Keratoconus (KC) is a condition that can cause serious financial setbacks. The cost of the numerous doctor visits that are needed can add up to a hefty sum, and the treatments themselves can be extreme financial burdens. While medical insurance can alleviate the burdens patients face, it is not always an option. Luckily, there are other options available that might help you pay for your medical costs for keratoconus.
One such option is GoFundMe. GoFundMe is a crowdfunding website that allows you to create a free fundraiser to help fund your cause of choice. Once you create an online fundraiser, you can share the fundraiser to social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram so your friends and family members can learn about your cause and donate towards your goal. Creating the fundraiser itself is free and takes a matter of minutes. While the platform itself is completely free, it is important to note that there may be payment processing fees that are deducted from the donation total. Every cent towards medical costs counts, and using GoFundMe may greatly help with your expenses!
A second option is to talk to your doctor’s office about a payment plan. More and more doctors’ offices are offering payment plans to patients who cannot pay the full total of a medical bill at once. The payment is broken up into monthly installments that are paid over a set period of time. There are different types of payment plans available, so it is important to talk to the office manager and work out a payment plan that is feasible for you. If possible, ask about a no-interest payment plan so you can avoid increasing your overall costs. Also, be sure to obtain documentation of the terms of the payment plan for your records. Remember, you have the right to negotiate when it comes to payment plans, so don’t be afraid of communicating what will and will not work for you when your individual plan is being formed.
A third option is to talk to your doctor’s office about a prompt pay discount. Some doctors’ offices offer prompt pay discounts to encourage patients to pay for their medical bills fully at once. To reward patients for paying immediately and at once, these doctors’ offices offer a certain percentage off the medical bill. Prompt pay discounts are negotiable, so there is no set percentage a patient can save. One tip is to call other local eye doctors’ offices to see what prompt pay discount rate they offer and use these numbers during your negotiation. If you can afford to pay the discounted medical bill, this might be a great option for you.
Another option worth considering is a health savings account (HSA). An HSA is similar to a savings account, but it can only be used for qualifying medical expenses. A great advantage of an HSA is the fact that contributions are made on a pre-tax basis. Others can also contribute to your account, and there is no tax taken when you withdraw money from the account for qualifying expenses. Additionally, money in an HSA is portable and rolls over year to year if money remains in the account. To qualify for an HSA, you must be enrolled in a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). HDHP’s are not necessarily a good option for everyone, so it is important to assess your individual financial situation to determine if you should enroll in an HDHP.
While paying for KC treatments and doctor visits can be a burden, there are options available that can ease this burden. It is important for you to be aware of all programs available to you that can help with your expenses.
