 TITLE: How Do Medical Bill Payment Plans Work? CONTENT: How Hospitals Are Helping Consumers With Medical Bills\n------------------------------------------------------\nPersonalized payment plans are the primary way hospitals and other health care providers assist patients with medical bills. The use of these plans has increased significantly in some organizations and is present in 1 in 5 outstanding patient accounts, according to Experian Health.\nHowever, if you're having a hard time even with a payment plan, hospitals have an incentive to help you pay your medical bills and may offer more help.\n\"With consumers that are really in a difficult financial situation,\" Baltzer says. \"Most providers—particularly nonprofit providers, but even some for-profit providers—offer financial assistance programs.\" This assistance often comes in the form of a discount, he adds.\nSo if you have medical bills and you're struggling to get by, don't hesitate to reach out to your health care provider to find out if relief is available.\nThis is especially true if you don't have insurance coverage. \"If someone is truly uninsured, \\[they'll receive\\] a discounted rate,\" Baltzer says. END