#Do i have to pay hospital bills how to#

You need to have legal residence in the county where the hospital is located. If you or someone you know is without resources for medical care, you should also know Iowa law requires county hospitals to provide free medical care for people without financial resources or the ability to earn income by labor. When faced with medical bills that you cannot pay, check with your local Department of Health and Human Services office to see if you are eligible for additional medical coverage and assistance. participating in Medicare, Medicaid, VA Medical Benefits and other medical assistance programs such as IowaCare, Medically Needy, and Medicare Savings Programs if you are eligible.

reporting work injuries through Worker Compensation and.

You should also use all available medical assistance for which you qualify. It also means using preventive medicine and getting medical treatment as soon as needed.īesides taking care of your health, the first defense to medical debt is having medical insurance coverage if at all possible. This means working to keep your body healthy. Of course, taking care of your health should be your first goal. Protecting yourself in advance from medical debt should be your first priority. With severe health problems, we often do not have any options other than seeking treatment. The choice is whether to protect your very life with health treatment rather than have a new car, new clothes, or a new home. Medical debt is very different from other debt.

#Do i have to pay hospital bills how to#

Equally important is knowing how to deal with medical bills when you have no money to pay them. It is important to plan for medical expenses.

Medical debt can also destroy financial security and cause other family problems. This stress does not help anyone get better or stay healthy. When illness and injury lead to medical bills not covered by health insurance or other assistance, the stress can greatly increase. Illness and injury can cause stress in our lives.