The cost of medical care for cancer, or even testing for cancer, can be overwhelming. At VBCF we understand this, so we have advocated for things like Medicaid expansion, lower out-of-pocket costs for medications, keeping medical bills off of credit reports, and most recently no out-of-pocket costs for diagnostic imaging. Even with new laws and regulations, many people still have medical bills that are higher than they can afford. So, besides advocating for policy change, what can you do about it? You can negotiate your medical bills!
There are multiple ways to go about negotiating your healthcare bills. If you are uninsured, the best course of action is to have a conversation with your provider or their scheduling staff before you get any sort of tests or treatment. Many providers offer some a financial assistance program or operate on a sliding scale (lower costs for lower income). If neither of these options is available, they might help you to arrange a payment plan based on what you can afford. Or, they may tell you that they are not the right provider for you, and although that may be aggravating, at least they saved you some money and headache down the road.
Before You Receive Care: Steps to Lower Costs
If you are insured and are concerned about being able to afford your costs for certain tests or treatment, call your insurance company first to make sure that you are seeing a provider that is in network. They can also estimate what your copays or coinsurance are for the procedures you are planning.
What can you do if you can’t plan and end up with a significant bill? If you are insured, check and see if your bill falls under the No Surprises Act, which may mean that your insurance company and the provider have to figure out a way to reduce your costs.
Examples of Medical Bill Negotiation
However, if all else fails, you can negotiate. Here are some scenarios:
Carol needs a breast MRI, but on the day of the appointment, she hears that her insurance won’t cover it. She calls the imaging center and asks for the out-of-pocket price…it’s $7,000, which she cannot afford. She asks if they will accept $5,500, which is the amount she knows she can safely put on her credit card.
Lisa received surgery related to her breast cancer diagnosis and she received a bill of $5,000, which she cannot afford. She calls her provider and explains her situation and asks if she can do a payment plan of $250 per month for 20 months.
Melissa received a bill for $1,000 for her breast cancer diagnostic tests that led to her breast cancer diagnosis. She knows she’s facing more expenses in the coming months, and she’s getting nervous about how she is going to pay for everything. She calls her imaging provider and says that she can pay them $600 today to close the invoice, or she can pay $100 per month for the next 10 months due to her recent cancer diagnosis and additional bills.
Why Negotiation Often Works
Why would these negotiation tactics work? For scenario 1, the imaging center already has the appointment lined up, and it would be unlikely for them to be able to fill that slot quickly, which would cost them money. It’s better for them financially to take less money than no money at all. Additionally, if Carol appeals her insurance company’s decision, they may decide to cover the test after the fact, and Carol could have her money reimbursed. Scenario 2 works because the provider likely has a system for payment plans and may even be able to set it up to automatically deduct the payments from a patient’s bank account each month. This saves them the time and money on their billing staff because they do not have to create and mail a new invoice each month, and they know how much money is coming in and when. Scenario 3 is a bit of a blend of the two, but Melissa is also giving the provider a choice and is offering to be proactive to their needs if they can adapt to hers.
What If They Say No?
“But what if they say no?” Asking for what we need can sometimes be scary, especially when it comes to finances, but they can’t “get you in trouble” for trying to negotiate your bill. The worst they can say is no, and if that happens, you are no worse off than you were before the conversation.
If they say no, you are still facing a bill that you cannot afford. What do you do then? First, don’t panic. They didn’t send you the bill immediately after you had the procedure or test, so you don’t have to pay it immediately. Don’t panic and pay the full bill only to be left with not being able to pay your rent or mortgage at the end of the month. Make sure you have what you need to pay for food, housing, and utilities before paying medical bills. If you think you can save up to pay for the bill a month at a time, then let the bill sit while you save the money. You could start a high-yield savings account specifically for medical bills to earn some extra interest and save you some money. Put money away into the account until you can pay the bill off in full. Your provider is going to keep sending bills – let them, don’t panic.
Can Medical Bills Affect Your Credit in Virginia?
While it may not feel like it, time is actually on your side. After a few months, you could give them another call and try the tactic in scenario 3, let them know how much you currently have saved towards the bill and ask if they will accept that or if they want to work out a payment plan with you. They might be more willing after a few months of nonpayment. If the process of saving for the bill is taking a long time and you are worried about the bill being sent to collections, that process actually takes longer than you might think. According to experts from Experian, a credit reporting agency, medical bills can be sent to collections after anywhere between two and six months of nonpayment. In Virginia, these collections cannot be reported to the credit bureau and therefore cannot affect your credit score. Beginning in July of 2026, more consumer protections will be enacted to make it easier for people to pay their bills and outlaw some scary consequences.
Resources to Help You Navigate Medical Debt
- VBCF’s Financial, Legal, and Insurance Resource Lists
- VBCF Blog – Resource Coordinator’s Spotlight: Triage Cancer
- CancerLINC – CancerLINC is a non-profit organization that provides information, education, counseling, and referral services for legal assistance to those facing cancer.
- Patient Advocate Foundation – Provides directories and resources for patients navigating insurance.
- Are you currently uninsured or losing coverage? Find resources that can help here.
Still have questions or need help finding assistance?
Reach out to us – VBCF is here to help! Email help@vbcf.org or call 800-345-8223 today.
