72 million people in the United States have medical debt. If you’re one of them, you’re far from alone. But knowing you’re in good company doesn’t make the situation less stressful.
In this post, we’ll talk about how to pay medical bills you can’t afford so that you can move on with life without a ball and chain of debt tied to you.
Read on for some valuable information on how to get those bills paid, even if it seems totally impossible.
Pay Medical Bills By Working Out a Payment Plan
Hospitals know that people struggle to pay their bills. If 72 million Americans are unable to pay their medical bills, you’re hardly the first person to come to the billing office saying they can’t pay. As such, don’t be embarrassed to admit that this bill is a hardship for you.
Some hospitals will accept a payment plan in order to ensure you’ll get your bill paid. Sit down with someone at the hospital and let them know how much you can reasonably afford to pay per pay period and go from there. You may even wish to set up a direct debit so that you don’t have to worry about making a payment each month.
Let Them Know If You Don’t Have Medical Insurance Upfront
Believe it or not, sometimes the fee for medical treatment is less for the uninsured than for the insured. People have reported paying co-pays that are more expensive than the treatment itself.
If you let the billing department know upfront that you don’t have medical insurance, they may be able to work with you. In some cases, they can help you decide which treatments to take and can help you find reduced price medication in your area. This can help cut down the bill tremendously.
Get a Loan
Many people are afraid to get a loan and use it as a last-ditch effort. It’s true that loans are not always the best way to solve a short-term problem, but if you need the money desperately, you may consider one.
Some types of quick loans you might consider would be payday loans, a title loan or other quick cash options. You may also wish to discuss taking out a personal loan with your bank so that you can make payments gradually and without a lot of interest.
If you wish to get a loan, make sure that you are comfortable with the terms and conditions for paying it back. You should also be sure you can comfortably afford the monthly repayments, as you don’t want to make it another financial hardship.
Getting Out of Medical Debt
Getting out of medical debt and figuring out how to pay medical bills can be a stressful situation. It is especially the case if you’re not feeling well and have to figure out how to pay a huge bill. But, there are options out there to help you get the bill down, or completely paid off.
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