How Can I Lower The Costs Of My Medical Bills?

Posted on July 20, 2015 at 12:00pm by
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People with health insurance can end up visiting the wrong hospitals or seeing doctors not covered under their health insurance policy. When this happens, insurance companies may choose not to cover the cost of treatment, sticking people with thousands of dollars in medical bills.

Kansas City residents should not have to worry over excessive health care debt. It is our hope these four tips for negotiating medical bills can help you reduce debt.

  • Always request an itemized bill from the hospital so you know what you are paying for. Itemized bills will include costs such as bandages, having your blood pressure taken, and visiting with the doctor. Having an itemized bill allows you to check for duplicate charges, errors, and puts you in a better position to negotiate.
  • Become educated on the details of your insurance policy. Most health insurance companies have websites where you can review policies online from the comfort of a living room. With an itemized bill in hand and knowledge of what your health insurance policy covers, it can be easier to negotiate the cost of treatment with hospitals or other health care providers.
  • It is important to know what the reasonable cost is for each procedure and charge during the negotiation process. Websites like Health Care Blue Book can help determine what the reasonable rates for procedures are in your area.
  • If you do not have insurance, some hospitals offer charity care services that can forgive or reduce the amount of medical bills owed. Contact the hospital and ask if charity care is available. Unfortunately, this is not an option at all hospitals.

What Other Options Are Available For Reducing Medical Bills?

For some people, medical bills can be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. By contacting a bankruptcy attorney, people with mortgage-sized medical bills can explore all available options. An experienced bankruptcy attorney might be able to reduce or discharge excessive medical bills.

The Sader Law FirmKansas City Bankruptcy Attorneys



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