Why Many Americans struggle to pay medical bills ? Solution is very easy

Many Americans face significant challenges in paying their medical bills, often delaying or avoiding care due to concerns about costs or sacrificing other essential needs to manage healthcare expenses.

Understanding the details of a medical bill can be overwhelming. As a Healthcare Solutions Expert, Specializing in CCM, AWV, RCM, and Medical Credentialing, with a focus daily on physicians, I too find myself sitting at my office table, trying to make sense of medical bills and explanations of benefits.

What Research Says?

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In recent research, A team conducted a survey of 1,135 American adults, selected from the nationally representative sample of the University of Southern California’s Understanding America Study, to explore how people deal with challenging medical bills.

The findings revealed that taking the initiative to advocate for yourself can yield significant benefits.

Many individuals may be missing out on financial assistance simply by not making a phone call to address their medical bills.

Speaking up made a difference.

Among patients who contacted the billing office about an unaffordable bill, nearly 76% received financial relief. Of those who questioned potential billing errors, about 74% had their bills corrected.

Additionally, nearly 62% of patients who negotiated their bills successfully secured a price reduction.

Furthermore, 18% of patients gained a clearer understanding of their bills, 16% arranged payment plans, and just over 7% had their bills canceled entirely. However, 22% reported their issue remained unresolved, while 24% saw no change.

Most individuals who took the initiative to address their medical bills reported resolving their concerns in less than an hour.

Just Phone Call Solve Your Problem !

Research showed that individuals with more extroverted and less agreeable traits, as measured by the Big Five Personality Test, were more inclined to contact a billing office about a medical bill.

In contrast, those without a college degree, with lower financial literacy, or lacking health insurance were less likely to make that call.

These differences in who takes action regarding medical bills may be contributing to disparities in healthcare costs and the burden of medical debt.

In a recent study, Their team conducted “secret shopper” calls to hospitals, posing as patients planning an elective knee surgery. Their goal was to gather essential information about affordability, including financial assistance, payment plans, and payment timing options.

While this information was often available, accessing it proved challenging. At approximately 18% of hospitals, we were unable to reach a knowledgeable representative, even after attempting to call on three separate days.

Additionally, obtaining all the necessary details typically required being redirected to three different departments.

Policymakers have made progress in improving price transparency in recent years, such as requiring hospitals to publish prices for their services.

However, further efforts are needed to minimize the administrative hurdles patients face when seeking financial assistance and addressing billing concerns.

Pro Tip: Make the Call and Go Towards

Patients who take the initiative to reach out often find relief when it comes to medical bills.

A colleague of mine, aware that I was working with physicians and there medical billing, asked for advice about a $425 lab bill her household had received from an urgent care center.

The bill seemed excessive and unfair, creating an unexpected strain on her budget.

I suggested she call the billing office to express her concerns and inquire about possible adjustments to the amount owed or payment options.

It turned out to be a wise decision. The billing office representative immediately provided three options: a payment plan, a one-time payment of $126 over the phone to settle the bill, or financial assistance if she qualified based on income.

My colleague opted for the second option and paid less than one-third of the original bill.

So, the next time you receive a medical bill that causes you stress, pick up the phone – or ask someone extroverted to do it for you.

Conclusion: Take Control of Your Medical Bills

So, here’s the deal. Medical bills can be a heavy burden, but you don’t have to carry it alone.

Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone. You might be surprised by the relief you get – whether it’s a payment plan, a bill reduction, or even a full cancellation.