After a major car accident, you have several expensive medical bills to take care of. Even if you have insurance and a solid legal case, you may still bear financial responsibility for health care costs.
Consumer Reports offers tips for negotiating medical bills. As you wait to see how your personal injury case turns out, learn how to keep bill collectors at bay.
Focus on your ability to pay
When you contact medical care providers to negotiate, focus on your ability to pay. Let the person you speak with know about your current financial capabilities. If you cannot pay a $10,000 bill because you do not have insurance or have a high deductible, the hospital may not mind negotiating if it means getting a partial payment.
Find out what insurers pay
If you face a high medical bill because your doctor, not you, used out-of-network medical services, you could ask for the in-network provider cost. This may require doing a bit of research to find out how much your insurance company would pay, so you know how much you should expect to pay.
Ask for a fair price
The price on your bill likely represents a treatment’s or procedure’s “sticker price.” Insurance companies often pay much, much less than what you see on the bill. Some sites let you see what health insurance plans pay healthcare providers, which could give you an idea of a fair price to ask for.
You should not have to navigate expensive medical bills while recovering from a personal injury. When you understand the art of negotiation, you better ensure you do not pay more than necessary. A personal injury attorney may be able to advise you on your rights relating to post-accident medical bills.