 TITLE: How to Get Credit Counseling or Financial Assistance CONTENT: Medical Bill Counseling and Financial Assistance Programs\n---------------------------------------------------------\nIf you're looking for help with medical care, the government resources listed above may be a good place to start. Those tools can help you determine if you may be eligible for subsidized or free health care coverage through state or federal programs.\nWhen you already have medical debts, or if you need help with ongoing treatments or medication, other options may be available. You might consider taking one or more of the following actions:\n*   **Ask your health care provider for discounts.** Some may give you a discount if you can pay in full or make a down payment. Or, you may be able to get a low- or no-interest payment plan.\n*   **Hire a medical billing advocate.** Advocates can review your bills and negotiate on your behalf. Look through the Alliance of Claims Assistance Professionals and AdvoConnection directories to find several options, and ask the billing advocates about their experience with similar cases and their fees. Advocates may charge hourly, monthly, by the project or based on how much they save you.\n*   **Look for financial assistance with bills, treatments or medications.** Nonprofit organizations that focus on helping patients with similar diagnoses and needs may be able to help. Some of the many examples include: CancerCare, Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition, Children's Diabetes Foundation, CR3 Diabetes Association, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, National Organization for Rare Disorders and Patient Access Foundation.\n*   **Seek out patient assistance programs (PAPs).** These are run by pharmaceutical companies and may be an option if you're having trouble affording medication or medical supplies. RxAssist and Medicare.gov have PAP search tools you can use to search for applicable programs. END