How do I Get Help for Leftover Bills After Medicare?

Medicare offers quality, comprehensive health coverage to the elderly and disabled of the United States. That health coverage, however, doesn't come without a price. If you seek out health care frequently, the 20 percent coinsurance that Medicare charges for most services can begin to add up quickly. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce these bills and the money you spend out- of-pocket on your health care needs.

Instructions

• 1

  Research and consider purchasing a Medigap plan. Medigap plans are supplemental insurance plans that pay for some of the excess costs associated with traditional Medicare. Medigap policies pay for some deductibles and some coinsurance. The coinsurance is what you are usually billed for after Medicare pays.

• 2

  Apply for your state's Medicaid program. If you have a low income, you may qualify for Medicaid. Medicaid works as a supplemental insurance and wraps around Medicare, picking up all extra costs. If you are approved, you should not have to pay for no premiums, deductibles or coinsurance.

• 3

  Apply for a Medicare Savings Program through your state Medicaid office. This state program may work for those with low incomes but incomes that are still too high for Medicaid. Medicare Savings Programs will help pay for premiums, deductibles and coinsurance.

• 4

  Apply for the federal program called Extra Help. This program is administered by the Social Security Administration and is designed to help those in need with their Medicare Part D prescription drug costs. This program will help pay for your premiums, deductibles and drug co-payments if you qualify. Qualifying is based on your income. If you qualify for Medicaid or Medicare Savings Programs, you are automatically enrolled into Extra Help, and you do not need to apply. For more information, contact Social Security.

• 5

  Ask the hospital you are staying at about any charity-care programs that they might offer. According to Medicare Interactive, hospitals have charity-care policies for those on Medicare. They will offer prescription drugs in particular on a sliding scale in case you are having difficulty paying your drug co-payments while you are hospitalized.

• 6

  Seek care at federally-qualified health centers or rural health clinics. These health facilities can work with you in waiving some of your coinsurance if you ask for assistance. They also typically charge less than a private health facility because they are federally-subsidized. Therefore, your coinsurance bill will be smaller.