Tired of Unexpected Medical Expenses? 6 Ideas to Help You Out. The last thing you need after an emergency visit to the hospital is a crippling medical expense. In fact, most of us fear the cost of medical treatment more than the illness or injury itself. If you feel the same way, it is important to understand that you are not alone. There are thousands of people who struggle to pay the medical debt even with a good insurance plan. This is especially true for cases when the medical expense is rather unexpected.
However, if you are in a financial churn due to a sudden medical expense, there’s no need to feel overwhelmed as there are several smart ways of dealing with unpaid medical bills. Let’s take a look at some of the tried and tested ways to sort out your medical bills without going bankrupt.
1.Review Your Bill Thoroughly
Billing mistakes are more common than you may have imagined. Therefore, the best approach is to review your bill even if it doesn’t exceed the expected amount. One way to deal with this issue is to request an itemized receipt from the billing department and understand the cost breakdown. If you have any concerns, don’t hesitate to ask around about it.
This is important because hospital bills are full of medical jargons which most of us fail to understand. As a result, even when there’s a rather obvious mistake in the bill, you are likely to pay without giving a second thought.
2. Know Your Insurance Plan
Another reason why most people end up paying more from the pocket than required is that they fail to understand the insurance plan. Even in case of emergency, certain things that can help you save major cost. For instance, you should know all the doctors in your network so that when the time comes, you can visit one without wasting any time. Similarly, it is equally important to understand the percentage of the bill that will be covered by insurance.
3. Follow Up on Your Medical Bills
More importantly, it is essential to follow up on your bills. It is important to understand that mistakes can occur anytime. For instance, if the deductible has already been met or the percentage is incorrect, you will be able to identify the mistake if you are following up on your bills on your end.
4. Find the Right Medical Insurance
You still need to act smartly when it comes to choosing the right medical insurance. Health insurance in Australia, as well as the overall healthcare system, is one of the best in the world. Multiple insurance plans are available in the market which is specifically designed to cater to the needs of couples, families, overseas workers, and students, etc. Medicare, which is a publicly funded universal healthcare system in Australia, is another option that you can opt.
Australian system provides all citizens with a basic package of benefits. That’s really completely different from the United States, where, even after the Affordable Care Act, 27 million Americans still lack coverage.
5. Discounts and Online Offers
While you are unlikely to find an online offer for the medical procedure at the hospital, there’s a high chance of finding discounts on prescription medicine cost online and otherwise. A number of companies offer programs and cards to help patients afford the ever-increasing cost of medication. A simple Google search can save you an adequate amount of money.
Furthermore, it is also possible to get discounts on hospital bills. A lot of doctors offer steep discounts if you pay the money upfront. Therefore, whenever you face a medical emergency, always ask for a discount.
Unexpected medical expense is not only financially crippling but it can also cause severe mental distress. Luckily, in most cases, it can be avoided if you are prepared to deal with sudden medical expenses. You can also employ the above-mentioned techniques to get out of a financial churn. If nothing helps, you can opt to hire a medical billing advocate or even seek help from nonprofits or government organizations.