Toll-Free: 888-857-8418
Phone: (856) 686-9910
One of the biggest things causing financial hardship for Americans is medical debt. This is often the case even when the person has insurance! Getting this debt under control is a key factor to regaining financial stability – and hopefully avoiding bankruptcy. If you are a New Jerseyan struggling with medical debt, here are a few tips to follow to get things back on track.
Hospitals and doctor’s offices are not perfect; they make mistakes. Hospital bills, particularly, can include charges for procedures that were never done, doctor visits that never happened and drugs that weren't administered. Ask for an itemized bill, and go through it line by line.
After you have done that, meet with someone with the provider and go over it. My mother was hospitalized years ago and billed three times for the same procedure: the actual time it was done, one dated for a time prior to her being admitted to the hospital, and one dated after she had left! There is no reason to pay for a service you did not receive!
If your bills are significant, you may want to hire help to review the charges and perhaps negotiate discounts. Medical Cost Advocate, Health Advocate and Chapman Consulting are three companies that offer these services.
Medical services is one of the few fields where services are rendered without a price agreed upon in advance. You often have no choice but to have the service rendered, such as a trip to the emergency room after an accident. Many people think that the bill is the bill, and they just have to pay it.
However, I always recommend to clients that they review the charges, comparing them to standards for the area such as Medicare billing rates or resources like the Healthcare Bluebook, and then sit down with the provider to negotiate, immediately after receiving the bill. You might be able to get them to knock off quite a bit.
The important thing to keep in mind is you don’t necessarily have to pay the amount they bill you for. Health insurance companies don’t, so why should you? In addition to the Healthcare Bluebook, you could also ask if they will discount your bills down to what the largest insurer in your area would pay for the same treatment. In addition, you could:
If you just can’t afford whatever the provider will negotiate, there is another option. Most hospitals and many other providers offer charity care. If your income is low, ask to speak to a financial counselor about charity assistance. Hospitals typically base the amount of help you're offered on the federal poverty line. Under those guidelines, depending on how you compare, you could get deep discounts, or even have the entire bill eliminated.
The bottom line is that you have options available to you if you act in a timely manner by giving the bill a careful review, comparing to data on the “going rates” and negotiate something with the provider. If none of this works out for you, and the debt is substantial, you might benefit from filing bankruptcy. If this is the case, please call my office at 888-857-8418 or contact me through this site to discuss your options.
Looking for more information about bankruptcy? Get the answers to the most frequently asked questions by downloading my free book, Top Questions People Ask About Filing Bankruptcy in New Jersey. It will give you the answers you need all in one place. Then call me at 888-857-8418 or contact me through this site for an appointment for a free consultation to discuss your case.