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A guide to handling major medical bills
Just because you have health insurance doesn’t mean you won’t have major medical bills. We sat down with Consumers’ Checkbook for some advice on how to handle them.
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — Here’s an interesting financial fact: Two-thirds of all people who file for bankruptcy in the U.S. cite medical issues as the reason — either the bills themselves or the loss of work because of their medical conditions.
It’s also true that more people than ever have access to health insurance thanks to the Affordable Care Act, but what that doesn’t mean, is that more people can suddenly afford medical bills.
“A lot of people have insurance that is basically catastrophic coverage, so the first $3,000 or $4,000 each year, they have to pay out of pocket, and a lot of people just can’t afford to do that,” says Kevin Brasler with Consumers’ Checkbook.
Some 66% of all bankruptcies are linked to medical issues, according to CNBC. That’s more than 530,000 families a year who feel they have no way out. But there are some things you can do to combat high bills, including one that may seem counterintuitive.
“We spoke to a number of experts who advised, ‘Look, never pay the first bill when it comes to medical care,’” says Brasler.
That’s right — don’t pay it right away. And there’s good reason for that.
The first bill isn’t always accurate.
“Because often the system just takes a little bit of time to catch up right? It takes a while for the provider to bill the health insurance plan, and for the health insurance plan to approve the claim and pay the provider back,” he says.
Brasler says mistakes get made, too. Sometimes providers don’t code things properly, which can result in the insurance company denying your claim. Or they simply didn’t submit the claim to your insurance at all. It doesn’t mean you owe the whole amount; it just means you need to make a few calls to get it sorted out.
“What patients need to know is that you can often negotiate these bills down,” he says.
“A lot of hospitals, even though people get these enormous bills, have programs in place where they basically act as charities. They are willing to write off a certain amount of debt if you can prove you have a need, and we found that with a lot of these hospitals, the cut-off is if your family makes six figures, you can still qualify,” says Brasler.
And finally, if a bill is too big to pay all at once, don’t be afraid to ask if you can pay in installments. Providers know getting their money over time is better than not getting it at all.
You can read more about medical bills from Consumers’ Checkbook here.
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On the eve of a big holiday event in downtown Northfield, someone cut down a tree in the center of town. It wasn’t down for long.
NORTHFIELD, Minn. — On the morning of the annual Winter Walk event in downtown Northfield, the brightly colored Christmas tree at the center of it all was in shambles.
“I got a text from one of the city streets guys saying the Grinch has been downtown and took out a tree,” said Jane Bartho, president of the Northfield Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. “I’m like, are you sure the wind didn’t take it out?”
After seeing a photo of the tree, Bartho had a definitive answer to her question.
Jane Bartho: “Yeah, clearly it was not the wind. It looked like a chainsaw took it off. You could see a path where somebody dragged the tree across the street.”
Kent Erdahl: “So you see the path and then you think, ‘Okay, it is the Grinch.’
Bartho: “It was the Grinch because who else? Who else would do it? I just can’t imagine. I cannot imagine who… who would have done that.”
But dwelling in ‘who?’ville wasn’t an option for Bartho, not with a event just hours away, which would draw thousands of people into downtown.
“Honestly, most of my focus yesterday was about the event,” she said.
Though the city crew was able to trim the base of the tree and get it upright again, the decorations were in disrepair.
“I mean, even the lights were cut,” Bartho said.
“Yeah, they cut the lights,” said Zandra Bornhauser, who was part of the team with Home Town Credit Union who sponsored the tree and had decorated it. “So we had to redecorate it fully, pretty much.”
“We were just shocked,” said Kurt Halverson, who helped with the tree repair. “It was just hard to understand who would take the effort on such a cold night to come down here in such a public space and cut down something that’s just meant to be a symbol of good and cheer.”
Thanks to their quick work, the team of helpers made sure that Grinch didn’t rob anyone of that cheer. The tree was back shining bright by the time the festival began Thursday night.
“It was magical,” Bartho said.
“It was so inspiring to see how everybody rallied around to wish us good luck in re-setting up the tree,” Halverson said. “It really did bring the community closer together on such a cold evening.”
As for the cold-hearted grinch, Bartho says they’re still checking security cameras and asking around.
“To see if anybody was looking out,” she said. “If anybody saw anything.”
And if they are eventually identified?
Bartho: “Maybe the punishment would have to be to decorate the tree every year in this frigid weather.”
Erdahl: “If you’re going to keep with the theme, you’ve got to invite them down and sing with them, right? You’ve got to warm that cold heart.”
Bartho: “At the end, yeah, his heart was warmed by the people in his life, so maybe the punishment would be to come down and have hot chocolate, feel the Christmas spirit and never do that again.”
Almost 80 percent reported that they have less than a year before they face financial distress.
MINNESOTA, USA — Despite Give to the Max Day breaking donation records, nonprofits tell us they still need help to keep up the demand for their services.
According to a recent survey by the Council of Nonprofits, 73 percent of Minnesota organizations reported they have grown programs and services to meet the demands of Minnesotans.
Almost 80 percent reported that they have less than a year before they face financial distress.
Open Arms is a nonprofit that delivers food to critically ill people. It said December is a crucial month for donations, because they will make decisions on their programs and services for the next year.
“Wages and the cost of ingredients have gone up 30% since the end of COVID or the end of the COVID years, and so that is really, really hard on all nonprofits,” said CEO Leah Hébert Welles. “And then the second thing, government funds have dried up.”
“It’s almost kind of like the way that the tide works and a big body of water where there is still significant need, but that wave of resources from 2020 has backed up, and the need for nonprofits is still right there,” said Jake Blumberg, the executive director of GiveMN, the organization in charge of Give to the Max Day.
Blumberg says 30% of donations for nonprofits happen in the last six weeks of the year.
“We have to make really hard decisions about what we can do next year, how many more people we can help, how many more staff we can hire,” said Welles,
To consider donation or volunteering to Open Arms of Minensota, click here.
To explore more nonprofits, visit GiveMN.org.
According to the report, the BPPD said Andre Lane has been missing since 11 a.m. this morning.
BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. — The Brooklyn Park Police Department is asking for the public to help find a missing man who has Alzheimer’s.
According to the alert, the BPPD said 57-year-old Andre Lane has been missing since 2 p.m. this afternoon.
He stands at 5’9″ and weighs roughly 250 pounds. Lane suffers from Alzheimer’s and dementia and may not be able to take care of himself, said the BPPD.
Lane was last seen wearing grayish-blue Levi’s jacket, black hat, black sweatpants, a gray long sleeve t-shirt and black Jordan shoes, according to the report.
Officials believe Lane left his residence, near the 6600 block of Tessman Terrace, on foot. The BPPD is asking people who live near Tessman Farm Road/85th Avenue North to check yards and properties.
Anyone who sees Lane is asked to contact the Brooklyn Park Police Department at 763-493-8222.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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