If someone injures you in a vehicle crash, you probably won’t be in any condition to negotiate with the medical facility. You need treatment, and you need it fast. It’s once you stabilize that you may start to wonder what you agreed to and how on earth you will pay it off.
Medical debt is one of the biggest factors that lead people to declare bankruptcy. If you don’t want to join them, you need to look at options to reduce how much you pay.
First, you should always check your bill
You cannot afford to trust others to be honest here. Some hospitals have pricing systems that are anything but transparent. You can find yourself with a bill much larger than expected because you did not understand that essential items were not included.
The only way to check your bill is to ask for a breakdown. The hospital should oblige, and if they don’t, you should wonder what they are trying to hide. Don’t be afraid to speak up if you spot errors or are unsure about how the hospital arrived at a certain figure. It could be they made an honest mistake, after all.
You could even try negotiating
Hospitals know many people cannot afford their bills, and they know that some people will never manage to pay them. Striking a deal could mean money in the bank for them and fewer worries for you.
You also need to try to hold the other driver accountable
Getting the other driver, or rather their insurer, to pay your expenses moves the burden of worrying about the costs of your care — and that’s your right when you’re the victim of someone else’s negligence. Getting legal representation increases your chance of success with your claim.
