When you have to seek medical care, you might not automatically think about the financial aspects of getting that help. When the bills start rolling in, you might find that the amount you have to pay is overwhelming. If you are unable to pay it all right away, you might soon be confronted by medical debt collectors.
One thing that you might notice is that you are offered multiple ways to get the debt paid off. This isn’t done accidentally. People who owe medical debts have reported that they are more likely to try to get the bills paid off if they have multiple ways to consider paying the bill. If you aren’t offered ways to pay, you might consider asking the person who contacts you what kinds of options you might have.
Another thing to know is that consolidated billing is a way that debt collectors might try to help you. If this is used in your case, find out what it means for you. Some places might offer discounts for consolidated billing. This could mean that you can pay the debt off faster than if you tried to pay everything individually.
You also need to know is that you have the right to know exactly what you are paying for. Remember that hospitals and doctors often bill out separately, so determine what your payments are going toward.
If you find that you can’t pay these bills despite payment options and payment plans that are offered, you might need to consider filing for bankruptcy. This can help you get financial relief and might help you get a fresh start.
Source: Budco Financial, “Managing Medical Debt: Four Strategies to Help Patients Pay and Providers Collect,” accessed Feb. 07, 2018