The self-employed or uninsured are vulnerable to the high cost of health care services. In a difficult economy, it makes sense to have a strategy to work with providers and obtain more acceptable prices on medical services. Medical providers are now more lenient and open to working with those who are going through their systems. Here are some steps that you can take to achieve lower medical costs through negotiation.

Discuss your situation

If you are facing a medical procedure, make an appointment to talk with the provider about the impending bill. Discuss what insurance you have, what your employment situation is, and your financial circumstances. This will give you an idea of how open they are to working out payment plans and what their expectations are for paying of bills.

Look for charity help

This is difficult for many people to swallow because of pride or embarrassment, but the fact remains that hospitals and some other medical organizations have access to either foundation grants or state funding in order to cover costs for uninsured individuals. It never hurts to ask and can mean the difference of coming out with a bill that can be a crushing financial drain, or one that is a mild monthly inconvenience.

Know what questions to ask

When you discuss your financial circumstances, you have two approaches. First is to ask to lower the total bill for the medical services provided. The second is to ask about payment plans. If you ask for discounts it is harder to ask for payment plans as well, but you need to make a determination before the discussion as to which option would work better in your situation. If you have a source of money to pay cash for a procedure, then ask for a discount. If not, then opt for asking about payment plans.

Have a reasonable outlook

Do not expect that a provider will drop significant amounts off of a bill for little or no reason. Talk to them expecting to be treated fairly and on the same page from a personal responsibility standpoint. When that is understood, then the process usually flows much smoother. Look at the bill, compare the income and expenses in your situation and arrive at a solution. Finally, do not agree to payments that you cannot afford or that put you at risk financially. Build affordability into your negotiations from the beginning.

Using these steps, you will be able to negotiate your way to lower medical bills. This will help reduce the stress and anxiety that often accompanies medical procedures. The last thing that you want to have is stress over the bill while you are re-cooperating.

Negotiate Your Way through Medical Bills was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Risk factors extend beyond financial woes.

When people cannot afford to pay for medical procedures their pocketbook may become the least of their concerns.

• Uninsured individuals are more likely to die prematurely than their insured peers.

• Uninsured are more prone to succumb to major diseases that may have been detected through routine preventative care- care that is often put off due to financial restraints.

• The odds of uninsured infants dying are 1.5 times more likely than infants that have private insurance.

• Lack of routine health care can lead to emotional issues such as depression and anxiety which can lead to physical ailments, beginning a cycle of symptoms that often go untreated.

Options for the recently uninsured.

If you have recently found yourself without health insurance coverage consider the following options to learn if you qualify for assistance.

• Medicaid- Each state has different guidelines for this government funded program which provides medical coverage for qualifying individuals. To qualify you must meet certain income requirements.  The Medicaid program is geared toward assisting people with low income and limited assets.

• Child Health Insurance- Low cost or free health insurance for children is available in most states for qualifying families. For more information you should contact your local or state government officials to find out if you fall within the income guidelines to qualify.

• Short-term coverage- If you recently lost coverage due to a job loss, check with an experienced health insurance broker to see if you qualify for short-term coverage until you find another job. Due to the limited amount of time the insurer is exposed to claims, some insurers will provide individual policies to cover the gap in employment for less money than standard individual coverage.

• COBRA- This is a relatively well known yet sometimes expensive alternative to extend your health insurance policy from your previous employer. You may be entitled to continue your coverage for up to 18 months, however you will be responsible for the cost of the entire premium.

• Community health centers- Many local community centers provide routine and diagnostic care for little or no cost. Women may qualify for low cost mammograms, pap smears and birth control options at local clinics.

If you find yourself without health insurance it is important to research options available to find affordable coverage or take advantage of programs designed to help individuals in need. Do not wait until an emergency happens to explore the options available; by then it might be too late.

Health Care Options For The Recently Uninsured was created by and is property of American Consumer News.