Rising medical expenses can be a major source of worry and disturbance for seniors with no or little income. Do not let medical creditors make you out to be a criminal for unpaid services that are vital to your health and wellbeing. There are several options for you to explore that will assist in managing your debt. The debt management process can be overwhelming, so you may want to contact an attorney for a free consultation before beginning to seek assistance on your own.
Negotiating Bills
If your account has not yet been turned over to a collector, you should start by attempting to negotiate with the financial administrator at your hospital or medical provider's office. You may visit the office yourself, but you will likely find the negotiation most successful when using a legal representative. A procedure as simple and low-cost as a prelitigation request can result in a drastic reduction in your total bill. If negotiations are unsuccessful, you may want to explore other appeals processes available to you. The appeals process will vary in different states, but generally all Medicare beneficiaries are entitled to an appeals process regardless of the amount or longevity of their debt.
Charitable Assistance
Once you have attempted to reduce your medical debt, you should begin to look into assistance programs that you may qualify for. There are often local charity programs that assist senior citizens with co-payments for prescriptions as well as small monthly medical bills. Your city or state welfare assistance office should be able to provide you with a list of charitable providers.
Necessities First
Remember that medical bills are unsecured debt and paying these bills should not take precedence over your basic expenses such as food, utilities or mortgage payments. You should still attempt to resolve these issues since outstanding medical debt may hinder your ability to receive future care, but make sure that your basic needs are still being met while you are in the process of managing your debt.
Bankruptcy and Affirmative Claims
If the amount is still too high after bill reduction or appeals, you may need to consult an attorney regarding your bankruptcy options. According to the National Consumer Law Center, one-third of personal bankruptcies are due to overwhelming medical debt. Your attorney may also pursue an affirmative lawsuit under the federal or state laws governing debt collection practices. These actions may reduce harassment from third-party debt collectors and restrict communication between you and the collectors.
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