How Do the Elderly Pay Their Hospital Bill If They Have No Insurance?

As people age, they may need more medical care than they did when they were younger, but they may also have lower incomes as they retire from the workforce and may no longer have health insurance. Many elderly people rely on Medicare for health insurance, but some do not qualify for Medicare or cannot afford the monthly premiums. According to Consumer Health Ratings, the average bill for treatment in a hospital emergency room for people age 65 or above was $1,203 in 2008; of course, inpatient treatment costs considerably more.

Apply for Medicaid

• Elderly people with low incomes and no health insurance can apply for Medicaid for assistance with medical bills. In most states, Medicaid coverage will pay bills you incurred in the last 30 days or even more as long as you qualified for Medicaid at that time, even though you had not yet applied. Policies on this vary from state to state. Contact the agency that administers the Medicaid program in your state for more information or to apply.

Ask the Hospital for Assistance

• Many hospitals have funds to help pay for care for people with low incomes and no health insurance. They will reduce your bill based on your income. Contact the billing office at the hospital where you received treatment and ask if financial assistance is available. You'll need to complete an application and provide proof of all household income. Hospitals may discount some services but not others; for instance, if you received treatment in the emergency room, the hospital may send you a bill and the ER physician may send you another bill. The hospital may discount their portion of the bill, but the ER physician may not discount his portion.

Grants

• Some organizations offer grants to people in need of medical treatment that they cannot afford. For instance, elderly people with renal disease may qualify for grants from the American Kidney Fund, and those with cancer may qualify for grants from the Cancer Fund of America. Ask a social worker at the hospital where you received treatment if she can direct you to other sources of grants for which you might qualify.

If You Cannot Pay

• In some cases, elderly people simply must have medical care and have no means to pay their bills. In emergencies, under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, hospitals must provide lifesaving treatment even if you have no health insurance and no ability for pay for the treatment you receive. The hospital will send you a bill later, and if you don't pay the bill, the hospital may report your failure to pay to the credit reporting agencies. But under this scenario, you can still get the treatment you need in emergencies.