Help with Medical Bills

Medical emergencies can do more than just zap your savings. They can also push you into bankruptcy if you do not have adequate health insurance coverage.

Hospitalization can result in a flood of medical bills from doctors, hospitals, anesthesiologists and any other related entity claiming to have provided medical services to you. It can be difficult to track, and most patients never request an itemized list of their total charges.

Even if you have health insurance, you can still find that you owe thousands of dollars from a medical procedure. If you do not have health insurance, then you might find that you could be at risk for a judgment. There are some ways to protect yourself.

• Insurance companies negotiate a lower payoff on medical procedures and other charges. Some insurance charges are less than 60% of the total bill. If you do not have health insurance, try negotiating a lower payoff for each charge. If you do have health insurance, then understand the biller likely has already received most of their money. You may be able to negotiate a lower portion that you have to pay of the remainder.
• If you find that your medical bills total well over $10,000 and you are unable to repay even half of your debt, then you might need to speak with an attorney specializing in debt settlement or in bankruptcy.

Often the worst thing you can do is nothing. You risk legal action that could threaten your way of life.