Medical debt relief
A diagnosis, accident, or hospital stay can leave you with bills you never planned for, often on top of lost work time. Here's how to lower what you owe, protect your credit, and find a plan you can afford.
Total of credit cards, personal loans and medical bills.
Estimated savingsvs. paying only the minimum*
$54,387
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Free, no obligation, and checking won't affect your credit score. *An estimate, not a quote. Assumptions
How can I get relief from medical debt?
Start by requesting an itemized bill and checking it for errors, then ask the provider about financial assistance and interest-free payment plans. Nonprofit hospitals must have financial assistance policies. If bills have gone to collections or ended up on credit cards along with other debt, a debt relief program or debt management plan may help.
- Steps to reduce medical bills before you pay
- Options for medical collections and health costs on credit cards
- Free, no-obligation evaluation
Why medical debt is different
Medical debt usually isn't a choice, and it often arrives all at once.
Confusing, error-prone bills
Bills from multiple providers, insurance adjustments, and billing codes make it hard to know what you really owe.
Lost income at the same time
Illness or injury often means missed work exactly when the bills arrive.
Bills moved onto credit cards
Paying providers with a card or a medical credit card can turn interest-free debt into high-interest debt.
How medical debt relief works
Lower the bill first
Dispute errors, ask about financial assistance, and negotiate directly with providers before anything else.
Handle collections
Medical accounts in collections can often be negotiated for less than the full balance.
Combine with other debt
If medical costs ended up on credit cards, a single plan can address medical and card debt together.
Know your rights
- Nonprofit hospitals must have a written financial assistance policy. Ask for an application, even after you've been billed.
- The three major credit bureaus have said they don't report paid medical collections or medical collections under $500, and they wait a year before reporting unpaid medical collections.
- Be careful with medical credit cards that offer deferred interest. If the balance isn't paid in time, interest can be charged back to the purchase date.
- Provider payment plans are often interest-free. Compare them before moving a bill to a credit card or loan.
Common questions
Can medical debt be included in debt relief?
Yes. Medical bills are unsecured debt, and medical accounts, especially those in collections, are commonly included in debt relief programs.
Does medical debt affect my credit score?
Less than other debt. The major credit bureaus say they don't report paid medical collections or medical collections under $500, and they wait a year before reporting unpaid ones.
Can I negotiate a hospital bill?
Often, yes. Ask for an itemized bill, question any errors, and ask about financial assistance, discounts for paying in a lump sum, or an interest-free payment plan.
See what you could save.
Two minutes, six questions, no obligation. Checking your options won’t affect your credit score.