Data from the U.S. Census Bureau finds that 19% of American households cannot pay for medical care immediately.
Have you become part of this statistic recently?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, seeking advice about medical bill debt forgiveness is crucial. Without understanding some basics, you may find yourself making a bad situation worse despite your best efforts.
This article contains essential advice for anyone looking for help with medical bills. Read to the end for advice on what next steps to take as well!
You Need to Know Your Rights
In cases where an individual receives a massive medical bill, it’s good to contact the insurance carrier first. Read over your policy and, if possible, make a call before getting admitted for care.
If you’re uninsured, it’s not unusual for a hospital to bill you for more than someone with coverage. You can ask for an itemized bill to compare and find out if you’ve received unfair charges.
You may find yourself asking for this information from a company like House Medical Billing Service LLC in some situations.
You May Qualify for Financial Aid
Nonprofit hospitals must offer financial assistance programs. Unfortunately, the people in charge of medical billing do not always make this transparent. If you qualify for lower-cost care, you can receive discounts for up to tens of thousands of dollars.
You Can Negotiate
If you cannot find a source of financial aid, you can try negotiating with medical billing services. A few successful strategies to try include:
- Asking for a discount to pay in a lump sum
- Remaining transparent about your financial situation
- Comparing the charges to other providers
According to Consumer Reports, almost 40 percent of people surveyed tried negotiating with providers directly. These negotiations or working with medical billing companies resulted in lower payments 57% of the time.
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You May Find Errors
If you have insurance, you should receive an Explanation of Benefits after a doctor visit. This letter is not a bill but a statement of the costs and coverage provided. If you find information that you feel could be in error, you may have success asking for a reduction.
You May Have Protection Under the Law
Many states passed medical bill debt forgiveness laws in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the federal level, the 117th Congress has seen the introduction of the COVID-19 Medical Debt Collection Relief Act of 2021.
If this bill passes in the next year or two, you may find that you have even more options.
Medical Bill Debt Forgiveness
Reading this article about medical bill debt forgiveness is a strong start, but where should you go from here? Start by researching how state laws may have changed in your favor since 2020. If you believe that you’re a victim of harassment, you may want to consider hiring a lawyer.
Do you need to know more about a medical bill and what rights you have? Discover the value we have to offer by visiting the rest of our blog today!
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