Medical debt often comes unexpectedly, especially when it is due to an emergency. This is something that you can’t plan for, but medical providers might expect you to be able to pay exorbitant bills as soon as you receive them. Not many people can do this.
If you have medical bills rolling in, there are some steps you can take to handle them. It is imperative that you don’t ignore them. They might accrue interest and could be turned over to a collection agency.
One of the first things you should do when you get a bill from a health care provider is to make sure that you are responsible for the cost. Some insurance companies will send out an explanation of benefits that outlines what expenses were covered by your policy. You aren’t responsible for those costs.
The bills you receive should come from the medical center or practitioner. Once you are sure it is an actual bill, you can contact your insurance company to find out if there are any costs that they should have covered. You can also request an itemized bill that enables you to verify that you received the services and items that are on your bill. Overbilling and other instances of erroneous billing are more common than you might realize.
Another step is to find out what options you have for paying off the bills. If possible, pay them off all at once. This can help you to avoid having to pay interest. If that isn’t possible, try to set up a payment plan for the bill. If you have more than one bill with a particular company, find out if they can roll all the bills into one for you.
When you are unable to pay your medical bills, you might consider bankruptcy. This could relieve you of the debt and provide you with a fresh financial start.