As many as 79 million American adults have medical debt, with about three million with more than $10,000 in past due bills for treatment.  

Medical debt can result in delay or denial of care and imposes an added financial burden on patients who are facing serious health challenges. Medical debt can have a crippling effect on someone’s ability to recovery financially, emotionally, and physically from an injury or illness.

Indeed, a 2022 study found that debt due to medical bills can affect patients’ ability to pay rent, mortgage, or utility bills, leading to eviction or foreclosure and food insecurity – all of which can cause their health to worsen. Once unpaid bills have piled upon, patients are hesitant to seek care, further affecting their physical or mental health.  

Avoiding medical debt is critical to both one’s financial health and their physical and mental health.  

The below strategies are key to staying on top of your medical bills and finding ways to avert collections.  

Don’t ignore your bills. This may seem obvious, but it’s important. Don’t let bills pile up on the kitchen counter. Open them and read them. You can’t deal with the problem effectively if you aren’t fully aware of the extent of the issue in the first place.  

Check your bills for errors. When you are reading your bills, review the explanation of benefits to confirm you are not being overcharged, or charged for treatment you did not receive. If your bill doesn’t have the detail you need ask for an itemized bill. Question overly high charges. Check the dates of service and compare them with your own records to see if they match.  

Make full use of your insurance options. If you haven’t already, make sure you are getting all that you can out of your insurance. For example, if you were injured in an accident and you have exhausted the limits of your auto insurance policy, then shift over to your health coverage. Make sure your providers are in network or covered if they are out of network. Confirm the recommended treatment or procedure is covered. Appeal claims denials.  

Fight denials for surprise charges. A new 2022 federal law known as the No Surprises Act restricts exorbitant out-of-pocket expenses and mandates insurance coverage for emergency treatment out of network without prior authorization. If your insurer won’t budge you can file a complaint with Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (call 1-800-985-3059 or visit https://www.cms.gov/medical-bill-rights/help/submit-a-complaint/get-started.)  

Start negotiating. Assuming your bill is error free and legitimate does not mean that’s the end of the story. If you have received a bill that you cannot pay, it may be possible to negotiate with a hospital or doctor’s office. You could either end up reaching a settlement to pay a reduced lump sum up front or setting up a payment plan.  

Consider charity care options. Some hospitals and other medical providers recognize that low-income patients may not be able to pay for their care and will offer reduced rates, or accept nonpayment as uncompensated care. In some cases, you have to proactively request this, so contact your provider’s billing department for more information.   

Get help from a medical debt charity. If you’re other options haven’t panned out, there are still resources that can help you. A nonprofit known as RIP Medical Debt will actually buy up your unpaid medical debt for pennies on the dollar. A number of other charities can help out in one way or another as well. See this site for a list: https://cameronscrusaders.org/amazing-charities-that-help-with-medical-bills/.  

Keep records of everything. Keeping records of your appointments, treatment, and key communication with providers and insurers will help you stay on top of your medical bills.  

If you’ve been injured by a third party, request Gain’s Pre-settlement Cash Advance or Medical Funding.

Medical bills don’t have to stand in the way of your recovery. At Gain, we’re committed to helping personal injury plaintiffs like you access the medical funding and financial support needed to cover treatment costs or life expenses without delay. Our services can relieve the immediate pressure of medical debt, so you can focus on getting well, not worrying about bills. If you’re facing medical expenses related to your case, reach out to Gain to explore a cash advance or medical funding options designed to support your journey to recovery.