How to Negotiate Your 20% Deductible for Hospital Insurance

Medical insurance can save you from the catastrophic costs of an illness, but your portion of medical bills can still add up. Some plans, like HMOs, will require a per diem copay for hospital stays and services, while others will include a deductible over which you will be responsible for 20 percent of the bill. If even that portion is more than you can afford, there may be ways to negotiate a lower bill.

Instructions

• 1

  Ask if your hospital has a prepayment plan that will reduce the amount you need to pay out-of-pocket. For procedures that are scheduled in advance, some hospitals will allow you to pay your expected portion of the bill in before hand at a discount.

• 2

  Contact the hospital's billing department and make sure all the procedures have been coded correctly. Jeremy Vohwinkle from Generation X Finance notes that a slightly different code for major procedures may lead to your insurance company covering more of the cost.

• 3

  Offer to pay the amount immediately if the billing department is willing to reduce the charges. Some hospitals are willing to reduce your hospital bill by up to 25 percent if you can pay off the entire bill in the next month. This can reduce the amount you pay after your insurance coverage has already kicked in.

• 4

  Inquire about the hospital's financial assistance program. Generally, you must qualify by having a low income or by having no insurance. This is a last resort, but you may qualify, especially if you have a chronic or serious condition that requires continuous medical care.