is large enough, the companies will use a myriad of tricks to keep the debt alive long after it is supposed to expire.
Like what?
They will actually make a payment in your name to the account and that will keep the debt alive for at least a year or two.
That would be fraud. I'm sure it happens, and it's going to be hard to prove it did. This whole system is undoubtedly rotten, and I'm not excusing any part of it.