With more and more hospitals shifting debt to third party financing companies, uninsured patients are frequently turning to healthcare credit cards to pay for healthcare services. This can quickly lead to large high interest debt that can financially cripple a consumer.
One option that many people don’t consider is their state’s Medicaid or SCHIP program. I always encourage people to explore all Medicaid options even if they think they do not meet the criteria. Every state is unique, but most have programs that cover care for certain diagnoses (such as breast cancer or certain lung diseases) even if you do not qualify for Medicaid based on your income. There are many state and local resources available for patients. Doing some research could save you thousands.
Your best strategy will be to connect with someone at your state’s medical assistance program and ask for verbal and written information about conditions for which you can receive assistance if you do not qualify for Medicaid. Ask the person for her name so you can reconnect if you need to return the call. Most employees in state healthcare or insurance companies deal with unhappy patients all day long. If you make your calls and develop your relationships before you have a financial problem, you may be surprised at how helpful and easy these folks can make the process for you!
You can also view a recent video cast that discusses this topic further.
Ruthann Russo, PhD, JD, MPH, RHIT, is a healthcare expert with more than 20 years of experience working in and advising healthcare organizations.
