Receiving a bill in the mail for a medical treatment you received can be a source of dread for many people in Durham. Medical costs can vary wildly and even those with insurance may end up with heft balances. At Wootton & Wootton we know how stressful it can be to get stuck with a bill that you cannot afford to pay.
Medical debt is unique in a few different ways. For one, medical issues are often time sensitive and therefore treatment is received first and bills are issued later, Forbes points out. Unlike when you buy something from a store or order from a restaurant, there is no set price for medical services and consumers are not advised of prices ahead of time.
If you have insurance, your doctor may send the bill to the insurance company first before you ever see it. Then, after the insurance company processes it and determines how much it will cover, you may receive a bill for the balance. It can be very frustrating when so much of the equation is out of your hands.
However, there is one way that medical debt is advantageous over other types. It can be negotiated. You cannot haggle with your credit card company over what you owe for a purchase you made. However, you can speak with your doctor or hospital and there are even organizations whose sole purpose is to help people negotiate medical costs. For more information on coping with overwhelming medical debt, please visit our web page.
