| Recent studies show that over 80 percent of | | | | have no problem wiping it off your bill. |
| medical bills have overcharges. These overcharges | | | | You've probably also thought of getting rid of |
| occur for many reasons and in this article I'm | | | | your medical bills by paying them off with a credit |
| going to cover why they happen, what you can | | | | card. Keep in mind the medical bill's interest rate is |
| do to correct them, and how you can lower the | | | | usually lower than a credit card's interest rate so |
| remaining balance after you've cleared up all of | | | | it would make no sense to transfer a low interest |
| the nonsense. | | | | balance to a high interest balance. Also, your large |
| In order to check for medical billing errors, you | | | | debts might cause a rate increase on other lines |
| need to obtain an itemized bill and your medical | | | | of credit. And while medical bills on your credit |
| and pharmaceutical history records and thoroughly | | | | report are often viewed with some sympathy, |
| analyze them in a comparison. The following is a | | | | credit card debt is not. |
| list of common ways that hospitals overcharge | | | | When you have cleared up all of the |
| their patients:o Multiple or duplicate billing - You | | | | inconsistencies on your bill and are certain of the |
| may be billed twice or more for the same item or | | | | final amount due, you can try to negotiate with |
| procedure.o Unknown charges for services that | | | | the creditor. This negotiation will usually result in |
| never happened - It is common for you to be | | | | either a payment plan or a one-time payment for |
| charged for more services than you've received | | | | a fraction of what you owe. Your physician, |
| like getting charged for seven blood tests when | | | | doctor, medical organization or hospital will take |
| your medical records suggest you only had four | | | | smaller payments over a longer period of time |
| done. In rare occurrences it's also possible that | | | | than have you not pay at all - so try to strive for |
| you've been charged for procedures that were | | | | a reasonable payment plan or one that you can |
| actually performed on someone else that was | | | | afford. If you do reach an agreement with your |
| hospitalized at the same time as you.o Charges | | | | creditor, document it and send it to your creditor. |
| for failed services - If the hospital took a blood | | | | Also, try to never take the first offer you get if |
| sample and screwed it up and, as a result, took | | | | they are eager. It is important to sense how |
| another, they cannot charge you for taking the | | | | eagerly they respond with an offer because if |
| second sample.o Human errors - The nurses, | | | | you can get them to make more offers, the |
| doctors and other hospital staff are human just | | | | latter ones are usually lower. The tough part is |
| like you and I, meaning that they can make | | | | knowing when you should take an agreement or |
| mistakes too. If there is anything suspicious on | | | | request a better offer. |
| the bill, give a call to the billing center and question | | | | Finally, if you feel this is all too much to handle, |
| it. If it is indeed just a human fallacy, they will | | | | you can always seek professional help. |