Are past due notices from the hospital or doctor’s office piling up on your dining room table? It may be tempting to swipe the whole stack into the nearest trash can, but out-of-sight, out-of-mind isn’t a good strategy when it comes to medical bills – or any debt – that you can’t afford to pay.
If it’s any consolation, you’re not the only one afraid to open the mailbox because you might find another hefty medical bill or the dreaded “final notice” glaring back.
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Around 61% of people with medical debt said they experience increased stress and worry, 49% admitted losing sleep over medical bills, and 23% weren’t confident they could pay off their medical debt, according to a recent report on working Americans from Salary Finance.
Before you give up on paying a medical bill you think you can’t afford, keep reading to learn what can happen when you pay late or default on medical debt.
1. The bill could go to collections
If the hospital billing department is threatening to send your account to collections, pay attention. A collections account will appear on your credit report, negatively affecting your credit score.
To avoid having your account sent to collections, work with the hospital or doctor’s office billing department to come up with a payment plan you can afford and then stick to it.
Find out: How to understand charges on hospital and doctor bills
2. You’ll have even more stress in your life
Relentless notices about past-due medical bills are bad enough, but having a collection agency on your back is even worse. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, agencies must obey certain restrictions on aggressive collection tactics. They’re not legally allowed to call you in the middle of the night, make an excessive number of phone calls in one day or curse at you, for example.
Even so, some collection agencies still skirt the rules to collect a debt, hoping they’ll get away with it. When that happens, you’ll have to write letters asking them to stop illegal behaviors and maybe even hire an attorney to warn the agency to back off its illegal collection tactics.
Try to avoid this additional stress by offering the hospital or doctor’s office a lower lump sum payment to settle the debt or suggest a reasonable monthly payment arrangement to keep your account out of collections.
Find out: How to deal with medical debt in collections
3. Late payments can lower your credit score
Even if the hospital or health care provider doesn’t send your account to collections, it might still report your late payments to major credit bureaus Experian, TransUnion or Equifax.
When that happens, the late payment information will appear on your credit report under payment history, which accounts for about 35% of your credit score. That mark will likely have a negative effect, lowering your credit score.
Are you paying late or missing payments on more than one account? Multiple late payment accounts on your credit report have an even greater impact on your credit score.
Find out: 8 strategies for negotiating with the hospital billing department
4. You may still be able to buy some time
All three major credit reporting agencies must wait 180 days after receiving information about unpaid medical bills before putting the past-due debt on your credit report. If possible, use this six-month grace period to resolve the debt so it doesn’t show up on your credit report to lower your credit score.
5. You could come up with a solution to your medical debt
Do your best to work out a payment plan, settlement or other arrangement with the hospital or health care provider as soon as you know you’re having trouble making payments so the debt won’t go to collections and appear on your credit report later.
Depending on your circumstances, ability to manage credit responsibly and credit score, paying the medical bill with a new credit card that has an introductory 0% APR for a year or longer could also be an option. Just make sure you factor those monthly payments into your budget, don’t add to the credit card debt with new purchases and pay the balance off before the promotional period ends to avoid paying interest.
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Are you a senior? Think twice about these risky surgeries
Knowing if a surgery is high-risk can help you make an informed decision about the procedure.
That’s why a team of researchers generated a list of 277 risky procedures for older adults, which they hope is useful in preparing for the potential of unwanted outcomes.
The study was published in JAMA Surgery. The list was generated by using admissions data of patients 65 years and older. The scientists found 10 surgeries to be especially problematic for older patients. We discuss these procedures below.
Note: The following article is for informational and educational purposes only and isn’t a substitute for medical advice. It is important to discuss all medical procedures with your doctor.
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Adrenal gland removal — or adrenalectomy — is the removal of one or both of the adrenal glands. Though these glands produce hormones that are necessary in carrying out daily bodily functions, sometimes a tumor forms on the glands and causes increased hormone production. When this occurs, the gland(s) needs to be removed.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the usual recovery time after this surgery is two to six weeks, and the risks can include blood clots, infections and high blood pressure.
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Carotid endarterectomy is a procedure that removes plaque buildup from inside a carotid artery in your neck. This surgery is done to restore blood flow to the brain when individuals have symptoms of reduced blood flow. Carotid endarterectomy is typically preventative of a stroke and removes blockages that might trigger one.
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the risks of this surgery include clotting, stroke or death. However, taking anti-clotting medicines before and after a carotid endarterectomy can reduce these risks.
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Also known as peripheral vascular bypass surgery, blood vessel replacement in the arm improves blood flow when one or more of the arteries become narrowed or blocked. In this surgery, a blood vessel from another part of your body or a synthetic blood vessel is used to replace the damaged blood vessel.
According to the Summit Medical Group, the risks of this procedure can include irregular heart beat, infection, and death.
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When a blood vessel causes tissue injury in the abdomen, part of the tissue might need to be removed or replaced. According to John Hopkins Medicine, complications can include pulmonary embolism, infection and excess bleeding.
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Varicose veins form in the legs when the valves in the veins aren’t functioning correctly. If you’re experiencing pain, blood clots, or bleeding your doctor might recommend varicose vein removal. This is a surgical procedure with risks that include nerve injury, heavy bleeding and infection.
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Gastric bypass is weight loss surgery that changes how the stomach and small intestine handles the food you eat. There are multiple criteria that must be met to receive this procedure and it can pose major risks and complications. These include malnutrition, perforation of stomach or intestines, and dumping syndrome (aka when food gets “dumped” directly from the stomach pouch into the small intestine without being digested).
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When people have trouble with stool leakage, inability to control their bowel movements (fecal incontinence), or obstructed bowel movements they might need a proctopexy. Proctopexy is also known as rectal prolapse surgery: essentially, it helps put the rectum back in place.
According to Mayo Clinic, risks can include damage to nearby nerves and organs, narrowing (stricture) of the anus, and development of new or worsened constipation.
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If a tumor is blocking the flow of bile to your bile ducts, you might have surgery to get it removed. Nausea, jaundice, or a temperature of 101° F (38.3° C) or higher are potential risks of this procedure.
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Sometimes an individual’s urinary bladder is removed due to cancer, a non-working bladder, or another medical reason. According to the Cleveland Clinic, urinary reconstruction creates a new way for urine to exit the body when a bladder is not present.
A risk of this procedure is urine backing up into the kidneys, causing infections, stone formation, or organ damage over time.
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When the ureter is injured (ie. scar tissue forms after an accident or surgery), additional surgery might need to be done to repair it. Chest pain, blood clots, and trouble urinating can be complications that follow this procedure.
See the complete list of all 227 surgeries here (PDF).
This article originally appeared on Considerable.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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