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How to Pay Off Your Medical Bills Six Options
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How to Pay off Your Medical Costs 6 Options to Pay Off Medical Bills
Do you need a way to pay for medical expenses? Ask for a payment plan, use a medical credit card or engage an advocate for medical bills.
By Sean Pyles Senior Writer | Personal financial and credit, and personal finance Sean Pyles leads podcasting at NerdWallet as the producer and host of the NerdWallet’s “Smart Money” podcast. In “Smart Money,” Sean talks with Nerds from the NerdWallet Content team to answer listeners’ personal finance questions. With a focus on thoughtful and actionable money advice, Sean provides real-world guidance that can help consumers better in their finances. In addition to answering listeners’ financial questions on “Smart Money,” Sean also interviews guests outside of NerdWallet and creates special segments to explore topics such as the racial gap in wealth and how to begin investing and the history of student loans.
Before Sean took over podcasting for NerdWallet the company, he also wrote about topics that dealt with consumer debt. His work has been published throughout the media including USA Today, The New York Times as well as other publications. When he’s not writing about personal finances, Sean can be found working in his garden, going for runs and taking his dog on long walks. He lives at Ocean Shores, Washington.
January 13 2023
Editor: Kathy Hinson Lead Assigning Editor Personal finances, credit scoring debt and money management Kathy Hinson leads the core personal finance team at NerdWallet. Previously, she spent 18 years at The Oregonian in Portland in capacities such as chief of the copy desk and team editor and designer. Prior experience includes copy editing and news for various Southern California newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and journalism at the University of Iowa.
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Nerdy Tip
Big changes have come to how medical debt is reported by the three major U.S. credit agencies. Beginning on July 1st, 2022, consumers can expect to have paid medical debts removed from their credit report, and the time frame before unpaid medical debt appears on credit reports jumped by six months, to a year. In mid-2023, medical debt less than $500 is likely to not appear on credit reports. VantageScore anticipates that it will remove all unpaid and paid medical debt — regardless of how much is owed or how long the debt was in collections — starting from 3.0 and 4.0 score calculation by the at the end of January 2023.
The process of paying off medical debt isn’t as clear-cut as resolving the issue with an loan or credit card. There’s usually more scope to negotiate the conditions of repayment and maybe even to reduce the amount you’re owed. You may also have an additional recourses that are granted by the .
Begin by looking over the medical bill you received and then compare it to your explanation of benefits, in case you are covered by insurance. Find out the amount you’re expected to spend, but do not exceed the : You can always consider negotiating the total cost first.
When working with your provider, be upfront about what you are able to pay. When you’re not insured you’re likely to be paid more than someone with insurance. Knowing there’s a price disparity can give you leverage.
“That can be very useful in negotiations when you are actually required to pay the bill,” says Chi Chi Wu Chi Chi Wu, a staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center. “Tell that you’ll pay for what BlueCross or Medicaid would be paying.”
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Payment plan
A variety of medical professionals, such as physicians, dentists and hospitals, are able to negotiate a no- or low-interest payment plan for your medical bills. This is one of the most simple and common ways to pay off a bill you can’t afford in one installment.
The amount you are allowed to pay in your payment plan will depend on your bill amount and the terms you agree to. It is common to break your bill into equal installments over a period of time until the total is covered.
Tips: Find out whether there are any billing fees or other charges that are related to the payment plan, so that you can determine the cost.
Medical credit cards for medical purposes.
The provider may also assist you in applying for . While medical credit cards often come with a free interest period of six to twelve months, they could be charged a fee that could make your debt significantly more expensive if you do not complete the payment within the timeframe. Another danger that comes with credit cards are that late payment or late payments could negatively impact your score on credit.
Tips: Be aware of the additional costs you’d face if you’re hit with deferred interest to know if a medical credit card makes sense.
Unsecured credit options
Personal loans
A can help you consolidate medical bills or cover emergencies and planned treatments.
Getting a personal loan may be best when you’ve exhausted all other options like an installment plan or a medical credit card, however it’s also a risk of additional interest, fees and negative effects on credit scores in the event of a late payment. The loan amounts vary from $1000 to $100,000.
TIP: Always shop around to compare rates, fees, and repayment terms.
A credit card that has 0% interest
A could be a good alternative if you’re not eligible for a payment plan or medical credit card. You’ll need good to excellent credit to qualify, though. Make sure you pay your balance before the promotional interest period expires and the interest rate begins to kick in. Paying late can affect your credit score.
Tip: Dedicate the card solely to medical expenses if you decide to choose to do this. Otherwise it’ll be harder to keep track of costs for tax deductions, or the medical savings account.
Advocate for medical bills
If you’ve experienced an extended stay in the hospital or a lengthy procedure, you’re probably facing an avalanche of medical expenses.
You can engage a medical bill advocate to negotiate your bill on your behalf. Advocates are specialists in medical billing who are able to read health care bills and understand common costs for procedures. They can spot potential errors or overcharging, and assist you to lower the amount you are owed.
Organizations such as Medical Billing Advocates of America can connect you with an advocate. Be wary when choosing an advocate for billing because there are predators out that claim to be advocates, but actually are stealing your money or your identity. Make sure you know whom you’re talking to and how they operate before divulging any of your information.
Tips: Make sure that any fees charged by medical bill advocates will be offset by savings prior to signing to a plan.
Income-driven hardship plan
If you are a low-income earner and a high medical bill, you may be eligible for an income-driven hardship plan.
Like a traditional payment plan one that is income-driven can break up the total amount owed into manageable, regular payments or even erase the debt altogether. Talk with your provider to determine if it offers such a plan; all non-profit hospitals offer some form of charitable assistance.
Tip: You may have to apply for before being qualified.
Costs that you negotiate on your own
If you have or you believe that you are able to take on the role of an advocate for medical bills, you may be able to reduce the amount for your bills by yourself.
For medical bills that are in collections, be aware that debt collectors usually purchase debts for pennies on the dollar. That gives you some good leverage to negotiate.
If you believe you could negotiate with your healthcare provider, you may be in a position to take the task of an advocate for medical bills in your own hands. Go through your medical bills and spot any charges that seem wrong or excessive, and make sure to follow up with customer service representatives.
TIP: Don’t be scared to speak to your service provider. You must be sure that you can afford the things you’re committing to. You could have the option of choosing in between lump sum or a payment plan.
Summary of the medical debt repayment options
What should you avoid doing
You might be tempted to try a quick fix for the medical debt you owe — or just ignore it completely. But doing so could cost you more in interest, and put your finances at risk. A smart approach to pay off your medical bills can help you avoid being late, despite the recent changes.
The idea of putting medical debt on one of your credit cards is a good example. That will appease the office of your doctor, but you’re likely to be charged a double-digit interest rate if you can’t pay the full amount when your statement for the card arrives.
If you’re worried that you’ll be able to pay your medical bills and you’re facing overwhelming debt or choosing between food, housing and the payment of debt, you should look into or even .
About the author: Sean Pyles is the executive producer and host of NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast. His work has appeared on The New York Times, USA Today and elsewhere.
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