[redbandit]

Does anyone know anything about consolidating medical debt?? I've been researching online and it's just sending me in circles. My husband knows nothing about insurance and got a huge deductible. Our insurance doesn't pay crap and I can't stop worrying about the bills. I'm about at the point to just completely stop seeing doctors. They never do me any good. I don't want to have to take out a loan to pay these stupid bills

[Hong Kong Fluey]

Oh god, I am sorry you are going through this.

Here in the UK we ***** so much about the NHS (our health service) but we COMPLETELY take it for granted. Most of us don't even pay a penny for our medications, I don't and I am towards the upper end of the income scale.

Sorry I can't help but it really brings it home to us how much we do take this for granted, in fact the term 'medical debt' doesn't exist here at all

[redbandit]

guess i should move to the UK then

[Raindropvampire]

Can you get any of them written off? I've contacted places I owed money on my medical bills and they had programs to help. I will say they were all income based but because of what I make they wrote off all but a couple hundred dollars. Sorry if you've already tried that and it didn't work. I wish you the best.

[Perna]

You need a large deductible or you'd have to pay way more (probably cannot afford) for your premiums, like $200+ a month more in my case. I never get enough to hit my deductible, have to pay for meds/the doctor/testing, etc. out of pocket. But the doctor would probably not see me if I did not have insurance and the amount a doctor/hospitals would charge would be way more than what they can get with the insurance company negotiating the bill (it has a lot of people in the group instead of just being one-on-one).

I would ask hospitals if they can reduce or split your bill with you, get on a payment plan, something like that, depending on how much you are paying them a month. They would be glad to not have to do the paperwork as it is what costs extra money, paying people to keep track and bill you.

I try to look at the whole picture, how long I expect to have this problem and how much it is going to ultimately cost, how much I can afford to pay each month now, etc. Making up my own plan and being able to see something I can understand helps me not feel as anxious and out of control. I would not do a paid-for debt consolidation plan as that is usually even more expensive but there are some good nonprofit credit counselors out there I'd maybe see for advice if I thought it would make me feel better and help any.

Here's a web site I would trust to use if I were working on the problem:

Families USA: Guide to Coping with Medical Debt

[anneo59]

great advice thru this thread! Difficult issue I can relate too and wish you all the best with! So far, been usually insured except for a period of time some years ago during great recession where we paid ridiculous COBRA costs wch left nothing for anything else. Then, later, it didn't really matter, and we realized we'd wasted our money! Anyway, so far been able to come up with manageable payment plans, knock on wood. Have considered consolidation as well, but not in any depth at this point. The best!

[SBs_tahira]

this may not help with the doctors but maybe with medications... alot of pharmacies will have advice on meds as well as no one should go without what is needed, i imagine drs have something in place as well like this... back to the meds though lol
if you contact the company that makes the med that has been perscribed to you alot of them can offer you what you need either at no cost or nominal because they can write it off either as a.. further research (you fill out a form every so often about what your feeling physically and emotionally and these tend to always be happening no matter how well reseached the med is) or they can write it off as a deductable for helping in the community. it makes them look good is what it boils down to. i could care less what their motive is as long as you get what is needed. i hope you get all the info you need.

[redbandit]

Originally Posted by Perna

You need a large deductible or you'd have to pay way more (probably cannot afford) for your premiums, like $200+ a month more in my case. I never get enough to hit my deductible, have to pay for meds/the doctor/testing, etc. out of pocket. But the doctor would probably not see me if I did not have insurance and the amount a doctor/hospitals would charge would be way more than what they can get with the insurance company negotiating the bill (it has a lot of people in the group instead of just being one-on-one).

I would ask hospitals if they can reduce or split your bill with you, get on a payment plan, something like that, depending on how much you are paying them a month. They would be glad to not have to do the paperwork as it is what costs extra money, paying people to keep track and bill you.

I try to look at the whole picture, how long I expect to have this problem and how much it is going to ultimately cost, how much I can afford to pay each month now, etc. Making up my own plan and being able to see something I can understand helps me not feel as anxiouis and out of control. I would not do a paid-for debt consolidation plan as that is usually even more expensive but there are some good nonprofit credit counselors out there I'd maybe see for advice if I thought it would make me feel better and help any.

Here's a web site I would trust to use if I were working on the problem:

Families USA: Guide to Coping with Medical Debt

I can't find a phone number on that site to contact them

[anneo59]

great post. I was thinking bout this and wanted to mention but you beat me to it. Glad you did and hope it helps redbandit!

[redbandit]

I actually found out just now that I only owe about half of what I thought I did

[Yoda]

Don't put your debt on a credit card!

My uncle and aunt both had cancer and had surgery several years ago and they put their hospital/medical bills on a credit card which was a terrible idea because now they will be paying interest. Hospitals don't charge interest and they are okay if you only send a small payment. I owe several thousand from when I was in the hospital for four days and they did a cardiac workup and testing so I made a payment agreement that they can charge $25 to my credit card each month.

[(JD)]

Are the doctors and clinics, whatever, that you owe still seeing you as a patient? If not, and if you don't plan to return, bankruptcy is an option. But there are many absolutely FREE consumer credit organizations that will help contact those you owe and arrange for alternative ways to pay without going bankrupt, literally. Make SURE they are reputable and totally free and have been "in business" for a while... and not only will this ease your burden (some might get an account cleared without paying sometimes) but it will stop any harassment of calls or letters you may be currently receiving. Don't ignore anyone---do something now as it only becomes a bigger problem.