Medical bills can cause anyone to go into debt, and often the amounts are so staggering you can quickly find yourself overwhelmed and at a loss when it comes to coping with the totals. The main thing to realize is that you’re not the first person who has found himself snowed under in medical bills, and there are procedures you can follow to learn to cope with your bills and become debt free once again.
Step 1
Obtain an itemized copy of each medical bill (from the provider) and check the charges line by line. Make sure you received each service you were charged for, and that you weren’t double-charged for anything. If you’re unsure whether you received a service or not, you can request to examine your medical records and check the bill against treatment received.
Step 2
Check with your insurance provider and confirm that they have paid all of the charges that were covered under your insurance contract. This will ensure that you owe the full amount charged, or a reduced amount if a portion can be covered by insurance.
Step 3
Inquire whether the medical provider for each bill has a charity program in their facility. Many hospitals and private medical facilities have a program that will provide low or no cost treatment if you cannot afford to pay the amount charged.
Step 4
Ask the biller if they will lower the total bill and if you can make payment arrangements on the balance. Often providers will accept a percentage of the amount owed and will agree to monthly payments on the balance.
Step 5
Request that the biller refrain from charging interest on the unpaid balance, handle the payments without the aid of a collection agency and that they not report the medical bills to your credit report.
Step 6
Consider joining a support group for persons with high medical debt. Both the Parent Advocate Foundation and Livestrong offer support for those who find themselves overwhelmed by medical bills.
Tips and Warnings
- Make sure you have your household bills covered by your income before you agree to a payment plan. Refrain from using credit cards to pay medical bills, as you will have to pay interest on the charges. Do not use your home as equity for a loan to pay medical bills, as this will change the bills from unsecured status to secured status and you could lose your home if you cannot make the payments.
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