When faced with the decision of being sick versus being healthy, most Americans will not bat an eye at putting the cost of their medical care on a credit card. But this can be a very problematic situation, as most credit cards have high interest rates and it can take forever to pay down medical debt once it is charged. In some cases, New Jersey residents are never able to make that debt disappear by paying it off.
One of the best things you can do to prevent this kind of debt from adding up, though, is to see what you can do before the debt is incurred. You might be surprised to discover that a medical provider is willing to negotiate down the cost of your medical care once it is discovered that you do no have insurance to cover your procedure. Furthermore, you might get a discount on the bill if you’re willing to pay in cash.
Before approaching a medical provider to negotiate down the cost of your care, it is important to perfect your negotiation skills. This means that you must do your research. Look online to determine the usual cost of the medical procedures you require. You might even be able to find out information from your insurer about typical medical procedure costs. Once you know the normal cost of your procedure, you will be better equipped to get an excellent deal on it.
Remember, it never hurts to ask, and your surgeon, doctor or medical center administrator does not have to accept your request for a discount. The important thing to do is float the idea of a discount and see if any medical providers take the bait. Be sure to contact multiple doctors with your discount idea as well. Just because one declines the offer does not mean that another one won’t accept it.
At [nap_names id=”FIRM-NAME-2″] Jr. & Associates, we assist New Jersey residents in bankruptcy filings to help them get out of debt. If you are currently struggling in a debt situation, we are available to discuss your situation and advise you of your legal rights and options.
