Posted on June 19, 2009 at 2:37 am Hello, can you help me figure out how to pay my hospital bills? I am uninsured and have already maxed out my cards. I just work part-time and ..I'm just out of luck. Something tells me to run to the government for help, how?

Posted on June 19, 2009 at 2:43 am Hi shattereddreams, you can first ask for a copy of the hospital’s financial assistance policies (charitable aid program) and check if you will qualify. Also, ask for the itemized billing statement rather than just the summary. Double check the billing statement for errors like extra or double charges, or if there is a doctor’s bill for procedures normally done by the nurses, for clerical errors and previously ordered tests that were canceled but still appeared in the statement.  Also, check for tests that did not happen at all or whether the day of discharge was billed (depending on the hospital, the discharge day is usually not billed). You may also watch out for unusually expensive single item like a tablet, a pill, or a syringe. If some of the terminologies in the statements are too technical you may ask the billing representative to explain them to you. 

Posted on June 19, 2009 at 3:07 am You may also inquire at the hospital about discounts or any payment plan that you can afford. Point out that though the amount you can pay may be small, at least you are going to do it regularly. You can arrange for the payments to be weekly, monthly, or even quarterly. You may even ask them if you could pay off the bill in a one discounted lump sum. Be brave and try to explore the options available for slicing the debt down.

Posted on June 19, 2009 at 3:11 am Try applying for Medicaid too. Medicaid was created to help consumers who live below the federal poverty level to pay off their medical debts. A successful Medicaid qualification means access to free consultations, free drugs, and other treatments.  The best part about Medicaid is that it pays your bills retroactively, meaning that it would reimburse your medical expenses, even if your application was approved after you already paid.  

Posted on June 19, 2009 at 3:17 am You may also want to seek help from consumer groups, private groups/companies that sponsor fundraisers for people in need, and  of course the religious organizations.

Posted on June 19, 2009 at 3:21 am Thank you everybody! This gives me some hope... but how about my credit card bills?

Posted on June 19, 2009 at 3:45 am Have you been receiving creditor or collection calls?Anyway, it is possible to negotiate with your creditors, especially now that credit card companies are warming up to the idea of forgiving parts of the consumer debt. If they call you first to collect, turn down the first offer, until you can negotiate the balance to at least 50% Then talk about the payment terms or the interest rates. It would help you a lot if you're able to convince them to freeze the interest so you can pay down the principal amount.

Posted on June 19, 2009 at 4:04 am Wait, shattereddreams is working part-time...how about when you're unemployed. How do you pay bills when you don't even have a source of income?

Posted on June 19, 2009 at 4:42 am First thing to do is apply for unemployment benefits. Go to the Unemployment Insurance Claims Office to file a claim. Expect that you'd be asked the following: your name and the addresses of all your recent employers (in past 18 months) including the exact dates that you've worked for them, and the reason why you left (preferably in writing).About your utility bills, you may contact the utility companies to try  negotiate a payment plan, it's all about good communication. Try to ask charity institutions too like the Salvation Army and the local churches, they do help with specific needs like payment for utility bills.

Posted on June 19, 2009 at 4:53 am How about for the senior citizens?