Medical bills are the number one reason for bankruptcy in the US (Investopedia). Insurance doesn’t help protect you from the all-crushing power of medical expenses. Combined with the weakness and various issues brought on by the health problem itself, it’s no wonder that these bills literally ruin lives. Going over the statements and bills in great detail as well as using various methods of cutting them are the things you have to do in order to avoid that horrid future.

4 Tips for Dealing with Medical Bills so They Don’t Crush You

#1: Check the Bills for Accuracy

Dozens of people can be involved in calculating your hospital bills, so it’s no surprise that over 80% of them might have mistakes (CoPatient). To avoid being ripped off, you need to go over every number in the bills with extreme care. You might even need to use some expert help as these documents are extremely complicated.

Note that you need to check not only the accuracy of the medical costs included in the bill. The main concern here is insurance and determining what exactly it should have paid for. You need to understand your insurance policy perfectly to see exactly what it should have covered and by how much.

#2: Understand Your Health Condition (And Sue If Necessary)

What exactly is your diagnosis? What evidence proves that it’s correct? Are all the positions included in your medical bills are necessary for your condition?

You need to know exactly what you are dealing with to know how to proceed and estimate how much managing your condition will cost you in the future. You should also remember that up to 200,000 people die every year due to medical malpractice. CPR Law advises hiring an investigating attorney if you suspect this kind of case. They will be able to find and manage evidence necessary for a malpractice court case.

You need to know your health condition and insurance policy also to find the best place to receive medical care. Note that sometimes while the doctor is accredited with your insurance company, the hospital itself is not. Tiny details like this add thousands to your total bill.

#3: Negotiate Your Bills

One of the best ways of dealing with medical bills is to negotiate with the healthcare service provider. Their pricing is often unreasonable, so you might be able to talk some sense into them in person.

It’s essential to keep a cool head while doing this. You can also hire a professional service that will do the negotiating for you. This is a good option for people who are too sick to do this personally.

#4: Get Help from Charities

There are dozens of charities all over the world, and you should be able to find one that supports people with your health condition. There are also some organizations that help people plagued by medical bills in general.

Charities can help you with money as well as with tips on how to raise funds. Hospitals also provide charity care, so you might get some services for free if you show that you aren’t able to pay the bills.