An Insight into Medical Debt Consolidation

Updated on November 4, 2020

If you take a look at the health care system in the nation, you will find it to be very complex. Even if you have medical insurance or make payments for them with your credit card, your policy might not cover all your medical costs, and you will have exposure only to a limited number of providers. Experts in the field suggest before you visit a hospital or a doctor, you should check with your medical insurance provider to check what it covers and who are the providers that are available under the insurance plan you have. 

There are times when you follow the rules however still face problems. Insurance companies are not too fast when it comes to processing your claims most of the time. This results in the healthcare provider sending your medical bills for services that insurance policies should cover. In case, you have received a medical bill for a procedure that is covered by the insurance plan, contact the insurance company to ensure that the insurance claim is processed.

Talk to your doctor or hospital about charges before medical procedures if you can 

When it comes to healthcare costs and procedures and debt consolidation, you should talk to medical providers about the charges before undergoing the treatment. However, this may not always be possible when you have a medical emergency in hand. It is wise to know what the healthcare provider will charge you and the sum of money your insurance company pays.

Again, experts add through the above step is a prudent one; it does not prevent medical bills you cannot pay. In case, you are unable to pay after the insurance; you should talk to the service provider and try to enter into negotiations. The negotiation should be done correctly. The last thing you want is to have your medical bill that is unpaid sent over to a collection agency. The collection agency is less likely to negotiate with the original insurance provider.

Laws pertaining to collection companies and agencies 

Collection agencies such as cornerstone support and companies should follow laws and regulations laid down by the State and Federal governments for protecting consumers from collection practices that are unfair. In case, you are being pursued by any debt collector; you should research legal protection under the laws of the region you reside in. Find out the ways via which you should file a complaint. Remember, if you are not aware of the laws of the place where you reside, they cause a lot of damage to your credit report, and they have the right to pursue you for payments of the debts under the law. Being aware of your legal rights will help you to understand the situation and pursue the right course of action.

Make sure that you ask the debt collection agency to specify the precise amount of debt you owe and later contact the medical provider to verify that amount. There are complaints by people that most of the debts collection agencies pursue them for are not owed by them. Note that even medical bills have a shelf life and if a debt is over seven years old, it comes under a statute of limitation and will no longer affect your credit report. This is why experts suggest you should take care of your most recent medical bills as they stay on the credit report for the longest period.

Understanding debt consolidation for unpaid medical bills 

It is crucial for you to know about debt consolidation and contact companies in the field to address the issue of unpaid medical bills. Reading debt consolidation reviewsabout agencies and companies largely help you to reduce the debts you legally owe. 

What should you expect in the field of debt consolidation? 

In the field of debt consolidation, it will appear on the credit report and reduce credit score. However, this dip in credit score is much less than going into default with your debts that can result in a filing for bankruptcy. 

Mistakes that people make when they pay for their medical bills with their credit cards 

Most people make the mistake of paying their healthcare and medical bills with their credit cards. However, the interest accrued on their credit cards are huge, and this often leads to greater debt woes. Experts in the field suggest you should never pay medical bills with your credit card till you are sure that you can pay off the credit card dues at the end of the billing cycle. Again, some people do not notify their healthcare and medical provider that they are not able to pay the pending medical bills. The result is the unpaid bills are later given to collection companies and agencies. They generally do not come forward to negotiate with the healthcare provider, and this results in a judgment being made in case you fail to make the payments. 

What about personal loans for repayment? 

Some people in a bid to pay off their unpaid medical bills often seek to take personal loans from a bank for payment. Experts say this is a very poor option to credit cards if you fail to make the payment. The bank will charge super high interest, and if you are not careful, it leads to foreclosure.

Counselors from non-profitable credit organizations never negotiate settlements with medical and healthcare providers on a regular basis. They generally contact healthcare providers with their proposal after they settle negotiations with issuers of credit cards with a payment that should be included in the plans for debt management. In return, you would need to pay a monthly fee for the above for the duration of repayment.

Talk to credible debt consolidation agencies when it comes to unpaid healthcare and medical bills. Let them guide and counsel you on the best repayment plans that do not cause you stress. With the help of credible and skilled companies, you are able to reduce the amount of unpaid medical bills you owe. Over time, this alleviates debts, and you can get the peace of mind you deserve with success!

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