When clients reach out to me regarding an outstanding medical bill, my first question is always, “Are you in collections?” It’s really crucial to avoid the situation, because once a bill goes to collections, settling the case becomes significantly more challenging. If there’s an error on the bill, you can approach the provider directly to
Are You In Collections With Medical Bills? Read More »
If you are uninsured or underinsured, you might be eligible for financial assistance directly from the hospital. The Affordable Care Act, ACA, mandates that hospitals maintain a written financial assistance policy, that’s called an FAP, financial assistance policy, and an emergency medical care policy. These programs can potentially offer you free or reduced cost medical
What is A Financial Assistance Policy Read More »
Chronic illness patient advocacy becomes especially important when managing your health also means fighting repeated insurance denials, confusing medical bills, prior authorization problems, and endless phone calls. For someone living with a chronic condition, one denied claim may be frustrating. Several denials involving medications, specialists, treatments, testing, or medical equipment can quickly become financially and
Chronic Illness Patient Advocacy for Denied Medical Claims Read More »
I hope this is not happening to you. Are you about to lose your job? What are you going to do for health insurance? Are you entitled to COBRA? Well, what’s COBRA? It’s a federal law offering temporary health coverage continuation after certain life events. Well, who is it for? It’s for employees, spouses, and
Are You Entitled to COBRA? Read More »
You had an emergency hospital visit but never got a bill until a $30,000 collections notice shows up. Don’t panic. Confirm the debt. Ask the collection agency for a debt validation letter. You have the legal right to do this. Request it in writing within 30 days after you receive this bill in the mail.
A Debt Validation Letter Can Stop Collections Read More »
Durable medical equipment billing can become frustrating fast when an insurer denies a wheelchair, CPAP machine, hospital bed, brace, oxygen equipment, or another medically necessary item. You may have a prescription, a doctor’s recommendation, and a legitimate medical need, yet still receive a denial or unexpected bill. The important thing to understand is that a
Durable Medical Equipment Billing Denied? What to Do Next Read More »
Have you ever heard of a facility fee? A facility fee is an extra charge that hospitals add to cover overhead costs such as equipment, maintenance, support staff, and security. Even if the visit is virtual or at a hospital-owned outpatient clinic, they might have these additional fees. So patients often unknowingly agree to these
What is a Facility Fee on Your Medical Bill? Read More »
In July 2025, a federal judge ruled medical debt can be included on people’s credit reports. That overruled a Consumer Finance Protection Bureau proclamation made in January of 2025. Had medical debt been left off of credit reports, it was expected to result in the approval of roughly 22,000 additional mortgages each year. Right before President Biden left
Can Medical Debt be Included in Your Credit Report? Read More »
Mental health billing challenges can interrupt treatment, create unexpected debt, and leave patients wondering whether their insurance company applied the same standards it uses for physical healthcare. A denial may arrive while therapy, psychiatric care, medication management, or substance-use treatment is still urgently needed. Paying immediately may feel like the easiest path, but the claim
Mental Health Billing Challenges After a Claim Denial Read More »
Too often when denials occur, we have to go through multiple appeals to resolve the issue. I often ask for help from the media because, many times, that is the only way the insurance company pays the claim. Last summer, I was published in NJ.com, and the article came out in September 2024 about a $25,000 denial
How I Used the Media to get a $225,000 Medical Bill Paid Read More »