How to get surgery when you can't afford it?
Asked by: Johnny Wilkinson | Last update: September 30, 2025Score: 5/5 (24 votes)
- Payment plans. If you need help paying for surgery without insurance. ...
- Temporary disability. ...
- Government programs that help pay for surgery. ...
- Turn to online fundraising for medical expenses.
What happens if I can't afford surgery?
Contact the hospital's billing office and ask who administrates its financial assistance programs. Be open about your struggle to afford the procedure and see what options might be available to you. Even if the hospital can't help, it may be able to refer you to a local nonprofit that can.
Can you be denied surgery if you cant pay?
For sure! Medical professionals can deny patients if they can't pay for their services. Doctors practice their limited right to refuse patients on this basis. But wait! This happens when doctors' offices don't have alternatives to make it easier for patients to afford the treatment.
How can I get help paying for surgery?
Charity care - If you still need help with medical bills after health insurance or Medicaid payments have been applied, a charity care program may assist you with the remaining costs. In most cases, you can apply for charity care through a doctor or hospital where you are seeking medical treatment.
How do people afford surgeries?
The best option may be to start with the money in your Health Savings Account. Since typically, people do not have enough in their HSA to cover the entire expense of the surgery, some use their personal savings to make up the difference.
Can't afford cataract surgery? You may be able to get it free
What is the cheapest surgery?
Cataract surgery is the least expensive on our list with an average cost of about $3,441. In this procedure, a cloudy eye lens is removed and typically replaced with an artificial lens. With either having cataracts or having had surgery to correct it, it is one of the most common and regularly performed surgery.
How can I make surgery more affordable?
Explore financing options such as payment plans or medical credit cards. These can help you spread out the cost of the surgery over time. Don't be afraid to negotiate with your surgeon or hospital. Ask if they offer any discounts or if they can match a competitor's price.
Can I do a payment plan for surgery?
Financing Options: Many hospitals and clinics offer financing options, such as payment plans, to help you cover the cost of surgery over time. You can also consider taking out a personal loan or using a credit card to pay for the surgery.
What do you do when patients cannot pay?
- Have the money conversation.
- Get creative with your scheduling.
- Offer a payment plan.
- Create a sliding fee scale.
- Accept what they can offer.
- See them pro bono.
- Refer them or help them find assistance.
- Barter.
What is 211 medical bill assistance?
Call 211. 211 is a 24/7 resource that connects millions of people with local help, including health care and insurance assistance. In 2022, 211 responded to more than 1.6M requests for healthcare resources. No other network in the country has a similar pulse on America's needs.
Can hospitals turn you away if you can't pay?
Because of EMTALA, you can't be denied a medical screening exam or treatment for an emergency medical condition based on: If you have health insurance or not. If you can pay for treatment.
What happens if you don't pay medical bills under $500?
Waiting to pay can be beneficial
That means if the card becomes delinquent, even debts under $500 can appear on your credit report and hurt your score. Despite the potential consequences of ignoring a medical debt, there are some advantages to letting the bill go unpaid.
What do people do when they can't afford healthcare?
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created government subsidies to help low- and middle-income people pay for health insurance. They help offset the cost of monthly plan premiums, coinsurance or copays and deductibles. There are two types of subsidies – premium tax credits and cost-sharing.
How much does surgery cost without insurance?
The average hospital stay is 4.6 days, at an average cost of $13,262. If surgery is involved, hospital costs soar through the roof. Some of the most common surgeries have price tags that top $100,000. Those are alarming figures, especially for families with limited budgets or no insurance.
Should I go to the hospital if I can't afford it?
If you have a serious medical problem, hospitals must treat you regardless of whether you have insurance. This includes situations that meet the definition of an emergency. Some situations may not be considered true emergencies, such as: Going to the ER for non-life-threatening care.
How to get hospital bill reduced?
What if I need surgery but can't afford my deductible?
In cases like this, we recommend contacting your insurance, surgeon, or hospital and asking if they can help you with a payment plan. Remember that your surgery provider wants to get paid so they may be very willing to work with you on a payment plan.
What happens if you ignore medical bills?
Once medical bills enter collections, they are often reported to consumer credit reporting companies. Medical debt collections on a credit report can impact your ability to buy or rent a home, raise the price you pay for a car or insurance, and make it more difficult to find a job.
What options are available for patients who are unable to pay for medical treatment?
Ask for financial assistance.
Nonprofit hospitals must give financial assistance to eligible patients who can't afford to pay. If you got care elsewhere, they may still offer financial assistance. Ask your health care facility's billing department about financial help.
What happens if you get surgery but can't afford it?
Government or Charitable Assistance
Financial assistance programs, sometimes called "charity care," provide free or discounted health care to people who need help paying their medical bills. The Affordable Care Act requires hospitals with 501(c)(3) nonprofit status to have programs to provide this care.
Do most hospitals offer payment plans?
Among hospitals with available information, the majority have financial options for patients: 86.7% of hospitals offer financial assistance and 97.0% of hospitals offer payment plans to underinsured patients for non-emergency care.
Can you get surgery and pay later?
There are many lenders available that provide financing for elective medical procedures. You can sign up for monthly payments and schedule your surgery or procedure in advance.
How to reduce surgery costs?
If you need a procedure or surgery, ask your provider if you can have it done at an outpatient clinic. Often, getting care at a clinic is cheaper than having the same procedure in a hospital. Depending on your health coverage, you may have the choice to see providers who are in-network or out-of-network.
How to get help paying for surgery?
Most hospitals offer discounts and sometimes free care to those who cannot afford to pay. Your eligibility usually depends on your household income and the number of people who live in your household. This is compared to the federal poverty level and is referred to as the "percent of federal poverty level" (% FPL).
What surgery cost the most?
Heart transplants top the list as the most expensive medical procedure in 2024. The complexity of the surgery, the need for donor matching, and the lifelong post-transplant care contribute to the high cost. The average cost of a heart transplant in the United States is approximately $1.3 million.