What happens if you get surgery and can't pay?
Asked by: Clair Schinner | Last update: August 28, 2025Score: 4.6/5 (47 votes)
What happens if you 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.
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.
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.
I have had surgery. Why am I not getting a workers' compensation check?
Can a hospital make you pay before surgery?
In other situations, including a pre-scheduled surgery, the hospital or other providers can ask for at least some payment upfront. But in most cases, a health plan's network contract with the hospital or other medical provider will allow them to request upfront payment of deductibles, but not to require it.
What happens if you ignore hospital bills?
If you do nothing and don't pay, you could be facing late fees and interest, debt collection, lawsuits, garnishments, and lower credit scores.
Can you pay for a surgery over time?
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.
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.
Can you get surgery without money?
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.
What do doctors do if you can't pay?
If you don't qualify for financial assistance, work directly with your doctor or hospital on a repayment plan. Sometimes, if you offer to pay a portion of your bill right away, they will offer you a discount. Many health care providers offer low- or no-interest repayment plans over several years.
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.
How do people afford surgery?
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.
What if I need surgery but can't afford my deductible?
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.
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.
What happens if you can't afford surgery in the US?
Hospital charity care may be available based on your income and savings. In fact, according to Fox, some hospitals are required by state law to provide free or reduced services to low-income patients. As soon as your bills arrive, let your providers know if medical problems have affected your income and ability to pay.
Who can help me with money urgently?
You can get emergency money through a personal loan, credit card cash advance or payday loan. However, some of these options aren't ideal and can cost you a lot of money. You can also consider asking family or friends for money, using a 0% intro APR credit card or tapping into a HELOC.
Do hospitals do payment plans for surgery?
Many medical providers, including physicians, dentists and hospitals, can work out a no- or low-interest payment plan for your medical bills. This is one of the simplest and most common ways to resolve a bill you can't afford in one payment.
What happens if you don't pay for surgery?
If medical debt goes unpaid for a period of time, a hospital or other health care provider may decide to stop providing you services. In some areas, you may have few other options for medical care, but in other locations you should be able to find other health care providers to take care of your family.
How often do hospitals sue for unpaid bills?
A smaller number (about 25%) sell patients' debts to debt collectors and about 20% deny nonemergency care to people with outstanding debt. More than two-thirds of hospitals in the sample sue patients or take other legal action against them.
Can a hospital turn you away for unpaid bills?
Even if you owe a hospital for past-due bills, that hospital cannot turn you away from its emergency room. This is your right under a federal law called the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA).
What is a hardship letter for medical bills?
A hardship letter is a formal letter that you write to your healthcare provider or insurance company to request assistance or a payment plan. The letter should explain your situation, provide evidence of your financial hardship, and explain why you are unable to pay your medical bills.
Do unpaid medical bills ever go away?
Judgments stay either seven years or until the statute of limitations in your state is up, whichever is longer. And here's one more caveat: While unpaid medical bills will come off your credit report after seven years, you may still be legally responsible for them depending on the statute of limitations.