If you dont pay your dental bill, your dentist will make multiple attempts to contact you before you get sent to a loan collection agency. In the dental industry, that process is known as being “sent to collections. “.
There are consequences of having dental and medical debt in collections. They are often undesirable and come with a slew of headaches that you wouldnt want. We will explain why it is preferable to not have to go through the dental debt collections process.
Going to the dentist can be an expensive endeavor, especially if you don’t have dental insurance or your insurance doesn’t cover all the costs. When the bill comes due, you may find yourself wondering what happens if you can’t pay your dental bill. Unfortunately, failing to pay a dental bill can have serious financial and health consequences. In this article, we’ll walk through the typical process of what occurs when a dental bill goes unpaid and provide tips on how to avoid or resolve the situation.
Attempts to Collect Payment
If you fail to pay your dental bill, the first thing your dentist’s office will do is attempt to contact you to collect payment. Expect to receive phone calls emails letters, or text messages requesting payment. The number of contacts and time period this occurs over varies by dental office, but most will make multiple attempts over 30-90 days before escalating collection efforts. During this time, it’s best to communicate with your dentist’s office if you need to work out a payment plan or financial assistance. Ignoring their requests will only lead to the next steps.
Refusal of Further Treatment
If you have an outstanding balance, your dentist may refuse to provide further treatment until it’s paid off This can be especially problematic if you’re in the middle of a multi-visit procedure like a root canal, dental implants, or oral surgery. You may be left with temporary restorations or an incomplete procedure, which can lead to additional dental problems if left unfinished. To avoid interruption of care, it’s critical to address unpaid bills promptly.
Referral to Collections Agency
If initial collection efforts fail, your dental office will likely refer your account to a third-party collections agency. This means your debt has been essentially sold to the agency and your dentist’s office no longer owns it. At this point, you’ll need to deal directly with the agency if you want to resolve the debt. A collections account on your record can lower your credit score and hurt your chances of getting approved for loans, credit cards, apartments, and other services where your credit is checked.
Impact on Credit Score
Medical debt of $500 or more, including dental bills, can show up on your credit report with all three major credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. The unpaid debt will lower your credit score as long as it remains on your report. A lower score makes it harder to get approved for financing and credit products. Even after the collections account is paid off, it can stay on your report for up to seven years, affecting your credit long-term.
Continued Collection Efforts
Once your dental bill goes to collections, the agency will persistently try to get you to pay through phone calls, letters, emails, and sometimes even home visits. Collection agencies are notorious for being very aggressive with seeking payment. Having debt in collections is stressful and inconvenient to deal with. It’s better to avoid it if possible.
Legal Action
For very large, unpaid dental bills in the thousands of dollars, collection agencies may sue dental patients in court to seek a legal judgment mandating payment. If the court rules in favor of the agency, your wages could be garnished or assets seized to pay off the debt. Getting sued is the worst-case scenario and most agencies won’t go this far for smaller dental debts. Still, it’s a possibility with large, unresolved bills.
Tips for Avoiding and Resolving Unpaid Dental Bills
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Discuss payment expectations upfront before treatment. Get cost estimates and ask about financing.
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Maximize dental insurance coverage if possible. Compare plans to reduce out-of-pocket costs.
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Ask about payment plans or discounts for paying cash upfront if you lack insurance. Most dentists offer these.
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Apply for medical credit cards, personal loans, or financial assistance to help cover costs.
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Communicate with your dentist’s billing staff if you anticipate issues paying a bill on time. See if alternate arrangements can be made.
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If sent to collections, negotiate a payoff amount and settlement plan with the agency to resolve the debt. Get agreements in writing.
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Prioritize paying off the collections account quickly to minimize damage to your credit.
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Consult credit experts on options to remove paid medical collections from your credit report early.
Unpaid dental bills can wreak havoc on your finances and health if left unaddressed. It’s always better to be proactive by reviewing payment options with your dentist upfront and promptly communicating any issues paying after treatment. If you do end up with a bill sent to collections, act quickly to negotiate payment so you can resolve the credit damage. With diligent monitoring and responsive action on medical debt, you can avoid having a dental expense turn into a long-term financial burden.
What happens when dental bills go to collections
When your dentist sends your overdue account to collections, theyve essentially sold your debt to the collection agency.
When your dentist sends your overdue account to collections, theyve essentially sold the debt to the collection agency.
- You are no longer dealing with your dentist. What if you pay the bill or talk things over with your dentist? They won’t be able to help you because they no longer have the debt. If you have any questions, you need to get in touch with the loan collection agency. They might not be as nice or pleasant as your dentist.
- You may have a blemish on your credit score. Dental debt collections may show up on your credit report if you owe a lot of money. Because if it does, your credit score will go down quickly.
- Undesired contacts. Some loan collection agencies might be too pushy for some people. You’ll get calls and letters from them all the time to remind you that you owe money. They will do anything to get you to pay that bill.
If all of that sounds unpleasant to you, perhaps it may be a good idea to settle your debt.
What if I’m in the middle of treatment?
If you dont pay, your dentist can refuse to continue treatment. That would not be good if you were in the middle of a multi-step procedure such as crowns, veneers, or root canals.
Youll be left in a temporary state which can get infected if you dont complete treatment for an extended period of time.
What Happens If You Don’t Pay Medical Bills?
FAQ
What happens if I leave the dentist without paying?
If you don’t pay the dental bill, your bill will go into collections and the creditors will make attempts to collect payment. Refusal could result in ruining your credit–and you don’t want that!.
Can a dentist send you to collections?
If you don’t pay your dentist bill, they will try to get in touch with you several times before sending you to a loan collection agency. In the dental industry, that process is known as being “sent to collections. ” There are consequences of having dental and medical debt in collections.
How would you deal with a patient with a dental need that is unable to pay?
Offer Financing for Affordable Payment Plans Offering financing schedules allows such patients to make partial payments over time on a schedule that works for them. Financing improves collection rates, patient satisfaction, scheduling, and revenue streams.
Is a dental bill considered a medical debt?
Introduction. Medical debt, or personal debt incurred from unpaid medical bills, is a leading cause of bankruptcy in the United States. As many as 40 percent of U. S. adults, or about 100 million people, are currently in debt because of medical or dental bills.
What happens if I don’t pay my dental Bill?
If you don’t pay your dentist bill, they will try to get in touch with you several times before sending you to a loan collection agency. In the dental industry, that process is known as being “sent to collections. ” There are consequences of having dental and medical debt in collections.
Do you need a dentist if you don’t pay your dental Bill?
Roughly 99. 99% of them require in-person intervention by a healthcare professional. Hint: That is the reason why you can’t eliminate seeing dentists in your life! If you do not pay your dental bill, your dentist will make multiple attempts at contacting you before the debt gets sent to loan collector.
Should I pay off my dental bill while my Dentist is contacting me?
Our recommendation is to pay off your dental bill while your dentist is still contacting you. If you’re able to do so, it’ll stop your account from going into collections. This will help keep your credit score high so in case you were about to apply for a mortgage, you will not be hampered.
What happens if a medical bill is not paid?
A debt collection agency can be given a medical bill that hasn’t been paid after a certain amount of time. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says that debt collectors can call you to try to get the money they’re owed on a medical bill as long as it’s yours, is correct, and you owe it.
How does my dentist contact me if I have an unpaid dental Bill?
If you have an unpaid dental bill, your dentist will make multiple attempts to contact you through various means in order to get you to pay your bill. How your dentist may contact you: Phone call – They will call you. Email – They’ll attach your invoice to an email. Paper mail – Some offices still use USPS snail mail.
What if I owe my dentist money?
If you owe your dentist money for treatment that you’ve received, you should strive to pay what you owe. If you don’t, your dentist will make a couple of attempts at contacting you to get the bill paid before they give your account over to collections. It is certainly much more preferable to deal with your dentist than a debt collection agency.
