What happens if you ignore medical bills?

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A trip to the emergency room, an unexpected but necessary surgery or even a routine medical procedure can leave patients with bills they weren't prepared to pay. While many households expect healthcare costs to be expensive, especially after the last several years of rapidly rising costs, the size of the bill that arrives weeks later can still come as a surprise — and can also be difficult to budget for amid today's high living costs, elevated credit card and borrowing rates and other financial obligations.

And, when money is tight, it's easy for medical debt to fall to the bottom of the priority list. After all, missing a payment to a hospital or doctor's office doesn't usually result in the loss of your home or transportation like it would if you missed a car loan or mortgage payment. That can make it tempting to set the medical statement aside with the intention of dealing with it later, particularly if the amount appears to be incorrect or is simply unaffordable for your budget.

But ignoring medical bills doesn't make them disappear. It simply triggers a series of events that can become increasingly difficult and more expensive to resolve over time. Understanding what typically happens when a bill goes unpaid can help you protect both your finances and your relief options, so what exactly happens if you ignore your medical bills? That's what we'll examine.

Exactly what happens if you ignore your medical bills depends on the healthcare provider, the size of the balance and how long the account remains unpaid. In many cases, however, the process follows a predictable path, which includes the following:

It's rare for hospitals, physician groups and other medical providers to immediately send unpaid balances to collections. Rather, they'll typically send several billing statements, reminders and notices over the course of a few weeks or months. During this period, you typically still have opportunities to dispute billing errors, apply for financial assistance, negotiate a lower balance or enroll in an interest-free payment plan. If you ignore these communications, however, you risk losing access to some of these options before the account moves to the next stage.

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If the balance remains unpaid for a prolonged period, your provider may assign or sell the account to a collection agency. Once that happens, you'll likely begin hearing from debt collectors instea