Medical bills in this country keep rising – and they can financially overwhelm almost anybody.
If you’re dealing with an unexpected hospital bill (or one that was just unexpectedly high) there are several things you can do to try to lower or manage the bill. These include:
1. Request an itemized bill
You might be surprised at how many unnecessary or incorrect charges sneak through billing. Ask for an itemized bill from the hospital and review it carefully. You can challenge anything you think is incorrect or unfair – like charges for prescriptions you brought from home or a service that you know you didn’t receive.
2. Contact the billing office
Many patients don’t realize this, but most hospitals have programs that can assist patients with their hospital bills, and many are income-based. Even if you have a regular income, you may still qualify for a reduction of your balance, especially if your insurance already covered a good portion of the original bill.
3. Apply for a payment plan
Sometimes, the best you can do is set up a payment plan. Don’t be afraid to negotiate for the lowest possible payment. That will minimize the financial strain for you and, at least, keep the bill from going into collections.
Unfortunately, the reality of the U.S. healthcare system creates massive bills that people simply cannot afford to pay. There are times, such as when someone has a major medical event or when they develop a chronic condition, that there’s simply no way to reduce the total enough to make it payable. In those situations, it may be time to consider bankruptcy as a viable solution so that you can get your life back on track.
