Keeping medical bills from going to collections can be easier than you may think.
When insurance doesn't fully cover a hospital stay, emergency room visit, medical procedure or other incurred services, you are left with a hefty bill that may haunt you for years to come. As if the stress of medical issues is not overwhelming enough, medical billing departments have grown to buckle down on debtors more aggressively than in the past. Medical institutions will often send their unpaid bills to a collection agency, resulting in the bill appearing on your credit report. Luckily, most medical facilities are willing to work with you in finding a solution to this drastic action.
Instructions
1. Review your medical bills thoroughly as soon as you receive them. Many times, debtors shy away from taking their medical bills seriously, when they feel there is no way to pay them. However, it is important to read the bills to be sure that all charges were actually incurred and that no mistakes have been made on the part of the medical facility. A simple mistake could make huge differences in a bill's balance. If you do not understand your bill, call the medical provider for clarification of the charges.
2. Negotiate the costs. By calling the billing department of the medical center you are indebted to, you are opening the door for communication that could save your credit as well as your feelings of helplessness. Explain that it is simply impossible for you to pay the full balance immediately, if ever. Can anything be reduced or compromised on the bill? Are they willing to delete fees and charges if the base cost of services is paid? If you are unsuccessful with the representative you are speaking with, ask for a manager or call back at a different time and try another agent. Persistence shows that you do care about your obligation to the bill, particularly when your goal is to manage the debt without it ending up in collections.
3. Create a payment plan with the doctor's office or hospital. If the plan is only spoken, be sure to put it in writing and have both parties sign the agreement. Whether you were successful in receiving a discount or not, the bill will surely go to collections if you do not make some sort of payment. What you assume to be a "minimum payment" may not be sufficient to the provider, so it is important that the plan is set forth in writing. If you are realistic in your offer and honest with the billing department about your budget, a reasonable monthly payment could keep your credit clean and free of medical debt.
4. Seek help from charities, organizations or public health medical plans. Although you may believe you were not eligible for insurance or assistance when the medical debt was incurred, you may qualify for some amount of help now. Even if they are unable to assist with your past medical debt, this can prevent new doctor bills from accumulating. Charities are often more generous and lenient in their income considerations when helping an individual pay medical bills. For a helpful list of organizations that may be able to help with your health-care bills, see the Resource link below.
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