If you have insurance, make sure you know which hospitals are considered in-network and which are considered out-of-network. Your bill will likely be much lower if you choose an in-network facility. If you do not have insurance, contact the hospitals in your area to see if any of them offer discounts to uninsured patients. You may even be able to find a facility that offers up-front cash prices, so there won’t be any surprises.
If you have access to a flexible spending account through work, this is a great way to pay for medical expenses. You can generally deposit up to $2850/year into your account, and you won’t have to pay income taxes on this money. [3] X Research source If you don’t have access to a flexible spending account, consider opening a savings account at your bank to use as an emergency fund. Setting up automatic transfers from your checking account to you savings account might make it easier to get in the habit of putting money away.
If you do not need immediate treatment for your condition, consider scheduling an appointment with a doctor. If you need immediate care, but your condition is not serious or life-threatening, consider an urgent care facility. If there is any danger whatsoever that your condition may be serious, it is best to visit the emergency room.
Provide your insurance information during the emergency room visit. If you have insurance, your policy will be billed. Whether you are insured or lack coverage, usually you won’t be asked to pay anything upfront. Bills arrive later. Confirm that the hospital will not charge you anything upfront. Most hospitals will not deny you help because of your inability to pay.
Inform the representative that you will be investigating the bills and will not send payment until you confirm the accuracy of every charge.
Look for inflated prices such as overpriced bandages. Compare and document hospital charges for those items against their retail cost in a pharmacy. Ensure that you received all of the treatments listed on the bill.
Be sure to explain to the facility that you will not pay anything until the correct bills are sent. Doing so can indicate that you agree to the original charges.
Do not send partial payments without arranging an installment plan with the medical facility. Doing so may put your account in default status.
Document your financial situation. Discuss why you want a reduction in your bill and then ask for the facilities to negotiate lower rates. You may be able to support your argument for a lower rate if you can find out how much insurance companies are billed for the same services you received. This amount is often less than the amount uninsured patients are billed. [8] X Research source
Locate your financial information such as completed tax forms. Charities will need to verify your inability to pay.
