{"id":4619,"date":"2016-08-01T13:27:45","date_gmt":"2016-08-01T17:27:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.internationalstudentinsurance.com\/blog\/?p=4619"},"modified":"2021-03-22T18:59:48","modified_gmt":"2021-03-22T22:59:48","slug":"dont-insurance-medical-bills-pay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.internationalstudentinsurance.com\/blog\/2016\/08\/dont-insurance-medical-bills-pay.html","title":{"rendered":"I Don\u2019t Have Insurance, But Have Medical Bills To Pay!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">You\u2019re young. You\u2019re healthy. And then out of nowhere, you\u2019re faced with a medical emergency, spend some time in the hospital, and are now forced with astronomical medical bills to pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.internationalstudentinsurance.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/ThinkstockPhotos-546201946.jpg\" alt=\"https:\/\/www.internationalstudentinsurance.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/selection.jpg\" width=\"317\" height=\"238\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\"><b><em>What Now?<\/em><\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>First things first<\/strong>: don\u2019t get discouraged. It would be easy to stash away your medical bills in a drawer or sit them far back on a shelf to collect dust, but the fact is that these bills won\u2019t disappear. And most importantly, you are much, much more likely to receive financial assistance if you work with the provider before the bill is sent to a collection agency. Luckily, there are many steps that you can take to help your situation and potentially even lower your outstanding bills!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"accordion\" id=\"accordionExample\">\n  <div class=\"card\">\n    <div class=\"card-header\" id=\"headingOne\">\n      <h2 class=\"mb-0\">\n        <button class=\"btn btn-link\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapseOne\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"collapseOne\"><h2>\n          Step One: Write a Letter of Hardship to the Provider<\/h2>\n        <\/button>\n      <\/h2>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div id=\"collapseOne\" class=\"collapse show\" aria-labelledby=\"headingOne\" data-parent=\"#accordionExample\">\n      <div class=\"card-body\">\n        <p>It\u2019s important to keep in mind that hospitals are well aware that paying medical bills without insurance can be extremely difficult, so generally they will work with you to find a reasonable way to help you pay off your debt, and can even help lower the overall amount that you owe.Of course, all of these great things can\u2019t happen if you don\u2019t ask. This is where a letter of hardship can help save the day.<\/p>\n\n<p>If you genuinely have no means to pay the medical bills that you now owe, it would be in your best interest to write a letter to the provider letting them know of your situation and your inability to pay.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.internationalstudentinsurance.com\/espanol\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Dual-cit4.jpg\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"> <strong>Be sure to include the fact that you are an international student, unfamiliar with the US healthcare system, and any additional information that could help your case.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>Depending on the amount owed and your personal situation, a provider may write off a good portion, specific services, or even your entire bill! If you don\u2019t receive a response to your letter within a few weeks, be sure to follow-up with a phone call to reconfirm your situation. Of course, this isn\u2019t a guarantee, but it\u2019s worth your time to try!<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"alert alert-warning\"> <strong>Tip:<\/strong> At the end of the day, it\u2019s important to keep in mind that hospitals are still businesses and they want to be paid for their services \u2013 even if it\u2019s not the whole amount that is owed.<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"card\">\n    <div class=\"card-header\" id=\"headingTwo\">\n   <h2 class=\"mb-0\">\n        <button class=\"btn btn-link collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapseTwo\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapseTwo\"><h2>\n          Step Two: Ensure that your Bills Are Correct<\/h2>\n        <\/button>\n      <\/h2>\n    <\/div>\n    <div id=\"collapseTwo\" class=\"collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"headingTwo\" data-parent=\"#accordionExample\">\n      <div class=\"card-body\">\n        <p>This step can be time-consuming, but it\u2019s worth every moment. It\u2019s especially important to check your bills if you spent a long period in the hospital or had a complicated procedure, as it is possible that a portion of the bill that you\u2019ve received isn\u2019t right. The most common errors tend to be that you\u2019ve been billed for services or medications that you didn\u2019t actually receive. Take into consideration the time that you stayed in the hospital as well. Sometimes if you\u2019ve checked out in the morning you could have been charged for a full day, adding thousands of dollars to your bill.<\/p>\n        \n        <div class=\"alert alert-warning\"> <strong>Tip:<\/strong> According to the Medical Billing Advocates of America, eight in 10 hospital bills include mistakes.<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"card\">\n    <div class=\"card-header\" id=\"headingThree\">\n      <h2 class=\"mb-0\">\n        <button class=\"btn btn-link collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapseThree\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapseThree\"><h2>\n          Step Three: Prepare to Negotiate<\/h2>\n        <\/button>\n      <\/h2>\n    <\/div>\n    <div id=\"collapseThree\" class=\"collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"headingThree\" data-parent=\"#accordionExample\">\n      <div class=\"card-body\">\n        <p>It\u2019s important to note that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.internationalstudentinsurance.com\/explained\/us-healthcare-system.php\"><strong>US healthcare system<\/strong><\/a> is set up for individuals to have health insurance. Without insurance, you will be paying a substantial amount more for the medical treatment that you receive, compared to someone who does have insurance and receives deep in-network discounts. If a letter of distress to the provider doesn\u2019t lower your bill enough, or at all, the next step is to try to negotiate.<\/p>\n\n<p>As mentioned before, providers want to get paid \u2013 even if they don\u2019t receive as much as they\u2019ve billed you for, so you likely have some room to negotiate at least a small portion of the amount that you owe.  In order to do so, it\u2019s important that you are armed with information to help your cause. Check nearby hospitals to discern how much they would have charged for the procedure that you had. If the provider that you visited is charging grossly more, this could be a good negotiating point!<\/p>\n        \n        <div class=\"alert alert-warning\"> <strong>Tip:<\/strong> You can get information on how much providers charge for given treatments from a variety of&nbsp;websites, including&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/clearhealthcosts.com\/\">Clear Health Cost<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/healthcarebluebook.com\/page_Default.aspx\">Healthcare Blue Book.<\/a><\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<div class=\"card\">\n    <div class=\"card-header\" id=\"headingThree\">\n      <h2 class=\"mb-0\">\n        <button class=\"btn btn-link collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapseThree\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapseThree\"><h2>\n          Step Four: Set Up a Payment Plan<\/h2>\n        <\/button>\n      <\/h2>\n    <\/div>\n    <div id=\"collapseThree\" class=\"collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"headingThree\" data-parent=\"#accordionExample\">\n      <div class=\"card-body\">\n        <p>Regardless if you were able to negotiate a lower overall balance or not, providers know that a huge medical bill broken down into small, manageable payments is much more likely to be paid off, so call the provider and ask if they can set up an interest-free payment plan. It\u2019s important to speak to the right person and let them know of your situation, and that you\u2019re trying to pay off your debt but lack the income to do so right away.<\/p>\n        \n        <div class=\"alert alert-warning\"> <strong>Tip:<\/strong> Keep in mind that someone who is simply sympathetic to your situation can\u2019t help you \u2013 be sure to speak to someone higher up in the billing department directly for the most assistance.<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<br><\/br><p>The bottom line is that medical emergencies are never planned, but are always costly. &nbsp;Luckily for you, there are countless resources available to help you negotiate and even lower your bill, as well as set up payment plans. &nbsp;Don\u2019t let your bills overwhelm you. As dim as the situation may seem, you can work your way out of it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Avoid these inconvenient situations by purchasing a health insurance plan in advance, we offer different options to meet your needs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check our student health insurance plan options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.internationalstudentinsurance.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/student-health-a.png\" alt=\"Student Health Isnruance\" class=\"wp-image-4106\" width=\"107\" height=\"107\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Student Health Insurance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.internationalstudentinsurance.com\/student-health-insurance\/?utm_source=isi_blog\"><strong>Student Secure<\/strong><\/a> plan provides international student health insurance in the USA and around the world, offering 4 plan levels; Smart, Budget, Select, and Elite. With comprehensive benefits and simple monthly payment options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"text-align:center\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.internationalstudentinsurance.com\/student-health-insurance\/\" class=\"btn btn-primary\">Learn more<\/a>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.internationalstudentinsurance.com\/assets\/ISI\/images\/plan-icons\/student-health-advantage.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"94\" height=\"94\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.internationalstudentinsurance.com\/student-health-advantage\/\"><strong>Student Health Advantage<\/strong><\/a> provides international student health insurance to both international and study abroad students who are studying outside of their residence country. The plan is available for as little as one month, and as long as you purchase 3 months of coverage initially, the plan can be extended for up to 12 months and then renewed for up to 5 years in total.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"text-align:center\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.internationalstudentinsurance.com\/student-health-advantage\/\" class=\"btn btn-primary\">Learn more<\/a>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>You can always <a href=\"https:\/\/www.internationalstudentinsurance.com\/contact\/\">contact us<\/a> if you are not sure of which is the right insurance plan for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"text-align:center\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.internationalstudentinsurance.com\/contact\/\" class=\"btn btn-primary\">Contact us<\/a>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You\u2019re young. You\u2019re healthy. And then out of nowhere, you\u2019re faced with a medical emergency, spend some time in the hospital, and are now forced with astronomical medical bills to pay.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[107,103,104,99],"tags":[1260,1259,1397],"class_list":["post-4619","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health-and-safety","category-insurance-explained","category-international-students-in-the-usa","category-student-insurance","tag-but-have-medical-bills-to-pay","tag-i-dont-have-insurance","tag-international-student-with-medical-bills"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.internationalstudentinsurance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4619","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.internationalstudentinsurance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.internationalstudentinsurance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.internationalstudentinsurance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.internationalstudentinsurance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4619"}],"version-history":[{"count":33,"href":"https:\/\/www.internationalstudentinsurance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4619\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7519,"href":"https:\/\/www.internationalstudentinsurance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4619\/revisions\/7519"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.internationalstudentinsurance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4619"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.internationalstudentinsurance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4619"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.internationalstudentinsurance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4619"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}