Tips for Staying on Top of Medical Debt

Once you’ve considered these options and sorted out your current medical debt, it’s important to take some time to figure out what went wrong so you can stay on top of your medical bills in the future.

These tips will help you manage future medical debt and avoid getting into another tough situation.

1. Know What to Expect

No matter how many times we receive them, medical bills seem to always come as a surprise. The first step to staying on top of medical debt is to know what to expect in the mail after a doctor’s appointment. There are two main documents that you’ll receive after your visit. The first is the actual medical bill, and the second is the explanation of benefits (EOB).

If you’ve had a surgical procedure, you may also receive medical bills from several different providers. For example, you may get a bill from the facility where you had an MRI, as well as separate bills from the surgeon and anesthesiologist. When you get multiple bills, make sure you look at them thoroughly to avoid getting charged twice for something.

A lot of people toss the EOB aside and only pay attention to the actual medical bill. It’s important to keep track of the EOB, though, to see what your insurance policy covered and what you owe.

2. Stay in Network

Whether you’re looking into types of vasectomy procedures or seeing a dermatologist, your bill will be much smaller if you find a doctor who is part of your insurance network. If you go out of network, you’ll usually have to pay a larger portion of the bill and meet a separate deductible.

Sometimes, you can’t avoid going out of network. For example, if you are rushed into surgery and can’t verify that all the people working on you are part of your network. But, you can sometimes appeal these out-of-network claims and ask your insurance provider to bill them as in-network.

3. Don’t Ignore Statements

Last, but certainly not least, don’t ignore your bills. We can’t say this enough. Your bills aren’t going to go away. They can be overwhelming, and nobody likes dealing with them. But, your problems are only going to multiply if you don’t pay them as soon as possible.

Your credit score will be negatively affected if you ignore bills and skip payments, and it can take years to repair it. We’re not trying to scare you, but it’s important to understand the necessity of working toward medical debt relief sooner rather than later.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by debt. It may seem like you’re never going to be able to pull yourself out. You have options when it comes to medical debt relief, though. Keep this advice in mind, and remember our tips for staying on top of future bills and you’ll be just fine.