You have options when it comes to large hospital bills you can’t pay
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
The average hospital stay costs $2,883 per day, in addition to expenses for lab work and specialists.
A lengthy hospital stay can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Although insurance can certainly help defray the out-of-pocket expense, it doesn’t guarantee affordable care.
“Gone are the days of a $20 co-pay,” said Marissa Vartak, family nurse practitioner, board certified in family medicine and owner of On Care Family Health in Cicero. “Ninety percent of my patients have $6,000 deductibles.”
These high deductible plans often cover up to 80% of the amount left after the $6,000 deductible has been met.
A person with this type of insurance plan would pay $10,800 for a $60,000 hospital bill (a three-week stay, plus lab work and tests) after paying the $6,000 deductible, making their total out-of-pocket cost $16,800.
Many people would find this sum out of reach, especially if they have missed work because of their hospitalization or if they live on a fixed income.
Although most hospitals will set up a payment plan, unfortunately, many turn to suing patients to collect overdue bills. According to a sample of more than 500 hospitals across the US, Kaiser Family Foundation stated that in 2022, more than two-thirds of the hospitals take legal action against patients who don’t pay up. This may include lawsuits, wage garnishment and liens on property.
Kaiser also said that approximately 100 million people across the country — or about 41% adults — carry some amount of debt because of healthcare, despite the existence of “universal” healthcare, also known as Obamacare.
People who work two part-time jobs fall through the cracks. They make too much money to qualify for subsidized insurance plans and their employers are not required to provide insurance. People who employ themselves or who earn money as contractual or freelance workers represent another category of the uninsured. Some traveling healthcare workers and those working for employment agencies also may lack sufficient insurance.
Some people who experience an acute and expensive health crisis rely upon fundraisers thrown by family members or crowdfunding platforms such as GoFundMe. Although these efforts can certainly help, it’s also beneficial to talk with the hospital for help. Each of the area’s hospitals can work with patients on repayment plans and ways to reduce the amount owed if a financial need exists.
“Patients are notified that Upstate has a financial assistance program that can be used should they need assistance in paying their medical bill,” said Kathleen Froio, a spokesperson for Upstate Medical University. “Upstate staff will offer to assist the patient in completing the application for assistance. Upstate Medical University also screens uninsured patients for Medicaid coverage and assists with them with obtaining coverage through the New York State Marketplace, if eligible.”
Since 2019 Upstate has provided more than $39 million in financial assistance to 22,274 qualified patients who have requested such assistance.
It’s also helpful to look at any charitable organizations in the area that can provide financial aid. Each county’s department of human services can provide references to organizations that help with bills. Legal Services of CNY (www.lscny.org) can also offer pro bono help to address legal issues for those facing medical lawsuits.
Above all, anyone facing large hospital bills should not simply ignore the problem. These bills carry interest when they go unpaid, so it’s important to at least call the billing office to let the hospital know that you’re struggling and need more time to make arrangements for paying the bill. Making affordable good faith payments each month can help reduce the risk of legal action. It’s vital to seek legal counsel if the healthcare organization cannot help reduce the amount to realistically manageable payments.
