To locate a reputable company that has been successful negotiating medical bills:

• Ask your local and/or national non-profit disease specific organization.
• Check with members of your support group.
• If you can't find a direct recommendation, you can find a professional through:
  • Medical Billing Advocates of America which has advocates in each state. To locate an advocate in your area, see: http://billadvocates.com/FINDANADVOCATE/tabid/69/Default.aspx . Tel.: 540.387.5870
  • The Alliance of Claims Assistance Professionals: www.claims.org . Tel.: 888.394.5163
  • The internet. Search in your favorite search engine on words such as "professionals to negotiate hospital bills" or "medical bill advocates."

Professionals charge on an hourly basis or a percentage of the amount the professional saves you. The amount depends on the region of the country and the person's experience.

When you locate a professional, at least ask:

• What is the person's experience in the field?
• What sucess has the person had with situations like yours?
• His or her Training?
• Fee structure?
• For references from 3 former clients (and call them!). The only way to know that references are real is to contact them.
• Is a license required in your state? 
  • If so, is the person licensed? 
  • If licensing is required, you can check the person's reputation with your state's licensing bureau.

If any company you contact asks you to give them money to start the arrangement or to cover expenses, consider this a red flag. Move on to another company.

If you find a particularly helpful company, please share the company's name and contact information, as well as the details of what happened. E mail to: Survivorship A to Z

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