Almost three years ago, I gave birth to an awesome kid whom I love dearly. I also racked up quite a bit of medical debt in the process due to complications in the birth. In the time since, I've been consistently making monthly payments but also ended up adding more to the debt (ER trip for said kid during crazy wild toddler stage, surgery for a miscarriage, etc.). Everything was all at the same hospital, so it is just lumped together.
The current balance is a little over $4k. I am due to have my second child in a couple weeks, and with my insurance that will cost us about $1.5k.
The good news? I have saved up enough to completely pay off the current balance of the debt (and still have some left to cover the birth). Before I go ahead and do so, I'm wondering if I can negotiate any of it. I have heard of others negotiating medical debt but have never done it myself. I'm not afraid to give it a shot (worst they can say is no), but want to prep first.
Anyone with experience with this think I could get some of the balance knocked off with the promise of paying a lump sum? Would it matter to them that I'm about to have over $1k in cost added soon? Does the age of the debt (almost 3 years) mean anything to them? Any tips in general for attempting to negotiate?
Thanks for your help!
Submitted September 29, 2017 at 11:12AM by talkingboutmoney http://ift.tt/2fWuTnW
