According to the National Consumer Law Center, around 45 million Americans don't have health insurance. This means that when they have medical emergencies, the astronomical fees need to be paid out of pocket. Even those with some form of insurance often find themselves unable to pay the stacks of medical bills that follow a procedure.
The hospital, doctors, specialists and technicians all need to be paid separately, leaving you confused and penniless. Consolidate them so you have one lower monthly payment to end them once and for all.
Step 1
Gather your hospital bills and go through them carefully. You may notice there are questionable charges on the bill. Billing is done by humans, which means there is a margin of error. If you don't check through the bill, you won't know what you really owe. If you find a charge you don't agree with, call the hospital and ask about. They'll be able to explain it or remove it if incorrect.
Step 2
Call the hospital's billing department, which is usually the phone number found on the back of the bills. Quote one of the account numbers to them to bring up a file and then ask that all of the bills under your name be placed under the same account number. Each procedure and doctor bills with a new number, meaning you could have accounts you didn't know about. Condense them all into one account so they are easier to track.
Step 3
Ask the billing department if there is any sort of discount for paying the bills in full all at once. Many insurance companies are offered a percentage discount when paying hospital bills, and when asked, the hospital may extend the same discount to you if you are planning to pay them off quickly and without dispute.
Step 4
Visit your bank and apply for a low interest rate credit card with a limit large enough to accommodate your hospital bills. Hospital interest rates can often be exorbitant, and Credit.com's Emily Davidson recommends that you find a zero percent credit card to carry the balance to consolidate all of the bills into one place, so you can pay on your credit card in order to pay them off.
Step 5
Pay your credit card balance as you would the hospital bills. Do not place any other debt on the credit card other than the hospital bills. It will actually improve your credit, because it will show one debt being paid off, while new credit is being established. As long as you stay up to date on your payments, your hospital bills will be consolidated to a manageable monthly payment.
Member Comments