What to Do When You Have a Medical Emergency
Last Saturday, I was lounging around, watching Week 1 of college football (I love college football!!!). Suddenly, I began to get some tightness in my chest, and I had a really hard time breathing. So, my sister drove me to hospital.
I was admitted to the emergency room and later stayed for about a day at the hospital for blood work and testing. Eventually, I was told that I had pericarditis, most likely from a virus I had during the previous week.
A few prescriptions and a week later, I am doing perfectly fine. I am well enough to continue to blog! 
What this blog post will not discuss.
You may read the subject and think I will discuss medical advice. Or that I might give you options for what doctors to see and when. But this is not the case. I will not (and legally cannot) advise you when to see a doctor and for what reasons. What I will discuss if how to deal with the bills when you are doing okay.
What to do.
If you make a trip to the emergency room, realize that it ain’t cheap! First off, don’t worry about your finances until you’re taken care of and have fully recovered.
Second, once you’re fully recovered, you’ll want to contact the hospital and make sure that they have your insurance information. During my emergency room visit, everything was so hectic, that I did not provide this information up front. Keep in mind that the hospital itself may send you a bill as well as the doctors, blood lab, x-ray radiologists, etc. The hospital will tell you who you can expect a bill from. Make sure that all of these other entities have your insurance information as well.
Third, wait for your bills to come in. If you have insurance, you might have to wait for the second round of bills to come in, since you’ll have to wait for insurance payments first. (I am currently at this step and am waiting for high-$$$ bills to come in…)
Fourth, check and double-check that the bills are correct. Make sure that all of the lab tests listed and number of hospital day stays are correct. Question your insurance company about what was paid and how much you owe.
Fifth, in the end, you’ll have to make payments.
What are your options for payments?
In my situation, this emergency room visit is a one-time thing. If you regularly have medical issues, you’re situation will be different than mine.
But if you expect this emergency is a one-time thing, you can use money in your emergency fund to pay the bills. In my book, medical emergencies qualify you to touch your emergency fund.
On the other hand, hospitals (and doctors, radiologists, etc.) have more flexible billing schemes than student loan or mortgage companies. I don’t know how much my bills will total, but I do not feel that my emergency fund needs to be raided. Instead, I will likely work out a payment plan with the hospital. They are usually flexible enough to work with you and would agree with a reasonable payment option. And they’ll charge you 0% interest to boot!
So for example, suppose you have a $1,200 bill after all is said and done. Evaluate your financial situation and see where you can cut back. Set up a payment plan; let’s say $100 for 12 months. Talk with the hospital to see if this is acceptable. You’ll be surprised that they’ll allow you to do this and, again, at 0% interest.
If you have the option, don’t raid your emergency fund first. Instead, work with the hospital to set up a payment schedule.
