Medical Debt as a Result of the Pandemic

Brace yourself for COVID medical bills

What’s covered, what’s not

Early in the coronavirus pandemic, Congress formed an emergency system to ensure free testing for the virus and to help uninsured Americans avoid big hospital bills for Covid-19 treatment. At the same time, most large insurance companies waived cost-sharing agreements for Covid-19 patients, limiting out-of-pocket costs for holders of private health insurance.

But as many bills arrive, some patients, such as Medicare beneficiaries who don’t carry supplemental insurance, are falling through the cracks. And the uninsured are required to seek financial assistance and sometimes fill out labyrinthine paperwork to cover their bills, a tall task for many patients still suffering from the illness’s long-term effects.

In other instances, hospitals mistakenly bill insured patients directly, or there are disagreements over whether certain treatments are the direct result of a Covid-19 diagnosis, as opposed to an unrelated problem. Some patients have been billed for follow-up visits and other care that they were told aren’t covered by government funds.

To check on what potential accommodations your insurance company has made for Covid treatment visit AHIP’s (America’s Health Insurance Plans) comprehensive list

What to Do if you have Surprise Bills or Medical Expenses You Cannot Pay

If you were treated for Covid-19, and the medical bills have started rolling in it’s especially important to be aware of your rights and how to best handle bills that you can’t pay immediately. If you were diagnosed with and treated for Covid-19, make sure you understand how the specific laws enacted could help. If your bills are for other reasons (even just follow-up issues such as pneumonia after surviving the coronavirus) the rest of the steps can help you too.

• Ask for an itemized bill for COVID-19 treatments: This will help you spot errors like duplicate bill codes.
• Negotiate: You can always negotiate medical bills. If you are on an HMO or other plan and received treatments it doesn’t cover, you can negotiate that cost
• Ask for a payment plan: Talk to your health care provider about setting up a plan to pay over time. Also, ask your provider or search online to see if your state has an assistance program to help with medical bills.

If these do not work and you find you cannot pay GET HELP. An attorney that specializes in helping people with medical debt is your best option for a successful resolution. If you are considering paying your Covid related medical debt with a credit card, your retirement saving/401K, or payday loans you need to take a step back and consider the option of bankruptcy.

Your Physical Health Has Suffered Enough, Don’t Risk Your Financial Health

The attorneys at the Bond & Botes Law Offices have devoted decades to helping people resolve debt and move forward into a more stable financial futures. We offer free consultations to people facing overwhelming and unpayable medical expenses. You can schedule yours right now by calling 1-877-581-3396 or by filling out the contact form on this page.