Handling Medical Sticker Shock Medical Bills Can Be Managed

stockfresh_636353_stethoscope-laying-on-stacks-of-money_sizeS-300x200Employees appreciate those benefits they can use. The services that help them solve problems mean a great deal. People coming back to work from COVID-19 may be encountering many challenges they never had before. Medical bills may be on top of the list.

Scary Invoices

High deductibles and copayments are now part of many group health plans. These obligations must be met before the insurance company pays anything. The amount owed can be frightening. Many employees come close to panicking. They are not sure how to deal with the figures. Healthcare providers will not hesitate to use collection agencies to get what is owed. Threats from bill collectors are frightening and do not go away.

The financial wellness risks due to medical costs are profound. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services knows all about the danger of medical debt. The problem often is resolved with the right advice. Countrywide has a financial wellness program that connects a plan member with the right person.

Counselors Solve Medical Debt Issues

We provide service through a nationwide network of certified counselors. There is one in the community of every Countrywide client and scheduling a meeting is not difficult. Our counselors have social distancing protocols, so everyone is safe.

A counselor will start with the basics. Plan members can meet obstacles if their cash flow habits are investigated. A Countrywide financial wellness counselor will perform a budget analysis to learn where money is coming and going. Anywhere that a counselor can trim a plan member’s expenses to release cash for medical bills is explored.

The Best Possible Advice

People pay a premium for not knowing what to do. A Countrywide counselor is there to make some suggestions on how to manage medical bills. Here are some of the recommendations that the Countrywide counselor will suggest:

*Not paying medical bills with the credit card

*Paying the small bills by check or cash if possible

*Negotiating discounts with the healthcare provider

*Setting up a payment plan

*Having the insurance company audit the invoice

*Politely asking the healthcare provider to explain certain expenses.

What is essential to understand is that with these suggestions, a financial wellness plan member begins to take command of the situation. That person realizes that healthcare providers are willing to be flexible and that individual can explore reasonable means of paying the debt. It is also possible to schedule treatments so that the insurance company’s portion of the bill is part of the payment.

We Always Work with the Client

Countrywide has financial wellness options to be used by all types of employees. However, the services in the plan must reflect what the workforce wants and needs. We have no way of knowing this, but the organization’s decision-makers do. We actively seek their input.

We explain all our services to a prospective client. We identify the benefits, and we answer all questions. We will never try to push one benefit over another but let the client choose. Those selections which the organization picks will be part of the plan. We support those options with streamlined administration and superior member services.

We guarantee to all clients that their employees will be treated with respect and courtesy. Our counselors know how frustrating dealing with medical debt can be and how stressed an individual could become. A client can expect emotional intelligence will be shown to each employee, regardless of the job title. Countrywide wants to solve problems, and our counselors come up with workable solutions to all challenges.

If you have any questions about our services, please feel free to contact us at your convenience. We are ready to answer all your questions and explain the advantages of having a Countrywide financial wellness benefit.