Negotiating hospital debt down

**boysnberries** · 02-05-2009, 07:52 PM

I have about $500 dollars of outstanding ER co-pays to our local hospital (we're a family of 8); that's 5 $100 co-pays.

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience negotiating down the debt. I really want to clear this up, but we just don't have the money to spare.

Has anyone had any success? Can you offer suggestions as to what to say?

Thanks in advance.

**Michelle** · 02-05-2009, 07:57 PM

Can you pay cash? Sometimes if you offer to pay them in cash all at once, they'll give you a discount. I've never done this before, but I have heard stories of people only paying half the cost by offering to pay in cash all at once.

:goodluck:

**Patty A** · 02-06-2009, 11:10 AM

That is what happened for us. I had a bunch of outstanding bills with them. I offer to pay cash and in full if they could lower the bill. It all worked out and I got just a little bit over 10% off the bill. It really helped!
They will work with you, and remember....most of the time if you offer a payment plan to work with they don't charge interest! At least they haven't charged me......

The worse case of it all is, the most they can say is no, so it is well worth the try!

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 02-06-2009, 11:19 AM

Our county hospital will work with you alot. since we had no insurance they cut our bill alomost in 1/2 then worked out a no intrest monthly payment I could afford. We're talking $50.00 a month. My bill was over $7,000.00. Our hospital is having such a hardtime because of our illegal immigrants that if they can get some money they are happy.

Laurie in Bradenton

**sabrelvssammy** · 02-06-2009, 01:28 PM

i agree...call them and tell them you want to pay but you can only afford x amount of dollars.... we just finally got finished paying a $10,000 bill that we negotiated with them interest free payments each month...if they argue and say no...then just tell them "sorry then, we can't pay anything...i guess you'll have to sue us..."they don't want to any more than you want them to...so most times they will agree to something... but be firm....YOU tell them what YOU can pay and stick with it !

**SweetPea** · 02-07-2009, 09:44 AM

I just did this a few months ago. I called and asked if there was a discount available for a cash payment. There was, and I was able to save 20% on the bill. This was for a balance under $1000, for a larger balance they offer payment plans. Good luck!

**lisettelovebug** · 02-08-2009, 12:51 AM

I've owed quite a bit to hospitals with having the little ones in the last few years. I think we owed about $600 to one, $400 to another, etc for each child. The hospital's monthly minimum was $35 a month and the midwives office didn't care how much we paid as long as we paid something every month. I started paying on my son's November birth in January of 2008 and paid $15 a week (though I told them I would pay at least $40). The midwives was $10 a week and was paid off quite a while ago. The larger bill was paid off in December. I do this with all my hospital and physician bills that are around $100 or more. Dh had some testing done at the allergist at the end of December and I just set that up on online banking so they pay $10 a week. It will be paid off in April and it's relatively pain free.

**PrairieRose** · 02-08-2009, 10:11 AM

I've done it a few times (not on an old bill but on the difference between what the hospital charged and what the insurance paid) and i was always prepared to pay at the moment I called. Could you make arrangements with your bank to borrow the amount and make small payments on the amount in advance? Then if you don't need the full amount you won't have to borrow it. I'd ask to speak to accounting at the hospital and say 'if I pay in full today, will you give me a discount?'. They always have for me. Sometimes up to 40% off. Good luck with it.

**kite2281** · 02-08-2009, 02:27 PM

Hospitals are great about letting you pay in small installments with no interest. They set our bill up so that we could pay as little as $30 a month with no interest, but we could also pay more than that any month we had extra, or pay the whole thing off at any time.

You might have to choose between a reduced bill/cash up front and a no interest installment plan with tiny installments. But both are helpful!

**Mckeekitty** · 02-08-2009, 02:31 PM

I would suggest going to your hospital's financial services office and expressing just what you expressed here...that you really want to clear this account up, but simply don't have the funds right now.

I would ask about making monthly payments, and asking if a percentage might be "forgiven" if your payments are made regularly.

**MisaLady** · 02-09-2009, 08:27 AM

Ask to talk to a social worker. Explain your situation and ask what they suggest/what they can do for you. A lot of hospitals are willing to forgive some of the money as they can write it off anyway.

**Mom23boys** · 02-09-2009, 03:53 PM

I had to do this once. I called the business office of the hospital and told them that I would like to know if I could get a discount if I paid the bill in full today. They of course put me on hold, but came back with a yes, we will knock a certain % off and the total due would now be $$$. I accepted the offer and mailed them a check that day. It was about $400 that they knocked off, but my bill was a higher than $500. It does not hurt to call and ask. All they can say is no and most of the time they are willing to settle the debt to get some type of payment. So go ahead and give them a call. Good luck!

**Thrifty Mom** · 02-09-2009, 09:44 PM

This is what I do for a living. I am the patient accounts manager at a small hospital. Yes, hospitals are more than willing to work with you. We offer 10% discount for prompt payment & 15% discount to those who are uninsured. If you are truly low income, there are programs available to wipe out your debt. The hospital gets "credit " for this, so everyone is encouraged to fill out financial aid applications. Our hospital gives free care to those with incomes up to 175% of the federal poverty guidelines. Then there is a sliding scale for discounts. The most you can make is 250% of FPL & still receive 25% discount. Having said all that, I still would consider giving a discount to anyone who asks even if they didn't technically qualify. I tend to be more generous to those who ask nicely, rather those who call yelling & threatening ... ( People get very emotional about hospital bills.) And of course we do not charge interest, so our patients can stretch out their payments without incurring the additional debt of interest. Every hospital has their own specific policies, but they all have some financial aid available.

**Nana2two** · 02-10-2009, 01:24 AM

I would also check and see with your state. My state they have where if you have children and make a certain amount of money and have insurance but have a problem paying the copay the state will for you.
Ours is the opposit. since we have a buisness but no insurance. we pay $10 office/ $100 er visits and generic meds are free some meds $5 so on.