According to Harvard Law School Professor Elizabeth Warren, medical bills contributed to 62.1 percent of all bankruptcies in the United States in 2007. If you have a medical insurance policy with a high deductible or no medical insurance at all, or if your insurance denies coverage of a hospitalization, you could find yourself facing bills in the tens of thousands of dollars. You may be able to receive help to pay all or part of your hospital bill if you're willing to do some research and contact those who can help.
Step 1
Review your hospital bill to make sure all the charges are for services and items you actually received. If your bill is not itemized with a separate line for each charge, request such a bill from the hospital. Many states have laws that require the hospital to give you an itemized bill. If you see any charges you don't understand, or anything you think you did not receive, contact the hospital billing office and ask for an explanation.
Step 2
Make an appointment to meet with the hospital's financial aid department. If the hospital doesn't have a financial aid department, ask to speak with the hospital social worker. Social workers can assess your situation and put you in touch with government programs to help with your medical bills.
Step 3
Gather financial records to take with you to your appointment. Check stubs and monthly bills to show you don't make enough income to meet your obligations and pay off a large hospital bill will help you make your case that you deserve financial aid.
Step 4
Meet with the social worker or financial aid person. Ask about a self-pay discount to lower the cost of your bill. Find out if there are any local grant programs to help pay your bill, or if the hospital will forgive part of your debt. Ask about payment programs to allow you to pay off the bill over time.
Step 5
Contact your state's Social Services Department and make an appointment to see a counselor. Bring documentation of income and expenses as well as copies of your medical bills with you to your appointment. Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for medical assistance payments to help with your bills. Some states will enroll you in Medicaid retro-actively to cover emergency medical bills.
Tips and Warnings
- Keep track of all correspondence with the hospital and all good-faith efforts to pay the bill.
Things You'll Need
- Copy of hospital bill
- Financial records
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