6 Tips for Managing Expensive Medical Bills

Hello World!  Welcome Friends!  Dealing with expensive medical bills can be tough — sometimes, it might seem like they just keep piling up with no relief in sight. While medical expenses can be difficult to manage, there are ways to make them easier to stay on top of. Here are six ways to keep your medical bills under control.

Photo: HCA Houston Healthcare

Don’t Lose Touch

It’s easy to want to ignore the calls, letters and other reminders of difficult medical bills, but make no mistake: keep in touch with your hospital and don’t neglect your bills. Let them know if you’re struggling or unable to make a payment at a certain time, and do your best to keep your bills out of collection agencies. Once this happens, your expenses can become even harder to manage.

Set Up a Payment Plan

Generally speaking, most hospitals and medical offices are willing to work with patients who are unable to make expensive payments right away. There are often payment plans available, many of which are customizable to suit your financial needs. Speak with a member of your hospital’s billing department to learn more.

Check for Eligible Discounts

Surprisingly, there are a few discounts that may be available if you struggle to make medical payments. Most hospitals will offer an uninsured discount if your visit occurred without medical coverage, which can significantly lower your total cost. If you aren’t able to make the full payment right away but would be able to in the near-future, prompt pay discounts are often available if the lump sum can be paid within a certain timeframe.

Get Assistance

When in doubt, seek help. Many hospitals will allow you to apply for financial assistance with your bills, but bank loans are also a viable solution as a last resort. If your medical bills are the result of an accident, consider speaking with a lawyer to find out if your case can be settled in court — you may be able to receive financial compensation.  Another option is to set up a GoFundMe page to ask close friends and family to help you in your time of need.

Check for Accuracy

There are a lot of fallacies in the medical system, and one of the issues is human error in billing. There may be instances where you were charged for a service or medication that you didn’t receive during your stay, or you may be charged for a full day even if you left in the morning. It’s a good idea to sit down with a member of the billing department and ensure that you’re being charged accordingly.

Don’t Be Afraid to Negotiate

If your medical expenses are truly unmanageable, negotiating with your hospital’s billing manager is always an option. In fact, your best bet is to compare your expenses to other providers in the area, or even a national average — if you were charged more than others, your billing manager may price match the reduced cost.

Medical bills are an unfortunate and consuming aspect of today’s world, but there are steps you can take to make the process easier. If you’re ever unsure about what options are available to you, contact your hospital or medical office to find out what assistance may be available.

Click the links below for any posts you have missed:

Things you Should Know Before Moving to Canada

Tips for a Stress-Free Move

Long Distance Relocation

How to Enhance your Home’s Curb Appeal

One Room Challenge: Teen Bedroom – Week Four

I’d love for you to join my email list!  You’ll receive a notification straight to your inbox once a week which will include links to my latest home project posts! Simply enter your address below.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful day/night depending on where you are in the world!  Go with God and remember to be kind to one another!   

Toodles,