An unexpected surgery, outpatient procedure, or ER visit may come with unforeseen medical expenses. But how do you deal with a surprise medical bill you didn’t see coming? Continue reading for five ways to help you cover these costs.
Negotiate for a lower bill. Ask your health care provider to lower or waive some fees. You can find the going rate of coverage on cost estimator sites, which will give you a starting point for your negotiations. According to federal law, all expenses for COVID-19 testing, co-payments, and deductibles, should be covered by your insurance provider.
Set up a payment plan. Everything is more manageable in installments. If possible, consider setting up a payment plan with your health care provider, which will allow you to make small monthly payments towards your bill until you have paid it off.
Dip into your emergency fund. If your stash of emergency cash is robust enough to cover your medical bill, you may want to use this money to pay your bill immediately.
Take out a home equity loan. For very large bills, consider tapping into your home’s equity through a home equity line of credit (HELOC) with SeaComm. This is a convenient way to manage your debt level and payments, reduce your interest expense, and arrange for the payment method that you prefer. Click here to learn more, or call us at (800) 764-0566 to schedule an appointment at your nearest SeaComm branch location.
Take out a personal loan. A personal loan with SeaComm can provide you with the funds needed to cover your bill. As a SeaComm member, you might already be pre-approved for a personal loan through LoanEngine™! This new loan pre-approval program allows you to view and accept loan offers without having to come into a branch or fill out an application. If you qualify for a pre-approved offer, you will be presented with it through our SeaComm Mobile 4.0 app or NetTeller™ in the “My Offers” tab, via email, and/or a letter through the mail.
Click here to login to your NetTeller™ to view your current offers! If you do not have any offers at this time, be sure to check back every 60 days.