Manage Medical Debt

In Credit Repair of CreditGuru (February 17, 2024 12:18 am)

The insured and the uninsured can struggle with medical debt

It’s not uncommon for people to need a payday loan or cash advance to help pay down medical debt. Even those with medical insurance find themselves in a bind at times, due to insurance companies refusing to pay certain medical costs. Medical debt can be overwhelming, but there are certain things that consumers can do in order to maintain better control over this debt and even reduce it whenever possible.

Here are a few suggestions for managing medical debt:

Medical Debt Suggestion Number One – Track Services Rendered

When receiving treatment, keep track of various procedures, tests and medications used during your visit. It is not unusual for patients to be billed for things that were never a part of their examination or treatment. By writing down the events of a medical visit, people are better prepared to dispute any false charges.

Medical Debt Suggestion Number Two – Decoding Your Bill

Do not be afraid to ask for help understanding your bill. Often, medical bills will contain special codes or jargon that the consumer is not familiar with. In order to properly understand your bill and to assure that you are not being overcharged, it is sometimes necessary to request that the hospital or medical provider provide a clearer explanation of each charge.

Medical Debt Suggestion Number Three – Request an Itemized Statement

Ask for an itemized statement. Even if the bill isn’t coded, some bills might group services together without an explanation of charges. In order to avoid hidden costs or charges, consumers are advised to ask that their statements be itemized so that individual charges are clearly reflected.

Medical Debt Suggestion Number Four – Hold Your Insurance Company Accountable

Unfortunately, stressful medical debt occurs when insurance companies refuse to pay for services that their client was led to believe would be paid for. These bills can be stressful, as they are surprising to the person who was expecting the charges to have been covered. When this happens, it is best to contact the hospital or medical provider who sent the bill and explain the insurance company’s refusal to pay. When doing so, it is important to also let the provider know that you will not be paying the cost yourself, but will take appropriate actions with your insurance company, instead. Providers are used to dealing with this, as it is an all too common issue and might even employ an ombudsmen to help you out. They aren’t likely to add penalties or late charges, and more likely to extend time for payment, giving you time to work out the situation with your insurance company.

Medical Debt Suggestion Number Five – Mistakes Happen

Always check your bill for possible mistakes and never agree to pay once an error is located. As estimated by the General Accounting Office, mistakes on hospital bills are common and average roughly $ 1,400 each time they occur. Considering that many bills contain codes foreign to the consumer or broad categories for charges, as detailed above, it is possible that much of the medical debt assessed is due to these mistakes and can be reversed.

Medical Debt Suggestion Number Six – Ask for Leniency

Even when you find that the medical bill received is accurate and that you are, in fact, responsible for paying the debt, it can be difficult to do so if you simply don’t have the cash to cover the cost. Besides considering a payday loan or cash advance, don’t be afraid to contact a billing representative directly and explain your situation. Often, these agencies are more flexible than lenders or credit companies with payment plans. And, when consumers show an interest in paying but simply are unable to, they will often make arrangements involving a minimum payment and limit additional charges while a consumer makes installment payments on the balance. It’s key to communicate. Keep in touch with the billing agency, and do what you can to pay down the medical debt and that will earn you some leniency.

Medical debt is difficult to pay off, but it IS possible. For emergency cash or a short-term installment loan, even with bad credit, a cash till payday scenario can help when there is nowhere else to turn. Emergencies happen and, when they do, we sometimes aren’t prepared for the cost, which is why advice like this should be embraced and utilized whenever possible.

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