COBRAhealth.com Demand that you will pay an insurer's negotiated rate, esp. if you are paying cash. Ask the hospital for a discount if you pay a lump sum right away. Offer 50% of the bill. Mention bankruptcy. Check your charges against the Medicare rates for the same care, at www.cms.gov. If there is a big difference, complain. Get coverage for the sickest member of your family. Each state has a pre existing condition fund. If possible, enroll the chronically ill member. California law requires every hospital to have a charity care and discount payment program that pick up all or part of the cost of care for indigent or special needs families. Use the Healthcare Blue Book to find fair prices for surgery, hospital stays, doctor visits and medical tests, based on the average fee for providers in your area. A Claims Assistance Professional can sort through your bills, identify errors, negotiate discounts, settlements and keep doctors, hospitals, insurers and collection agencies at bay. Dispute medical bills at all 3 credit bureaus. Initiate or demand arbitration if bill collectors threaten to sue you. Tell medical bill collectors not to call at any time. Ask them to validate the debt – prove that they own it and you incurred it.Use an accredited counseling agency to help you sort bills and draft a payment plan that works. Call The Access Project toll-free at 866-918-5232, ext. 231, for advice on medical debt resolution. Medical bankruptcies affect about 2 million Americans annually. But it is only a final option. I’ve helped thousands UN-insure themselves, cutting their expenses.

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