What workarounds did people try for "How to handle a surprise medical or dental bill"?

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Community members documented 49 workarounds:
1. Waiting for the actual bill from the office instead of reacting immediately to the insurance EOB
2. Calling the office manager to request balance write-offs or clarification
3. Threatening to contact the state dental board or attorney general office
4. Ignoring initial or secondary billing statements until corrected
5. Calling the hospital to ask for a financial assistance application or charity care
6. Asking for a discount if able to pay the balance in full
7. Requesting an itemized bill to check for billing errors and argue them
8. Sending a check via certified mail directly to the billing address to force the provider to choose between cashing it or returning it
9. Calling the debt collector and offering to settle for a lower percentage (e.g., 50%) of the balance
10. Ignoring the debt collector or demanding they cease all contact
11. Filing a credit dispute if the debt gets reported
12. paying monthly installments to the collection agency
13. disputing with credit bureaus
14. contacting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
15. Ignoring the bill or collections letter
16. Contacting the medical billing office
17. Calling past insurance providers to track down claims history or check numbers
18. Calling the billing department to explain financial hardship and negotiate a lower fee or payment plan
19. Asking the lab to provide proof of authorization for the service
20. Checking direct-to-consumer lab pricing online to use as leverage during negotiations
21. Looking into retroactive Medicaid coverage or student health insurance options
22. Contacting the insurance company
23. Checking past payment history online
24. Reviewing previous insurance claims and billing codes
25. Asking for itemized bills
26. Setting up a payment plan
27. Negotiating the bill down with the hospital's billing department
28. Applying for hospital financial aid or hardship assistance
29. Waiting for other medical claims to process against out-of-pocket maximums
30. Self insurance through diet and exercise
31. Going to non-emergency care when able
32. Calling the hospital to request an itemized list of charges
33. Comparing the hospital bill against the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from the insurance company to check for errors or balance billing
34. Setting up a long-term payment plan with the hospital
35. sending the bill through insurance first
36. disputing the bill and asking for a discount
37. telling the service provider you are paying cash for a reduced rate
38. Calling the billing or financial department prior to the appointment to clarify
39. Speaking with management if billed or asked for a copay
40. Getting confirmation in writing that repeat imaging will not be billed
41. Relying on insurance negotiated rates to reduce the actual out-of-pocket cost
42. Treating the initial sticker price as a fake number meant for the insurance company
43. Call the hospital billing department to negotiate a monthly payment plan
44. Go to an urgent care clinic instead of the ER for future non-life-threatening issues
45. Use personal savings to pay off the balance
46. Set up a monthly payment plan directly with the hospital.
47. Apply for hospital financial aid/charity care to reduce the bill balance.
48. Pay out-of-pocket, save the medical receipts, and let funds in the HSA stay invested for delayed reimbursement in retirement.
49. Pay the bill with a rewards credit card and reimburse out of the HSA to collect credit card points.

How to handle a surprise medical or dental bill

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