What Do I Do If I Fall and Break My Arm and Don't Have Insurance to Pay for Hospital Bills?

If you have had an injury due to an accident and you don't have insurance to pay for hospital bills, then you have taken that obligation upon yourself. Nevertheless, the injury cannot be ignored. You will need to get the best deal you can to pay for treatment and then explore your options. You may be able to work out an agreement directly with a care provider, and you may have other options for collecting the money.

Get Medical Attention

• Depending on the circumstances, bone fractures can be dangerous. Some fractures can result in dangerous infections such as gangrene if left untreated, and gangrene can be fatal. Other times a fracture can lead to internal bleeding. If you have a fracture, do not neglect medical treatment and do not try to "tough it out" because you don't have medical insurance.

Negotiate a Payment Plan

• Even if you don't have insurance, you may be able to negotiate a payment plan with a hospital, clinic, or other care provider. Most health care providers routinely bill patients after the fact for emergency services. You may be able to make payments or pay by credit card.

Explore Legal Options

• If someone else may be liable for your injury, you may be able to collect the resources necessary to pay for medical bills for the fracture from them. The person or entity may be willing to settle out of court, or you may need to contact an attorney to file a lawsuit.

Get Medical Insurance

• This time it was a fractured arm: You can make payments on an X-ray, setting, and cast. Next time it may be something more serious. It is much more difficult to make payments on open heart surgery or cancer treatment. Some medical conditions require courses of treatment that cost $100,000 or more. High-deductible insurance expressly for catastrophic medical expenses may be more affordable than you think.