You recently received a bill from a provider, hospital or medical supply company stating your insurance either has paid their part or is not going to pay anything. Or you may be without insurance and have received the final bill for services which is being charged at the highest rate possible. At the bottom of the bill it states that if you have questions or need financial assistance, call the listed number. In a panic, you call the business office. You wait anywhere from 10-30 minutes to get a customer service representative in a large institution or a voice mail in a smaller institution. When you finally get a live person, you are given two options, fill out the financial aid papers or set up a payment plan. Your greatest concern is your bill will go to collections and your credit will be ruined.
Tips to Understanding Medical Bill Negotiation
Here is what you can do to facilitate what you need.
1. Fill out the financial aid papers if it is appropriate. In some states, it has to go through the medicaid system especially if it is a public hospital. The business office expects you to have assets like a home, car or savings account. What they are looking for is to make sure you don’t have several million stashed and could make payment. It will get rejected by medicaid and the business office will make a determination. It can often be up to 100%.
2. Without any serious negotiations, you can expect at least 20-30% reduction. This is standard. You can get more.
3. If you have a coinsurance or deductible payment, it will be difficult to get any reduction. The contract with the insurance company generally does not allow for any reduction in cost. It is rare but a compassionate business manager may give 20% discount.
4. Speak with a supervisor when possible. Business offices make it difficult to get to the supervisor but be persistent. Customer service representatives can not make final determinations. Ask for the name of their supervisor and if necessary, fax a letter. If you get no response, call the business manager or CFO office. You will get a response.
5. Business offices have their own time schedule. Two days usually is five days or more. Do not think they are ignoring you. They want their money. Call to follow up so everyone knows you want to work this out. I like to remind the office, I am waiting and can be patient. It can take months.
6. Always ask to have a note put in the computer stating you are working on a resolution. This way your bill will not be sent to collections. I verify each time I call, the bill is not going to collections. You will continue to receive bills but don’t panic because it is automatically computer generated. I also recommend you pay a small amount to show good faith. it can be as low as $25.00.
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