$44 Million Hospital Bill Provides Valuable Reminder

Media outlets this week couldn’t get enough of the story of Alexis Rodriguez, a Bronx man who received a medical bill for $44 million after receiving treatment for pneumonia. In what turned out to be a simple printing error, hundreds of patients received bills for staggering amounts of money – including Rodriguez, who really only owed about $300.

This story made news because its outrageous proportions bring to light a very real fear that many Americans face, namely that they simply won’t be able to afford their medical expenses.

But it’s an important story to consider for another reason: it reinforces the importance of communicating with your medical care providers.

Communicate to Keep Medical Costs Down

Rodriguez and others who received grossly inflated bills called the billing company immediately to question the “amount due” figures they saw. But if the amounts had been off by a less considerable number – say, by $50 or $20 – how many people would have noticed?

And yet a few small overpayments can make a big difference to anyone who’s struggling to make ends meet. To make sure you’re not spending any more than you have to on medical bills, take these precautionary measures next time you deal with your healthcare provider:

• Ask about your options. Your doctor may not know money is a concern for you, and so may not even consider which medical options are the most cost-effective. When discussing medication, treatment, and procedures, be sure to ask your physician about lower-cost alternatives to standard procedures. You may be able to save significant money right off the bat.
• Ask about rates. It can be intimidating to ask about how much a procedure costs, but it’s better to be embarrassed for a few minutes than crushed by medical debt for months or years. If you’re not comfortable asking your doctor, consult with someone from the billing department about rates and alternative service options.
• Talk with the billing department about your insurance coverage. Don’t know whether or not your insurance covers a certain procedure? Chances are the people who work in your healthcare provider’s billing department have a better idea. They deal with medical insurance plans on a regular basis, and so have a fairly in-depth knowledge of who covers what. Also, billing professionals may be able to help you fill out insurance paperwork with the “right” language – that is, they may know how to describe services so that your insurer will cover them.
• Ask about payment plans. Most medical facilities have ready-made monthly payment options available to any customer who has difficult paying medical bills. To learn about payment plans, all you have to do is ask.

Medical debt is one of the leading causes of Chapter 7 bankruptcy in this country. Approaching your healthcare proactively can help you protect your finances in the long term.