For Love and Money  By Carmen Wong Ulrich  By Philip
Friedman/Studio D   Special Offers  Q: We have huge medical
bills from a car accident, and I'm worried sick about how to pay
them. My husband says we just have to "ride it out." Advice,
please!  Medical debt is a major problem, and you are far from
alone. You and your husband need to know these two rules when it
comes to medical costs. First, never charge your medical bills
and/or hospital costs to a credit card; just tell the provider,
"Send me a bill." Here's why: Once what you owe is charged to a
credit card, you've lost your most powerful asset — the ability
to negotiate. Which brings us to rule number two: Hospital and
medical bills can be negotiated down. If you are uninsured,
first call the hospital or care provider to ask what uninsured
discount is being offered, and have that applied to the bill
(typically it would be 35% to 40%). If you are insured but are
using an out-of-network provider, say, "I'm requesting that you
take 40% off my bill to brin