The hospital is supposed to be a space for recovery and care. However, for most Americans, visiting this space comes with harsh and long-lasting side effects: medical bills. As a result, some Americans even forego medical treatment to avoid accumulating debt.
Don’t jeopardize your health because of money! Access may not be readily available for all Americans, but there are ways to get out of medical debt fast here in New Orleans, LA.
So how can you ensure a speedy recovery without the ailments of insurmountable medical debt? To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of FAQs on overcoming medical debt! Read on below to find out more:
Is my medical bill final and can it still be lowered?
What most people don’t know is that roughly 80% of medical bills contain errors or unnecessary additional fees. Do these following steps in order to get the lowest possible number for your bill:
Review your medical bill
In case the hospital hasn’t provided it yet, ask for an itemized breakdown of your bill. A majority of billing errors occur here. Keep a close eye on the services provided and notify the hospital if there are duplicates or services that you did not receive. If you have insurance, check whether you were charged for services that should have been covered.
Avoid paying the sticker price
Healthcare providers sometimes charge with a rate higher than their normal price. This sticker price is used to negotiate with insurance providers. Communicate your financial situation with the hospital and state that you cannot afford the sticker price.
How can I negotiate for a lower medical bill?
Being clear and assertive can sometimes pay off. Healthcare providers in New Orleans, LA aren’t your typical profit-driven companies. Oftentimes, they would be open to negotiating and hearing your side. You just need to communicate with them. Here are some ways for you to negotiate for a lower medical bill
Inquire about financial assistance
For this method, your point person would be your healthcare provider’s medical billing manager. They have the authority to alter your bill and the knowledge regarding assistance programs. For most hospitals, financial assistance and free services should be available for low-income patients.
Discuss a new repayment plan
To lighten the burden of your medical bill, look for ways to decrease or eliminate interest. Providers should be open to offering repayment plans with little to no interest. This pro
Consider paying for discounted fees
If you have some spare cash, you may want to consider paying a large down payment. By paying in cash, you would be saving them the trouble of processing credit card fees. This would provide you with the leverage to ask for a discounted bill.
What do I do if I have other bills to pay?
The tricky thing with medical bills is that they are unexpected and go on top of your regular monthly bills. A trip to the hospital will not put a pause on everything else. So how do you navigate all of this debt? Here are some things to keep in mind once the medical bill comes in:
Prioritize your other bills
Federal laws have been implemented to protect you from medical bills. Medical debt will not harm your credit score as much as the other types of debt. Prioritize paying your high-interest debt first before taking on your medical bills.
Avoid using your credit card
If you pay with a credit card, your medical bills will be considered as paid. The policies and laws that are meant to protect you will no longer apply. In addition, credit cards have higher interest rates than medical providers.
Need to learn more?
The key to getting out of medical debt is proactivity. Confront the situation and be assertive. One way to demonstrate this is by selling your New Orleans, LA house fast! We at Albatross Homebuyers are experts at situations like this.
As a real estate solutions company, Albatross Homebuyers will buy your New Orleans, LA house fast while still offering you the best possible price. With no additional commissions and fees, you can get out of medical debt fast with us! Give us a call or visit our website so we can get you started on that fair cash offer today!