Vent: That time I tried to negotiate medical bills down by myself

Last month I got a $2,800 bill from a hospital visit in Phoenix. Insurance covered some but not enough. I figured I could call and ask for a discount like people say online. So I did. Spent 45 minutes on hold. Got transferred three times. Finally a lady said they could offer me 10 percent off if I paid right then. I pushed harder and asked about income-based programs. She put me on hold again then came back and said no. Ended up just doing a payment plan instead. Still feel like I left money on the table. Anybody here actually get a real discount by calling billing?

2 comments

2 Comments

rodriguez.diana6d ago

That 10% offer was their starting point, not a final answer.

jordan_anderson906d ago

My coworker tried that line on me last week when the vendor offered 8% and said it was their "starting point." I told him yeah, and my starting point for negotiations is usually asking for everything they've got plus their firstborn child lol. But seriously, that "starting point" argument works both ways. They probably have a bottom number they can actually do, and it's way lower than 10%. You just gotta be willing to walk and let them sweat a little.