Explore Your Options

Information and referrals for people dealing with medical debt

The medical debt system is complicated, and most people facing it don’t know what options exist or who can legitimately help. Without that knowledge, it’s easy to ignore a bill that could be eliminated, pay a debt that could be settled for less, or hire the wrong kind of help — or no help at all.

Our goal is to make sure you leave with an accurate picture of what options generally exist, as well as a discussion of their advantages and disadvantages. We also refer you to qualified professionals we have already researched and vetted — so you can make an informed decision with the right person at your side, without spending time trying to figure out who to trust.

Educational Session & Referral— $90

A one-time session of up to one hour covering what options generally exist for people in your situation. It includes 10 days of email follow-up for clarifying questions about what was covered in the session. And it includes referrals to professionals who can help.

Referral Only — $30

This is for people who already have a general sense of what kind of help they need and want to be connected with a trusted, vetted professional. We identify the right type of specialist for your situation and provide a personal referral to professionals we know and have evaluated.

We do not receive referral fees from any professional. Our only interest is connecting you with people who can actually help.

Procedure Pricing Report — $60 per procedure

Medical debt is often negotiable — but only if you know what a fair price looks like. This report gives you or your representative the pricing intelligence needed to negotiate a settlement with confidence.

You tell us the procedure — colonoscopy, hip replacement, MRI, CT scan, and so on — and the hospital or outpatient facility where it was performed. We research and deliver a written report showing:

•      The facility's posted cash price and average insurance reimbursement — for most hospitals and outpatient facilities, both figures are available and provide a realistic picture of what the provider actually accepts

•      The median provider charge and in-network allowed amount for all providers in your geographic area — an independently derived estimate of a fair price for the procedure

This report does not tell you what to do with that information. That decision is yours, or one to make with a professional advocate. But it puts the relevant numbers in your hands — the same numbers a billing advocate would use — so you or your representative can negotiate from a position of knowledge rather than uncertainty.

What the Educational Session Covers

Financial Assistance and Charity Care

Many providers — especially hospitals — offer financial assistance programs that can reduce or eliminate bills for qualifying patients. We explain how these programs generally work, how to find out whether a provider has one, and what the application process typically involves.

Medicaid

We explain how Medicaid eligibility generally works in Idaho, what the income and asset rules look like, and what kinds of professionals help people navigate the eligibility and enrollment process.

Settlement and Negotiated Resolution

We explain how medical debt settlement generally works, what publicly available benchmarks exist (such as Medicare reimbursement rates and hospital cash prices), and what professionals handle this kind of negotiation.

Debts in Collection or Litigation

We can refer you to consumer attorneys to stop harassment by debt collectors and, if necessary bankruptcy attorneys to protect your assets.

Doing Nothing — and What That Means

We cover what typically happens when medical debt goes unpaid: collections, credit reporting, lawsuits, and potentially garnishment of wages or attachment of other assets.  For some people the end result is unfortunately bankruptcy.

Referrals to Professionals You Can Trust

Knowing your options is only half the battle. Finding qualified, trustworthy help is often harder — and more time-consuming — than people expect.

We have done that work for you. We maintain referrals to vetted professionals in each of these areas:

•      A nonprofit site to help file for financial aid

•      Medical billing advocates to negotiate bills and file appeals of insurance denials or failure to approve a prior authorization

•      Medicaid planning specialists to help you apply for Medicaid and, if you don’t qualify, help with planning opportunities so you can qualify

•      Consumer and, if necessary, bankruptcy attorneys to stop harassment by creditors, represent you if a lawsuit has been filed and your protect assets

These are professionals we know and have evaluated. We do not receive referral fees. Our only interest is connecting you with people who can actually help.

What Our Services Do Not Include

•      Review of your individual medical bills

•      Advice on which option is right for you

•      Any recommendation about your specific debt

•     Debt counseling, management or financial advice

•      Contacting providers, insurers, or debt collectors on your behalf

•      Negotiating the amount of your medical debt

•      Legal representation

If you can’t afford to pay our fee, no worries ; let us know what you can pay and we will do what we can to help. We really do want to eliminate medical debt.