Medical Bills
Medical bills have a way of piling up – especially when you’re sick or underinsured. Medical bills can lead to drastic measures, forcing people to raid their 401(k)s, tap into home equity lines and, in some cases, declare bankruptcy. Surveys by a nonprofit health care research foundation found that 41 percent of adults said they were struggling to pay their health care bills in 2007, up from 34 percent in 2005. That percentage is almost surely growing. But insurance covers less and less these days, as employers continue shifting more health care costs to their employees, and as consumers resort to lower-cost plans that come with high deductibles or less generous benefits. But if you’re having trouble paying your medical bills, you’re not helpless, either. There are ways to reduce, or at least more effectively manage, medical bills.
Procrastinating only leads to trouble. If your medical bills are turned over to a collection agency, the debt goes on your credit report and will remain there for lenders, and even potential employers, to see. You may have difficulty getting a loan and, if you do get one, you’ll be charged higher rates.
Look over your outstanding medical bills and make sure the listed services actually square with the care you received. Errors are common. If terms or procedures confuse you, call the hospital’s or doctor’s billing department and ask for an explanation. If your insurer denied one or more of your claims, resubmit the medical bills.
It’s tempting to get rid of your medical bills by paying them off with a credit card. But if you don’t pay off your card balance swiftly, a $1,200 doctor’s fee could balloon to $1,500 or more over the course of a year. Your large debts might also cause a rate increase on other lines of credit. And while medical bills on your credit report are often viewed with some sympathy, credit card debt is not.
 The National Debt Relief Group can help you find the right solution with a free consultation. You can fill out our Short Application and one of our debt specialists will contact you within minutes, or you can call now – (888) 703-4948.
Medical Bills
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Debts We Can Settle
Unsecured debts:
- Credit cards
- Unsecured loans, personal loans, or lines of credit
- Medical bills
- Collections or repossessions
- Business debts
Debts We Can't Settle
Secured debts:
- Lawsuits
- IRS debt or back taxes
- Utility bills
- Auto loans, government loans, or student loans
- Mortgages or home loans
- Other secured debts
Your Debt Relief Alternatives
If you are considering a type of debt relief program, know that there are alternatives to debt settlement. National Relief also offers debt management, which may work better for some consumers.
Your Consumer Rights
All consumers should be aware that they have specific rights under The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Debt collectors must follow the rules. Violations of this act by collectors can result in the consumer receiving damage awards.
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