Anyone who’s ever suffered a workplace accident knows that the most stressful part of the process can be scraping together enough money to pay for treatment. If you’ve been injured at your workplace, you’ll ideally receive worker’s compensation from your employer to cover both lost wages and your medical costs. In practice, however, it can be difficult to get the compensation you deserve. Here are three expert tips to help you handle medical costs after a workplace accident.
Seek an Interest-Free Payment Plan
Your hospital and/or doctor’s office is unlikely to offer it to you right off the bat, but oftentimes you can work out an interest-free plan with smaller monthly payments. When it comes to steep medical bills, interest is your worst enemy, because it makes your true costs higher the longer you take to pay. As for your monthly payments, the first number you’re given can often be negotiated down to something more manageable.
Avoid Paying with Credit
It can be extremely tempting to use a credit card to pay off medical bills after your accident, if only to get your doctor or hospital off your back. The problem with using credit for medical costs is that you can get stuck in a vicious cycle of late credit card payments. This will not only cost you a fortune in high interest payments and potentially drive you into further debt, but it can also severely impact your credit score. Since medical bills tend to have low interest rates, it’s better to pay without credit even if it takes you much longer.
Argue Your Claim
If you’re worried about getting a fair worker’s comp deal from your employer, the best thing you can do is hire an experienced accident lawyer to argue your case. If you aren’t sure where to start, there are accident lawyer referral services that can introduce you to top attorneys and set up a consultation. Some of these services can also connect you with doctors who can help treat your injury or refer you elsewhere.
No matter how high your medical costs are after a workplace accident, it’s possible to pay your bills without going into severe debt. Remember to try negotiating with your hospital or doctor’s office if you can’t afford your monthly payments, and ask about interest-free payment plans. And if you feel that the compensation you’re receiving from your employer isn’t fair, never hesitate to seek the help of an accident attorney.
Author Bio: Emma Sturgis is a freelance writer living in Boston, MA. When not writing, she enjoys reading and indoor rock climbing. Find her on Google +
