Whether you’ve had a minor health setback or a major health crisis, you still might be facing more medical debt than you’re prepared to handle.

Medical care is one of the biggest expenses people will face during their lifetime. The skyrocketing costs of medical care show no signs of stopping.

That leaves many of us vulnerable to finding ourselves in this situation. So what can you do when your medical bills are stacking up, and you can’t pay them all?

Don’t Ignore Them

It can be tempting to stick your head in the sand, but that’s the wrong approach to take. You have to face your situation head-on if you want to have any prayer of coming out unscathed.

So grab all your medical bills that arrive at your house and put them in a folder or a bigger envelope so they’re all grouped for easy access. It may help you to put them in order from the lowest amount owed to the highest amount owed.

If there are any lower amounts you can pay off with the money you have saved at that point, you should do that.

Examine the Bills

Being asked to look over medical bills can be like being asked to take a test in Spanish when you’ve never had a single lesson. It’s hard to crack the codes on some of these medical bills in order for you to determine if you’re being overcharged.

But look over the list and do your best anyway. You might find some errors that will cut down your bill some.

Do Some Bargaining

Try to bargain with your debtors to see if you can knock some money off of the bills you have been given. That may be easier if you don’t have insurance. If you have insurance, chances are your bills have already been lowered somewhat because insurance companies often get a discounted amount from medical providers.

Set Up a Payment Plan

If you know you aren’t going to be able to afford to pay a bill in full, call the billing department and ask to set up a payment plan as soon as possible. It’s in their best interest to do so, especially if you make it clear you won’t be able to pay the bill if you don’t get a payment plan.

Let them know how much wiggle room you have in your budget and what you can afford to send every month until the debt is clear.

Check on Assistance Programs

Some hospitals or doctor offices have programs in place to help the most economically challenged of their patients. If you are in the poverty level, you might have an easier time getting assistance. You can also take a stab at contacting national charities that may be able to help you.

Do Your Best

Once you commit to sending a certain amount of money to a doctor or hospital to clear up your debt, do your best to meet your obligations. It’s not fun to pay off medical debt, but you received the care so it’s only right you do the best you can.