Medical Debt
Medical debt can happen to anyone, including people with insurance. In 2004 over 50% of the people that filed for bankruptcy, did so because of medical debt. Medical expenses are out of control. Any serious injury can cause a financial burden for those with inadequate healthcare coverage.
If you have medical debt there are ways to overcome this financial strain. The first thing you need to do is review all medical bills for errors. It is unbelievable how many mistakes and how common medical billing errors are. This can result in higher co-pays and more out of pocket expenses to you. Plus the insurance company is getting overcharged which in the end increases everyone's insurance premiums.
Always ask for an itemized bill. You are legally entitled to it if you request it. Any errors should be immediately disputed to your insurance company and with the hospital, doctor's office or clinic that provided the service in dispute. This should be done in writing with a full explanation of the error and a copy of the bill in question. If you do not challenge or dispute the bill you are responsible for payment.
I would advise sending a letter disputing the charges with signature required so that you have proof it was received. After a couple of days of the letter being received follow-up with a phone call asking a review of your bill and all charges. If you don't know what a charge is for always ask for clarification.
Medical Bill Debt Negotiation
Once insurance has paid their portion of your medical bill, the remaining expenses are what you owe. This may be your co-pay amount, deductible amount or amount due for items not covered by your insurance plan.
If you are unable to pay you may try to negotiate the remaining balance of your medical bill or try to negotiate a payment plan if you are unable to pay in full. You should notify the hospital, doctor's office, clinic or medical provider immediately upon receipt of your bill that you are unable to pay and try to negotiate a fair amount and payment plan. Always write down the date, time and name of the person that you speak with and ask to have the agreed upon settlement amount in writing.
Never ignore your medical bills. Pay something on every bill to show a gesture of good faith. This will help you in your negotiations.
Help With Medical Bills
There are resources available to help with medical bills such as your church, charitable organizations, patient advocacy groups, fund-raisers and credit counselors. Don't hesitate to seek help. Medical bills are overwhelming and can be hard to pay off without assistance.
