Any life-saving surgery or medical procedure is considerably costly. As a result, people keep it as a last option so that they escape from paying the hefty amount.
Furthermore, if you have no insurance coverage, even imagining getting a costly surgery can be nightmarish.
The medical industry has come a long way and saved many lives. However, as complex the process gets the cost of the same also hikes accordingly.
Hence, those with no medical coverage or a low medical budget reluctantly go for it.
In this article, we have brought you some major tips and tricks on negotiating medical bills. After reading this, you will know the intricacies of the medical bill structure.
Furthermore, you can also figure out how to get medical bills forgiveness. You can even omit some parts of the payment by making certain claims per the patient’s rights.
Got No insurance? Weaponize Your Negotiation with These Following Tips
After getting a treatment, you ought to rest, no matter how big or small. However, soon you receive the medical bill, which you do not know has a huge amount to pay.
The bill has numerous variables, charges, surcharges, and unnecessary taxes. It might annoy you like it should because nobody wants to pay more than they deserve.
Somehow, with medical bills, this is a real scenario, and you have no choice but to pay it.
Furthermore, if you have no access to any medical insurance, then your bank account might see a thorough draining soon.
However, with these tips on how to negotiate medical bills, you might have some respite from paying all of it, so read on:
1. Call in To Check With the Doctor or Hospital About Their Fee Structure
Did you know, that different doctors and hospitals have different treatment procedures for the same ailment?
Furthermore, the prices for treating the same illness can also differ. So, you can leverage this aspect by calling one doctor or hospital to another.
While you make calls, ensure that you also ask about the specifications and extra services they offer.
Among those services, some might be inclusive while others must pay extra exclusive costs. You should make a list to compare two or more options of doctors or hospitals and their services.
In this list, you can mention everything you can afford and are a must for the treatment. Doing so in this organized manner will help you find the best doctor and treatment service.
Moreover, you will save money and enjoy various inclusive services, for which you otherwise might have paid.
While following this tip, ensure you “doctor shopping” as early as possible. Otherwise, in spite of lowering your medical bills, you might end up with more harm due to late access to the doctor.
2. Paying in Cash and Upfront
It is also possible that you ask your doctor for a discount and they will give you options of upfront payment.
Many hospitals and clinics run this discount principle. If you seek a discount from them, they allow patients to make the full payment in advance.
Moreover, if you have the amount, you must not hesitate to go for it. This way, you can avoid those extra service charges and taxes. They usually levy this extra amount over the treatment period in the garb of hospitality services.
Some services and their charges are useless and have no point. However, once they add up to the final bill, you have no option but to pay for it.
3. Opting for Generic meds and Free samples
Doctors, hospitals, and clinics have very close relations with the agents of pharmaceutical companies. These agents, from time to time, provide them with free samples.
While the agenda of such samples is to check the efficacy and do the marketing, these free samples can do the magic for you.
You can ask your doctor if they have any free samples for your treatment, and they will happily provide you with them.
You might think, why be a part of someone’s experiment, do you? However, you can ditch this notion, as these free samples are safe for consumption.
Furthermore, there is also assurance that this medicine will cure you if your illness is not terminal or severe.
After this, all you are left with is to pay for the appointment, and that is all. Apart from free samples, you can also go for generic medicines.
Generic medicines have curing potency at par with branded ones. Plus, generic medicines, as compared to patented ones, are cheaper. So, this is yet another way to save cash on your medical bills.
4. Checking Errors on Bills
Have you noticed the unique codes written on your bills in front of the medical procedures and treatment you receive? if you haven’t noticed them yet you should, as they all carry a meaning.
Each code has a unique meaning and is used to access insurance money. You cannot access the meanings as a layman, but you can help yourself.
The Internet can be of great help as it treasures such information. You can see the meaning of these codes they charge you.
After knowing the meaning, you can check for errors such as upcoding, mismatch in service, unbundling, or even duplicate billing.
5. Ask Them for the Bill Breakdown and Omit the Unnecessary Services
Feel free to ask your clinic accountant to give you an elaborate breakdown of the services provided to you. In that summary, they will summarise all the expenses incurred chronologically.
Here is the real game of saving money on your medical bill.
Sometimes, they present inflated rates, which truly seem unrealistic. Often, it goes undetected by commoners; however, you should not miss it.
You will discover, many unnecessary services, that they claim to have given, but you have given no consent to it. You can claim your money on that and reduce the final bill payment.
FAQs
Q. Is it necessary that I should negotiate my medical bills?
Ans. Yes, you must necessarily negotiate your medical bills to prevent overpaying and maintain your economic well-being.
Q. Does medical bill negotiation have anything to do with my credit score?
Ans. No, the negotiation of medical bills has no effect on credit score as long as you pay the final agreed amount.
Q. Do medical companies and hospitals really overcharge using errors?
Ans. Yes, medical companies and hospitals overcharge using errors.
Q. Should I opt for insurance to pay the medical bills?
Ans. Yes, you must opt for insurance to pay the medical bills.
Q. When should I start the negotiation for the medical bills payment reduction?
Ans. You can start the medical bill negotiation after a thorough study of the bill and as soon as possible.
End Note:
Savings are crucial if you have no access to insurance and want to know how to negotiate your medical bills. As a wise person, you must have some kind of financial backup in the form of savings.
Medical emergencies, especially the major ones, mostly happen unpredictably. In such a situation, having no access to any coverage can be fatal. In such situations, your medical treatment savings can be a lifesaver.
It can get you the medical treatment you deserve and save you from the post-treatment worries of medical expense clearance.
Furthermore, it is also best that you must have medical insurance. It can maximize your opportunities to get good medical service.
Moreover, it also guarantees legal protection in addition to financial ones. So, if you have not yet, you must definitely acquire your medical insurance soon.
