How To Get Money For Medical Bills
When thinking about how to get money for medical bills, it’s hard to know where to start, especially when your mind is also preoccupied with health problems.
Indeed, a trip to the hospital rarely comes cheap. The cost of care can be staggering, even if you have health insurance. In 2021, Americans collectively owed $140 billion in medical debt. Bills are regularly thousands of dollars. Emergency room visits and overnight care? It’s more like the tens of thousands.
Luckily, there are various options to explore. There are even some that can provide generous help today. Here are some of the avenues to pursue when figuring out how to get money for medical bills.
Here’s How To Get Money To Pay For Medical Expenses
1. Look Into A Hospital’s Financial Assistance Program
Many hospitals offer patients financial assistance through a wide range of programs, and certain nonprofit hospitals must offer patients financial assistance under the federal government’s Affordable Care Act.
The financial assistance programs and their requirements vary by state so check in with the hospital where you’ve received care or plan to receive care. The assistance can be significant. Some states are required to offer those with moderate or low incomes discounted or even free care. Those using critical-access or rural hospitals also often can take advantage of such programs.
2. Get Help Through A Charity Or Organization
There are numerous foundations and societies related to healthcare that are devoted to helping you figure out how to get money for medical bills. For example, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society helps those who qualify with costs for those with a blood cancer diagnosis and medical insurance and CancerCare provides copayment help for people being treated for cancer.
3. Go Through A Federal Government Program
There are many state and federal programs designed to help with medical bills, many through Medicare and Medicaid-related programs. The Children’s Health Insurance Program and Medicaid help with bills for children of those who cannot afford insurance. There are also Medicaid programs for adults with limited incomes and Social Security assistance for those over 65.
4. See If You Qualify For Medical Debt Forgiveness
Instead of figuring out how to get money for medical bills, see if you can take advantage of medical bill debt forgiveness through your medical provider or hospital. Eligibility is based on many factors, especially on family size and income, but even those with a relatively high income may qualify as well.
5. Hash Out A Payment Plan
Hospitals typically will have a dedicated financial services office and employees who specialize in developing a payment plan for patients who ask. Such plans vary wildly and depend on specific terms and your overall bill amount, but usually, you can set up monthly payments of equal amounts until you pay off the bill in full.
6. Use A Medical Credit Card
Like a hospital payment plan, a medical credit card allows you to pay off a bill over a period of time dictated by the company that issues the card. Usually, there is no interest added if you pay off your bill over six to 12 months. It’s also easy to apply. Many offer quick approval online or when you fill out a form in a medical office.
7. Hire A Medical Bill Advocate
If your medical bills continue to pile up, a medical bill advocate can negotiate a payment plan for you. Medical bill advocates are experts in hospital bills and can easily find overcharges and even errors in your bill to lower the amount owed. Some advocates charge hefty fees, so be sure that it’s worth hiring them when you look at the total amount you owe.
Get A Payday Loan
Perhaps the fastest and easiest way to get money for medical bills is through a payday loan in South Carolina. A payday loan is designed as a small cash loan to help with a temporary financial emergency, such as high medical bills. If you’re employed, payday loans may be the way to go.
If you’re 18 or older, have a driver’s license or government-issued I.D., your most recent pay stub, and a blank check from an active checking account that is in your name, you may qualify for a payday loan in as little as 30 minutes.
The best part: you get your cash that same day or the very next business day. The process is easy. Go online, fill out the short payday loan inquiry form on our website, and a loan representative will reach out to walk you through the rest of the process. At Carolina Payday Loans, Inc., you may qualify for a payday loan of up to $550.
Get Started Today
It can be overwhelming when figuring out how to get money for medical bills. We’re always here to help by offering payday loans over the phone, online, or in-store. Go online, give us a call, or visit a Carolina Payday Loans, Inc. location near you to get back on track today.
Note: The content provided in this article is only for informational purposes, and you should contact your financial advisor about your specific financial situation.