There are times when health insurance only goes so far. If you have a high deductible plan, you may find that you still have to pay a large amount towards the medical treatment out of your own pocket, in the case of expensive treatment, this could involve hundreds or thousands of dollars. In other cases, your insurance may not cover certain forms of treatment. In either case, you need to look into other ways of making treatments affordable. Below are five different options to consider.

Shop around for treatment

The cost of individual treatment can vary depending on the practice or even the doctor that you use. Take the time to shop around for treatment pricing. You may be able to get help from an advocate if your income is low. Some people go as far as traveling abroad for treatment. Some hospitals abroad can be a lot cheaper and may deliver the same quality of treatment.

Negotiate prices and payment options

Many clinics are open to negotiation when it comes to the cost of treatment. There may be the option of paying for treatment in installments and if you pay early, you may even be able to get a discount. In other cases, you may be able to customize your treatment plan so that certain procedures are skipped (such as certain scans). Just be wary that this could impact the quality of care than you receive.

Seek any legal compensation you deserve

You may be eligible for legal compensation if you were injured or made sick as a direct result of someone else’s negligence. A personal injury attorney should be able to help you win this compensation. This money could then be used to fund your treatment.

Consider crowdfunding your treatment

An option that is now popular is crowdfunding. This involves asking people to make a charitable donation to put towards your treatment. Many friends and family will be more than willing to donate to your cause to help you get the treatment you deserve. By promoting your crowdfunding campaign in the right places, you may even find that strangers donate money. Crowdfunding is an easy way of reaching out for help and there are plenty of online crowdfunding platforms that you can use.

Take out a medical loan

Borrowing money for treatment isn’t ideal, but it is an option worth considering if all other forms of funding aren’t possible. There are specialist loans and easy to get credit cards, like Care Credit out there for medical purposes that have zero interest. These are your best option when taking out a loan to fund your treatment. Just make sure to read into the terms and conditions, some loans may only have a no interest period for a year and others may have heavy penalties if you miss a payment. By shopping around, you can find the best loan options for your needs.