Medical Debt

Medical debt is different from medical bills. You get a medical bill after getting medical services. A medical bill is a list of products or services you received with a statement of how much money is owed.  Once you get a medical bill, you must pay the amount or make a payment arrangement.  If you don’t pay or make payment arrangements, you end up with medical debt.

What should you do if you have medical debt? 

• Make sure you know exactly how much you owe and what you owe the money for.  Request an itemized bill from your health care provider.  If there are charges you do not recognize, ask about them.
• Check with your insurance provider about whether there were portions it was supposed to cover.  This goes for Medicaid, State Children’s Health Insurance Programs, and Medicare.
• If you have very low income, see if charity care can be applied.
• Set up a payment plan.  Make sure it’s one you can afford.  Make sure all of your living expenses and higher priority debts are covered before you commit to a payment plan for medical debt.

If you act before your medical debt is assigned or sold to a collection agency, you may have more room for negotiation.