• If you’re insured: 
  • Understand your deductible, copays, and whether you need prior approval before seeking care. 
  • Check to see if providers are in-network. Going to an in-network provider generally costs less.
  • Once you have a bill, make sure your insurance was correctly applied before you pay the bill. 
• Uninsured? You may qualify for Medicaid (HUSKY Health), a plan through your employer, or a subsidized plan through Access Health CT, Connecticut’s ACA Health Insurance Marketplace.
• Learn about the different insurance plan options.

• Apply for financial assistance. This should be your first step if your bill is from a hospital or hospital-affiliate.Bills may be reduced or completely erased. You may qualify even if you have insurance, are working, your bill is over a year old, or you don’t qualify based on your income but have a lot of medical debt.
• Avoid paying with a credit card unless you can pay it off immediately. Paying with credit cards, including medical credit cards, turns medical debt into regular debt and removes medical debt-specific protections. 
• Ask for a payment plan. If you don’t qualify for free or discounted care through a hospital’s financial assistance program and to avoid putting debts on a credit card, ask for a low or no-interest payment plan directly with the provider; only agree to payments you can realistically afford.

• Learn more about your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) which makes it illegal for debt collectors to use abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices when they collect debts.
• If you’re sued, do not ignore a lawsuit. Consult an attorney or a legal aid organization about whether to answer, contest the bill, or explore other options, including bankruptcy.

CFPB: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

To learn more, visit consumerfinance.gov/medicaldebt

• Open the bill as soon as it arrives and confirm it’s addressed to you (or your minor child). Medical bills can be overwhelming, but it’s best not to avoid bills associated with medical care. 
• Check the due date to avoid late fees.
• Keep all bills, letters, and insurance papers in one place. 

Tip: If you have insurance, check whether the paper you received is a bill or an Explanation of Benefits (EOB). An EOB is not a bill. 

An EOB shows what your insurer was charged, what they paid, and what you potentially owe. The actual bill will come from the provider.

• All nonprofit hospitals in Connecticut must offer financial assistance. Many for-profit hospitals and other providers may also offer financial assistance with similar eligibility standards.
• Find the hospital’s financial assistance policy or get help applying for financial assistance. Bills can sometimes be reduced — or wiped out completely.
• You may qualify even if you have insurance, are working, your bill is over a year old, or if you have a lot of medical debt.
• Mention other bills and financial stress you’re facing. You might be eligible for a discount if you have significant medical debts or other pressing financial burdens. 

• Putting healthcare bills on a credit card (including medical credit cards like CareCredit) turns medical debt into regular debt and removes certain medical debt-specific protections.
• Payment plans can be a much better option, especially since some hospitals charge low or no interest.

The system is complex, and medical billing errors can occur. Before you make payments, verify that insurance was properly applied and charges are accurate.

Confirm Insurance was Billed

• Mistakes can happen. Providers can make a mistake when typing in your insurance ID number, name, or date of birth, and the bill will not process through your insurance correctly, or providers might send you a bill before your insurance has applied their adjustments or payments.
  • TIP: If you have a hyphenated last name, pay extra attention to make sure both the provider and your insurance are using the complete and correct sequence and spelling of your last name.
• Check the bill for line items like “insurance adjustments” or “billed to insurance” to confirm whether your insurance coverage has been applied.
• Call your insurance or provider to understand what your insurance covers.  

TIP: When calling a billing office or insurer, write down the date, time, the name of the person you spoke with, and what they told you. Keep this log with your bill documents.

Learn about common denial reasons and what you can do.

Learn about the prior authorization process and the rules in Connecticut.

Review an Itemized Bill 

• If you need more detail, call the provider’s billing office to request an itemized bill. 
  • You have a right to your itemized bill because this document is part of your medical records. HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) gives you the right to see and get a copy of your health information.  
  • You cannot be refused access to your health information because you haven’t paid your bill.  
• Review every line of your itemized bill carefully for errors, such as: 
  • Charges for care you did not receive
  • Duplicate charges 
  • In-network providers billed as out-of-network 
  • Preventive care that should have been covered by insurance
• Consider contacting a patient representative: call the hospital’s main number and request to be connected to a Patient Representative, or the Patient Services department to get technical support reviewing your bill. 

Medical providers are often willing to negotiate unpaid bills. 

• Contact the provider’s billing department and ask for an interest-free payment plan. 
• If you are uninsured or paying out-of-pocket, many providers will offer a reduced rate — ask for the self-pay or cash rate.

• Be honest with your provider or collector. If paying will cause real hardship, say so. Mention other bills and financial stress you’re facing.
• Get a copy of the written terms of any payment plan.
• Review this manual for more tips on negotiating bills.

• Collectors must follow the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which bans harassment, threats, and misleading tactics.
• Know your rights — request written “validation information” of the debt before agreeing to any payment, as harassment or misleading tactics are illegal.

• If you are sued, do not ignore it. Consult an attorney or legal aid organization, about whether to answer, contest the bill, or explore other options, including bankruptcy.
• If you think a provider didn’t follow the rules for discounts, free care, or debt collection, or you are being unfairly pursued by a debt collector, legal help might be needed. 
• Legal aid organizations provide free legal services related to medical debt for people with low incomes. 

Connecticut Legal Services: https://ctlegal.org/

Go-to resource for low-income Connecticut residents who need free civil legal help and expert legal representation and advocacy.

Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut: https://slsct.org/

Free legal helpline for income-eligible Connecticut residents who need guidance on their rights and options —such as how to dispute a bill, negotiate a payment plan, or challenge an insurance denial.

• Community Health Centers and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) – Use this tool to search by location and find a nearby federally-funded community health center that provides primary medical and dental care to people of all ages, whether or not they have health insurance, with services offered on a sliding fee scale based on ability to pay.
• ArrayRX  – A free Connecticut discount card, available through the Access Health CT website, that helps uninsured or underinsured residents save significantly on prescription drug costs at participating pharmacies statewide. Note: ArrayRX may be used as an alternate discount source for some medications, but it does not replace insurance or prevent Medicare late enrollment penalties.
• Cost Plus Drug Company – A free tool to browse low-cost generic medications and have prescriptions filled and shipped directly to your door at cost — with no hidden fees.
• NeedyMeds.org – Search this database for help paying for medications. Enter the name of the medication you are seeking financial help for, and browse by prescription assistance programs, drug discounts, and low-cost clinics. Each program has its own qualifying criteria, but coupons are largely available for all.
• GoodRX – A free tool that lets you compare prescription drug prices at nearby pharmacies and access coupons that can dramatically lower your out-of-pocket medication costs, even if you have insurance.
• Connecticut State Dental Association Community Dental Clinics – A directory of community dental clinics across Connecticut where residents can find low-cost or sliding-scale dental care close to home.
• Finding Dental Care | National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research – A tool that helps patients who are uninsured, underinsured, or on a tight budget find affordable or free dental care options in their area, including community health centers, dental schools, and government programs.
• Health Care – United Way of Connecticut – 211 and eLibrary – Use this phone number (2-1-1) to get connected to local help with food, utilities, rent, transportation, healthcare, and crisis support.

• Dollar For – A free service to help find out if you qualify for hospital financial assistance (aka hospital charity care) and to assist you with applying if you are likely eligible. 
• Patient Advocate Foundation – A national nonprofit that helps patients navigate insurance denials, access financial assistance, and resolve workplace or coverage issues that arise from a serious diagnosis.
• Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition – A searchable database connecting cancer patients with financial assistance programs that can help cover treatment costs, medications, transportation, and other expenses related to their diagnosis.
• HealthWell Foundation – This nonprofit helps people who qualify pay for insurance costs such as copays, deductibles, or premiums for certain diseases. 
• Debt collection | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – Use this resource to learn your rights when dealing with debt collectors, including how to recognize illegal practices, dispute a debt, and file a complaint.