What If I Don’t Pay Doctor Bills?Doctor and Medical Debt Doctor and medical debt can be very daunting. Along with facing an illness, you are now faced with mounting bills and debt. In fact, medical bills are one of the largest reasons for bankruptcy in America. However, there are many things you can do to avoid hassles and strife associated with doctor or medical bills, allowing you to focus on your health and other aspects of your life.
What If I Don’t Pay Doctor Bills? By law, a doctor or medical organization, such as a hospital, does not the right to send your bill to collections or sue you for the balance, if you do not pay your bill. This can severely damage your credit and cause a situation to become worse. However, because doctors or hospitals are often very understanding, you have better options available than simply not paying your bill. Better Options For Doctor Bills The first step you want to do concerning doctor or hospital bills is to contact the organization. Ask to speak with a billing manager. Explain your situation clearly – including your total medical debt, your other debts (such as mortgage or child care), any time you have lost from work due to the illness, and your other personal circumstances. Rather than taking a defeated approach, offer a compromise with the organization. Seek out options such as a small monthly payment (as low as $20), having an interest-free payment plan, or a discount (either a dollar amount or a percentage). Another option is to apply for a charity plan (this may not be an option for a private doctor, but will likely apply to hospital debt). Finally, if you have depleted your assets or have lost your job, you can apply for your state’s Medicaid plan, which will often pay back retro-active medical debt to both doctors and hospitals.
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