GIST Support WikiMany people either do not have insurance coverage or have high deductibles or copays. When faced with high medical bills, life can get very overwhelming and we worry about how we are going to pay these bills and still eat and have a place to live.
Care givers and patients, DO NOT be afraid to speak to the insurance person or office manager in the doctor's offices!!! Many large practices have committees that meet to discuss patients' financial problems and have the authority to arrange payment plans, give cash discounts or totally wipe out bills. In a small office, the office manager or insurance coordinator might have the authority to do write-offs or at least can go to the doctor on your behalf. DO NOT fail to speak to someone regarding these bills. Doctors are people, too and are usually compassionate to their patients problems that extend way past their medical history.
Hospitals also have committees that meet monthly to discuss patient financial issues. Hospitals have money set aside in their budgets for payment assistance/ discount programs. Depending on the hospital, the earlier in the year, the more money might be available, although some larger hospitals, probably have open ended funds. Do not be put off if it is called "CHARITY CARE", or some other name like that. It is there to help. Usually you have to submit an aplication through the patient accounts department and will have to give them a financial disclosure. These write-offs can amount to as much as 90% of the entire hospital bill depending on a patient's circumstances. Non profit hospitals would probably have more funds available, but not necessarily.
If you do not qualify for anything else, at least go to the patient billing department and set up a payment plan (in advance, if possible). Hospitals are now outsourcing many of their patient accounts to banks, which can come with a 10% interest charge. Going to them in advance, might get them to agree to keep the account in house and save this finance charge.
Georgetown University has published "A Consumer's Guide to Getting and Keeping Health Insurance." Unique guides for each state and DC are posted at www.healthinsuranceinfo.net <http://www.healthinsuranceinfo.net/>. The guides summarize key consumer rights and protections in job-based group health insurance and individually purchased coverage. They also alert consumers to public programs in each state that may provide or subsidize health coverage.
The Georgetown guides have been recognized by insurance regulators, consumer advocates and the press as an expert and informative resource. *Access is free*; individuals may read the guides online or print formatted copies for their own use. Over the past ten years, support for these guides has been provided by foundations (including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation) and other organizations (including the AARP and the American Cancer Society).