Episode•June 29, 2023•22 min

Tips For Managing Your Medical Bills When You Have a Chronic Illness | Ep. 242

Are you or someone you love living with a chronic disease (1 in 3 people do)? If so, then medical bills and expenses can be a headache. Join us as we explore different ways to manage the costs of chronic diseases, including negotiating with medical providers and insurance companies, going directly to pharmaceutical manufacturers for discounts, bargaining for services and skills, and applying for financial assistance. Learn the tips you need to help make living with chronic disease more affordable! About Our Guest Barby Ingle is a best-selling author, reality personality, and lives with multiple rare and chronic diseases. Barby is a chronic pain educator, patient advocate, and president of the International Pain Foundation. She is also a motivational speaker and best-selling author on pain topics. Her blog, reality shows, and media appearances are used as a platform to help her become an e-Patient advocate, and she presents at healthcare conferences, speaking publicly, sharing her story, and educating and advocating for patients across the globe. She has received more than 25 commendations for her advocacy efforts. She is the reigning Mrs Southwest Petite USA. Connect with Barby Twitter: barbyingle Instagram: barbyingleofficial Facebook: Barby Ingle Official Additional Resources Visit Our Website Dr. Virgie Bright Ellington Demystifies Medical Bills | Ep. 228 This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

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Key Takeaways

1
Negotiate medical bills directly with providers and insurers
Ask for cash prices or nurse practitioner visits instead of full doctor rates
Call around to different labs and imaging centers for the best price on tests
Even with insurance, verify bills for accuracy and negotiate errors or high charges
2
Use manufacturer discount programs and coupons for prescriptions
Go directly to pharmaceutical companies for patient assistance programs
These programs often cost less than retail pharmacies like CVS or Walgreens
Doctor involvement may be required but the reduced price is worth it
3
Apply for hospital charity care and financial assistance
Fill out one-page charity forms and submit bank statements to request bill reductions
Hospitals can write off discounts as tax deductions, giving you leverage
Apply separately to each billing entity (hospital, doctors, labs)
4
Barter skills or services when cash is tight
Offer social media help, graphic design, or other talents in exchange for care
Example: animator trades video work for family dental services
5
Let go of guilt and prepare before making discount requests
Physically gesture to release anxiety before stressful calls
Know exactly what you can afford and make a specific offer
Most people never ask, so providers are often willing to negotiate

Intro

Chronic illness affects 1 in 3 people and brings ongoing medical costs that can strain finances. This episode shares practical strategies for negotiating bills, accessing discounts, and advocating for affordable care.
Barby Ingle is a best-selling author, patient advocate, and president of the International Pain Foundation who lives with multiple rare and chronic diseases. She educates and advocates for patients globally and has received over 25 commendations for her work.

Website International Pain Foundation Twitter Instagram Facebook

– What Is a Chronic Disease?

Barby defines chronic disease as a condition lasting longer than six months, typically for life. Examples include fibromyalgia, epilepsy, asthma, diabetes, depression, alcoholism, and arachnoiditis.

Having a chronic illness is like getting 12 pennies a day and you have to learn how to spend them.
– Barby Ingle

– Negotiating with Medical Providers

Call ahead and ask for cash prices. Request to see a nurse practitioner instead of a physician when appropriate. Compare prices across different labs and imaging centers for tests like X-rays, MRIs, and bloodwork.

For prescriptions, search manufacturer websites for patient assistance programs and coupons that can be cheaper than retail pharmacies.

– Overcoming Anxiety When Asking for Discounts

Take my hand and put it across my chest as if I'm grabbing all of the invisible guilt or stress or anxiety. And I will throw it away from my body and say, this is not part of me.
– Barby Ingle

Prepare a specific offer before calling. Know what you can afford and clearly state it while emphasizing your desire to continue care with that provider.

– Working with Insurance Companies

Eight out of ten medical bills contain errors. Always wait for your Explanation of Benefits before paying. Review CPT codes, dates, and personal details for accuracy.

Even if your insurance says they won't pay a bill, ask them to help negotiate it down anyway.
– Barby Ingle

Barby shares a story of a $100,000+ bill that insurance initially refused but later negotiated down and retroactively covered after she advocated.

– Hospital Charity Care and Bartering

Submit charity care applications with recent bank statements. Hospitals can write off discounts as tax deductions, increasing your chances of approval.

Barter services when cash is limited. Offer skills like social media management, graphic design, or animation in exchange for care. One family member trades animation work for dental services.

Resources

Topics

chronic illnessmedical billshealthcare costs insurance negotiation patient advocacy financial assistanceprescription discountscharity carebartering serviceshealthcare savings