Whether you’re insured or not, quality medical care comes with a hefty price tag in America. Unfortunately, those who suffer from serious health issues (or are unlucky enough to have been involved in an accident or medical emergency) often find themselves struggling to pay for the steep costs of their treatment. In addition to mounting debt, former patients might face numerous repercussions if they don’t pay their medical bills on time. 

Consequences of Unpaid Medical Debt

Medical debt can result in steep penalties and even legal ramifications if it is ignored, neglected, or unpaid. Some of the consequences you may face include:

· Late fees – You’ll suffer extra charges after the first 90 days of missed payments.

· Low credit score – Your credit score can plummet 50 to 100 points because of unpaid med debt.

· Calls from collectors – You’ll receive harassing calls after being reported to a collections agency.

· Legal judgements – A judge can force you to pay through a court order, enforce liens against your home, and garnish wages to recoup your unpaid balance. 

· Bankruptcy –Unpaid medical debt is one of the biggest causes of bankruptcy in America.

To prevent your financial future from flatlining, here are some strategies that you can implement that will help you settle your unpaid medical debt.

How to Deal With Unpaid Medical Debt

To help get out from under the crushing weight of unpaid medical debt, you can:

· Negotiate down your debt – Your debt collectors have a great deal of wiggle-room when it comes to your debt. By contacting your collectors or employing a financial debt expert to reach out to them on your behalf, you can successfully knock off hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in debt just by negotiating a payment schedule. Some collectors may even reduce or eliminate interest — just get it down in writing.

· Establish a payment plan – Collectors are used to being ignored, so by reaching out and being transparent about your financial struggles and willingness to work towards repayment, the ball is essentially in your court. However, once you establish a fair and manageable medical debt repayment plan and agree to start making payments, you must stick to it. Slowly, over the next seven years, your credit score will improve. 

· File for Chapter 7 bankruptcy – While it is a viable option to reduce medical debt, bankruptcy should be considered only in cases of extreme and unmanageable debt, as it will obliterate what is left of your credit score. 

Rely on Medical Debt Relief Professionals

If you are struggling to repay your medical debt, the debt relief programs offered by Progressive Debt Relief can be your salvation. Our debt experts can help you to successfully negotiate for better terms and a lower interest rates — ultimately saving you a bundle of cash and stress each month while you chip away at your debt and avoid penalties. To find out more about our debt relief services, or to schedule a complimentary consultation, contact us today.