Health Insurance, Medical Debt, and Bankruptcy

Some 100 million people are carrying health care debt.

Just 8 Percent of Americans Lack Health Insurance, a Record Low – About 28 Million

If you become ill or have been injured in some way treatment can be very expensive. Throw in the cost of preventive care like dental procedures, vision, and hearing the cost of being unhealthy in America, even with health insurance, can destroy anyone’s budget, especially if you have children.

What to do if you have an unplanned health expense

• Don’t fall prey to anxiety and leave medical bills unopened. Delaying them will reduce options and likely lead to the debt being sent to collections.
• Go through the bill carefully. Often you will find inaccuracies. Pay particular attention on treatment dates, procedures, and medications to make sure they actually match what was done.
• The No Surprises Act, which took effect Jan. 1, 2022 protects patients receiving medical services from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities. It also sets out a framework for uninsured patients to dispute bills substantially greater than the good-faith estimate they were given.
• If you cannot afford a bill, tell the provider and try to negotiate a reduced price. Some providers may offer interest-free payment plans or offer a discount if you can make a sizable upfront payment.

The No Surprise Act

A surprise medical bill is an unexpected bill, often for services received from a health care provider or facility that you did not know was out-of-network until you were billed. Your health insurance may not cover the entire out-of-network cost which leaves you owing the difference between the billed cost and the amount your health insurance paid. This is known as “balance billing.” This bill could be for a service like anesthesiology or laboratory tests. You may not know that the provider or facility is out-of-network until you are billed.

Effective January 1, 2022, the No Surprises Act (NSA) protects you from surprise billing if you have a group health plan or group or individual health insurance coverage, and bans:

• Surprise bills for emergency services from an out-of-network provider or facility and without prior authorization
• Out-of-network cost-sharing, like out-of-network coinsurance or copayments, for all emergency and some non-emergency services
• Out-of-network charges and balance bills for supplemental care, like radiology or anesthesiology, by out-of-network providers that work at an in-network facility

Exercising Your Financial Safety Net

You have tried everything and still, the amount you owe in medical is suffocating, stressful, and endangering the welfare of your family. Take a breath, call the skilled medical debt relief attorneys at the Bond & Botes Law Offices and we will, at absolutely no cost to you, discuss ways to minimize and often eliminate this debt. Your physical health is very important, but so is your mental and emotional well-being call 1-877-581-3396 or email us through our site.