Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Large medical bills difficult to pay off
The nation’s young adults are having difficulty paying off large medical bills, but in some cases there is assistance available. A recent article in the New York Times illustrates this growing situation.
According to the article, some people are working with health advocacy groups to make financial arrangements for high medical expenses. In some cases, the medical companies will take some expenses off the bill and accept monthly payments.
One such advocacy organization, The Access Project,, a Boston-based group, trains healthcare service organizations around the country to help people deal with medical debt. Staff of The Access Project say that often hospitals and medical providers are willing to work with people to give a discount or a payment plan, if contacted.
The mission of The Access Project, http://www.accessproject.org/new/pages/index.php, is to strengthen community action, promote social change, and improve health, especially for those who are most vulnerable.
The Access Project staff also suggests that if insurance doesn’t cover an exam or procedure, patients can appeal to the company to have it covered. And if patients have no health insurance, they may qualify to have uninsured medical expenses, including copayments and prescription costs, covered by a public program such as the Health Safety Net. They also suggest negotiating directly with the billing department of a hospital or clinic to have the bill discounted or get services.
The Access project suggests these steps to negotiate with health care providers:
- Request a cost estimate in advance and be upfront with the provider if you think you will have trouble paying. Check http://www.nahdo.org to research the going rate for medical services. As soon as you receive a bill that you cannot afford, contact the billing department of the hospital or clinic to let them know you are having trouble.
- Pay in cash. This will both increase your likelihood of getting a discount and protect you from credit card and other forms of high-interest debt.
- Make a personal connection. When you call a hospital billing department to negotiate a bill, ask to speak to a manager. Explain briefly why you are having trouble paying.
- Write a letter to follow up on your request. Chronicle your reasons for requesting a discount or charity care.
- Be persistent. If you don’t succeed at first, keep calling and writing, and ask to speak to people further up the management ladder. Keep careful records of who you speak to and when you speak to them.
Some schools will offer medical and dental treatments for reduced costs to help train their students. Patients might also qualify for free medical care at one of the state’s community health centers. The safety net is available to residents of Massachusetts who are underinsured or who do not have insurance, regardless of citizenship status.
