How do you decide whether to get your hands dirty, call about to hire a pro, or swipe your card at the neighborhood appliance store when your washing machine breaks? According to recent surveys in which we gathered information on 103,633 washers purchased between 2011 and 2021, 21% of CR members had to make this choice.

Washing machines are sophisticated equipment that function on water, pumps, hoses, drains, drums, switches, sensors, control panels, and filters—integrated pieces that operate beyond the range of most users. Determining the root of a problem can be challenging. So it might be advisable to call the proverbial Maytag Man, a licensed professional. How do you choose, though?

From a monetary standpoint, choosing between repairing and replacing an old equipment is very simple. But what if your washer is in the middle, say, between 4 and 7 years old? It can be challenging to choose between spending money to repair a middle-aged washer and simply cutting your losses and purchasing a new one given that a washer's lifespan is close to ten years.

If you know information about your washer's age, original price, and repair cost, please enter it below. Based on expected repair expenses, the cost of the washer at the time of purchase, and its current worth after years of ownership, the meter to the right will direct you toward your most cost-effective choice.

Should You Replace Your Washing Machine?

 

Front-LoadTop-Load AgitatorTop-Load HE

 

Repair Cost
$200

 

Replace

 

 

Consider Repair

 

 

Repair

 

owned 2 years

 

original cost $800

 

repair cost $200
median repair cost: $192

Take it as a launching point to help you get through the stressful situation where your washer breaks down and you have a pile of dirty clothing. Then continue reading for more information to assist you make your decision: Should I fix it or scrap it?

Factors to Consider

If you bought your washer for $650 seven years ago and you use it seven times a week (which causes a lot of wear and tear), buying a new washer makes sense. However, if the machine is three years old and cost $1,200 to purchase, a repair might be a wiser financial decision.

If you do decide to get rid of your old washer, think about the effects on the environment. Ask the retailer that sold you the new washer if they will recycle the old one before they carry it away. Find out if your neighborhood recycling center or garbage hauler accepts appliances. Or use the search feature on Earth 911 to find a recycling facility close by. When ordering a new washer, you can do your part (and save money) by investing in an eco-friendly Green Choice washer.

According to the Department of Energy, modern machines are overall more energy-efficient and kind to clothing than ever before. They also consume 70% less energy than they did in 1990. And the most water-efficient washers in our ratings use 10 gallons of water on average, which is 75% less than earlier machines. Some are greener than others, though.

Typical Washer Issues

According to our survey, non-spinning drums accounted for 13% of washing machine repairs, while water drainage problems accounted for 14% of them. Here are a few of the most often reported washing machine repair difficulties.

• The control panel doesn’t work.
• Water isn’t draining.
• The washer is vibrating excessively.
• Water leaks.
• The drum doesn’t spin properly.
• The drain pump is clogged.
• There’s odor, mold, or mildew.

Your Manufacturer’s Warranty

While Speed Queen offers warranties up to seven years on some models, the majority of washer warranties are for a year. According to our poll, most consumers don't give this much consideration, but the moment your washer breaks down, the issue of coverage becomes crucial.

• Here are some steps you may take to figure out whether your issue is covered by warranty or if you need contact the manufacturer for a repair.
• Find out what is covered by your manufacturer's warranty, as well as any conditions that can exclude you from coverage. Check the small print.
• To learn if your problem is related to a recall or a recurring issue that implies the business should replace a part or the washer itself, check the brand website and online forums.
• If the issue can be resolved with a quick fix like changing a knob, cleaning a filter, or rebalancing the wash load inside the machine, check the owner's manual and online resources.

Research Before You Call a Repair Tech

YouTube is a well-liked resource for finding solutions to appliance problems or simply to see whether others are having the same problems. Additionally, you can search Yelp and Google for washer and repair reviews. But it takes time and good judgment to sift through a flood of comments, hacks, and haphazard advise, so proceed with caution. You're usually better off getting a professional fix from a more dependable source if you don't already have some appliance repair experience.

You can also use brand websites and product manuals to resolve your washer's issues. Even some gadgets come with built-in self-diagnosing mechanisms. If it doesn't work, try contacting the company's customer support line or utilizing their online chat option. However, be aware that some manufacturers only provide automated internet responses, while others only send technicians. That entails an expensive house call, as you are aware.

If you hire a pro, be prepared to pay some money up front before getting a repair estimate. There isn't much you can do about this unless you're handy or have a friend who works in appliance repair. Once you've paid the service cost, it might be difficult to reject the quote—unless it's absurdly expensive given the worth of the washer itself.

“The service charge is going to be at least $100 to $150,” says Dean Landers, president of Baltimore-based Landers Appliance, a certified washing machine service center. “Some may say no to a service charge, but they’ll cover their costs by increasing the labor. Others separate the two for transparency.”

According to our poll, the average cost for out-of-pocket washer repairs was $179. Based on the equipment type, different median repair prices exist (not counting the service quote fee).

• Top-Load Agitator Washers: $138
• Top-Load HE Washers: $173
• Front-Load Washers: $197

If You Decide to Repair Your Washer

In total, 67 percent of CR members who were polled tried to fix their broken washers. Only roughly 33 percent of these repairs were done by the owners themselves, with the remaining two-thirds being handled by repair experts. Except in cases where the problem is minimal and you are quite handy, CR does not advise fixing a washing machine. The machines of today are intricate. That's one thing if you're changing a button or clearing a filter. Bringing a motor up to manufacturer standards is still another. You might also discover that you lack access to the specialist components and equipment that are usually only available to authorized wholesalers.

“It really depends on the person’s skill level,” says Rich Handel, CR’s laundry expert. “If you need to replace the drum bearing for a front-load washer, it’s complicated. You basically need to take the whole thing apart to get to it.”

Who Do You Call for Washer Repair?

Among those who relied on professional repairers:

• An independent repair shop completed 53 percent of CR members’ repairs.
• The retailer who sold them the washer performed 25 percent of them.
• The manufacturer was selected for 22 percent of professionally performed repairs.

“We examined repair outcomes by the type of repair professional hired,” says David Gopoian, CR’s research program leader. “Consumers who reach out to independent repair shops are typically more satisfied with their repair results than those who have their repairs handled by retailers or manufacturers.”

Our member poll found that 91 percent of professional repairs were successful, while 19 percent of those calls for additional repairs need additional visits. A manufacturer's warranty or an extended warranty provided at least partial coverage for 56% of washer repairs. Eighty percent of washer repairs that were not covered by warranties were done by independent businesses.

The median repair cost for certain washer faults is not yet known due to limited survey data, however it is $195 on average. The average cost to fix a malfunctioning control panel is $173.

You can choose to have your washing machine replaced if you ultimately determine that a repair is not worthwhile.

Here is a closer look at the information that drives our tool above, something to think about when you shop.

Repair or Replace: Washing Machines

 

Front-LoadTop-Load AgitatorTop-Load HE

 

 

YEARS OF OWNERSHIP

 

COST

 

1

 

2

 

3

 

4

 

5

 

6

 

7

 

8

 

9

 

10

 

Less than $900

 

Repair

 

Consider Repair

 

Replace

 

$900 to $1,099

 

Repair

 

Consider Repair

 

Replace

 

$1,100 or more

 

Repair

 

Consider Repair

 

Replace

 

Most appliances are covered under warranty in their first year.

Equipment sanitization is a crucial aspect of a food facility's everyday operations. Typically, multipurpose utensils, surfaces that come into touch with food, wiping cloths, and other things used in food preparation are treated with chlorine or quaternary ammonia to kill microorganisms. Sanitizing chemicals only function properly when they are applied, which is why test strips for sanitizer are required in food facilities. Three bay sinks, low-temperature dishwashers, and buckets used to store cleaning cloths should all employ test strips. Depending on the sanitizer being used, a certain test strip is required:

• Chlorine Test Strips. Bleach tests are done using chlorine test strips. In low-temperature dishwashers, they are also used to assess the chlorine levels. Look for strips that indicate a free accessible chlorine level of between 0-200 ppm. Verify the test kit is for sanitizing products and not for drinking water or swimming pools.
• QT-10 Test Strips. For quaternary ammonia, such as the blue tablets sometimes seen in a bar's three-bay sink, QT-10 Test Strips are employed. Additionally, they are employed with liquid quaternary ammonia, which just has one "quat" specified in the ingredient list.
• QT-40 Test Strips. Multi-quat sanitizers are tested using QT-40 test strips. The ingredients for these sanitizers typically list four compounds.

The Chester County Health Department Food Code Regulations stipulate that test strips be used. If the amount of sanitizer per water is known to create a certain concentration, it may seem overkill to check sanitizer every day. However, this practice is crucial for a number of reasons:

• Chemicals can degrade, particularly if a lot of sanitizer is kept on hand. Keeping sanitizers in a warm or hot atmosphere might also cause them to degrade. The sanitizer won't be as effective as when it was first bought if the chemicals decay.
• The right quantity of sanitizer needs to be present in containers used to store wet wipes. The active ingredient will be consumed by food particles that enter the sanitizer from the cloth. The containers must therefore be replaced numerous times each day as a result. 200 ppm of quaternary ammonia or 50–100 ppm of chlorine must be preserved.
• Dishwashers that employ sanitizer (often chlorine) may appear to be functioning, but if they are not actually disinfecting the equipment by supplying any free chlorine, they are not. A dishwasher that was functional yesterday might have reached the end of its useful life due to hose air or another mechanical issue. To guarantee that the sanitizer is still active and reaching the equipment surface, the unit must be primed, operated a few times, and checked if the sanitizer container has been changed. Every time the sanitizing agent is renewed or replaced, as well as at least once each day, dishwashers need to be checked.

Your sanitizing solution is a crucial barrier against food-borne illnesses. Correctly using test strips helps keep customers from getting sick, which in turn helps keep the reputation of the food establishment safe.

Mums in fall container gardens last how long? Many individuals consider this when preparing their outdoor fall display. It makes sense to want your potted mums' vibrant blossoms to survive as long as possible after spending a ton of effort and money planting them. Once you are aware of the average duration of a mum's bloom in your area, you can make plans for your hardiness zone and purchase your potted plants at the ideal time of year to maximize their bloom period. The main determinants of how long mums last are listed here, along with five advice for caring for potted mums so they continue to blossom.

How Long Mums Last

Mums are readily available for purchase far before the true fall season, but they enjoy cooler weather. The flowers on your mums will fade if you plant them when the weather is still warm in a few of weeks. You may extend the life of your mums and enjoy their lovely blossoms for up to eight weeks before the first frost by waiting to purchase them when the weather is cooler.

How to Take Care of Mums in Pots

Using the advice on this list will help your potted mums endure as long as possible.

1. Pick the Best Mums

Selecting the best chrysanthemums for your fall pots is the first step toward success. Although nearly every supermarket and big box retailer will sell mothers in the fall, it pays to choose wisely. These plants frequently receive insufficient or excessive water, which stresses them out and lowers their performance for you.

To get the finest selection, find out when a store is receiving a fresh shipment and head there as soon as possible that day. Visit a local nursery or garden center instead, where there will likely be a wider selection and typically healthier, better-maintained plants. Avoid purchasing a wilted mum wherever you buy them, and search for plants that have more buds than open flowers; you'll receive more bloom time from them, and these plants are probably more likely to survive repotting.

2. Consider the Different Mums

Check the plant's label to see what kind of mum it is and when it blooms to learn more about it. Both garden mums and flower mums may be offered for fall decorating.

Florist Mums : If you want to beautify your front porch for a few weeks before the first frost. These lovely annuals are used as temporary bedding plants, but no matter how well you protect your plants from the cold, don't count on them to survive the winter outside. Few underground runners, which are necessary for survival in cold climates, are produced by florist mums. This mother plant will not survive if the blossoms fade or if it begins to freeze.

Garden Mums : Choose to plant a garden mother if you want a perennial that will last longer (also known as hardy mums). These perennials make great container plants and are more resistant to a light fall frost than florist varieties. Planting these mums in the spring after the last date of frost in your area will increase their chances of surviving the winter and flowering again the following year. This will give them time to build roots in the garden.

3. Repot Immediately

When you obtain a potted mum plant ($27; Walmart), always repot it. The majority of the pot is typically taken up by the roots when they are root-bound. Mums should be replanted in a larger container than they originally were so that the roots have space to spread out and breathe. Before repotting, gently untangle tangled roots to encourage them to grow outward once more.

Use potting mix in your container because mums thrive in well-drained soil. Mums can be mixed with other plants in a big container if you are growing them in pots for just one season. Plant your potted mums by themselves in a container that can be moved easily indoors when the temps drop if you wish to try overwintering them.

4. Provide Enough Sunlight for Potted Mums

Mums require six hours or more of sunlight each day. If you reside in a warmer gardening zone, plant your potted mums in a spot that receives some shade to prevent sunburn. Protect your plants from the harsh afternoon sun if your daytime temps are still in the 80s and above to let the flowers survive longer.

5. The Water Potted Mum's Well

Chrysanthemums need water to survive, so water your plants anytime the soil seems dry. Never allow your mums in pots to wilt. Water more frequently if you see that the bottom leaves appear limp or are beginning to turn brown. To prevent plant diseases, avoid splashing water on the foliage when watering your mums.

After Blooming, What to Do With Potted Mums?

Give the mums you intend to overwinter a small amount of liquid fertilizer that is rich in phosphorus before it gets too cold to encourage root growth. After that, bring your plants inside or into an unheated garage once the first hard frost appears. Leave branches uncut; mums have a better chance of surviving if you wait until spring to clip old stems. If you want to tidy up the plant, pinch off dead blossoms.

Add up to 4 inches of mulch or straw on top of the soil, covering the entire plant and evenly distributing it amongst the branches. Then wrap an old sheet or burlap around the pot. Remove mulch to allow new shoots to emerge as soon as the weather warms up again in the spring, and then bring your pots outside into the sunlight.

The money tree, or Pachira Aquatica, is a well-liked indoor plant. They are frequently offered for sale as multiple plants braided together in a single pot. On a stem, there are five or six leaves. People purchase indoor plants because of their lovely leaves, which brings a touch of nature within. I'll discuss some of the most typical Money Tree leaf issues in this piece, along with solutions.

Issues with Money Tree Leaves

Watering Problems

Money tree watering problems can take many different forms. The leaves could start to turn brown or yellow. The leaves can start to droop. Are the leaves on Money Trees drying out? Or perhaps the leaves on your money tree are falling. All of these could be symptoms of over or underwatering.

I'll talk about overwatering first. All of the symptoms mentioned above can be caused by an overwatered money tree. However, it's doubtful that the leaves will dry out before you notice any yellowing or drooping, if that makes sense. How can you determine if your money tree has received too much water? You can test the soil's moisture by inserting your finger into it. Do your pot's drainage holes allow extra water to drain away? To inspect the soil and roots, you can also carefully pull your plant out of its container. This is how you can actually determine how much harm an overwatered plant has caused. You'll need to root prune, repot, and cross your fingers if the roots have started to rot, which is indicated by black, mushy roots. On saving an overwatered plant, I have an entire post.

All of the leaf difficulties I listed before can easily be seen as an underwater Money Tree. How useful, huh? I'll work harder to assist. You should examine your soil's wetness, same as described above. If you want to be more accurate, use a soil moisture meter in addition to your finger. It ought to be a part of your normal watering schedule. Before watering, check the moisture in the soil; this will help you avoid overwatering and will also give you a better understanding of how quickly your plant is drying up, helping you avoid underwatering.

Nutrient Problems

Your Money Tree leaves may also have problems due to fertilizing issues. Yellowing or even malformed leaves are some outward indications that your Money Tree may be experiencing fertilization problems. Below is an illustration of a malformed Money Tree leaf; notice how the leaf's tip doesn't look well at the top of the image. Issues might arise from both over- and under-fertilizing.

Different ratios of the macronutrients nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium are present in the majority of plant fertilizers. Whereas nitrogen primarily encourages leaf growth, potassium is for general health while phosphorus encourages root growth and budding/fruiting. If you're having problems with your leaves, you can be either nitrogen-deficient or nitrogen-rich. You may need varied fertilizer ratios to resolve your problem, depending on its severity and the nature of your problem. They produce balanced fertilizers, low nitrogen fertilizers, and fertilizers with high nitrogen content.

It is challenging to determine whether you have been fertilizing too much or too little. Depending on if you have been strictly according to the fertilizer recommendations, you may proceed. Instructions for dilution, dose, and fertilization frequency should be quite detailed. But testing your soil is the only reliable way to find out. For that, these soil rapitests are useful. They are reasonably priced and provide you with a clear explanation of your soil's nutrient levels.

Pest Problems

Your Money Tree leaves could have some challenges due to pest concerns. Pest damage will manifest as leaf discoloration, which normally yellows but is more splotchy. Pests typically eat plant material, so you might see little patches of yellow spots. You might also notice leaves drooping or even tiny holes in foliage if pests are nibbling on your money tree. The presence of actual bugs or minute webs indicates the presence of pests.

Your indoor Money Tree may be attacked by a variety of pests. Pests including aphids, spider mites, scale, and mealybugs are the most prevalent. Look for mealybugs, scale, and aphids under your leaves. Spider mites frequently gather around the petiole, leaf tip, and underside of the leaves where they spin tiny webs.

Move your plant away from other plants as quickly as you can if you see or suspect that you have bugs. Pests are proficient plant-hoppers. Next, try your best to get rid of any pests that you can see. You can try spraying your plant with a hose outside or in the shower to get rid of aphids and spider mites. Just be careful not to wet the soil so thoroughly that you wind up overwatering it. Scale and mealybug removal requires more human labor, and most individuals use alcohol and a cotton swab to accomplish this. The next step is to apply a pest control method to your plant. Both non-organic remedies like insecticidal soap and organic ones like neem oil are effective. The trick is to follow the directions, which could seem excessive, but because of the lifespan of these kinds of pests, it's crucial to treat your plant for weeks.

What Takes Place After You Fix the Issue

Money trees are wonderful because they are tough, sturdy plants. This page will assist you in resolving any Money Tree leaf issues you may be having. Your money tree will eventually recover and become lovely and bushy. And don't be afraid to cut away the problematic sections if your money tree is beginning to appear a little scraggly as a result of the issues. I have a detailed instruction manual from the last time I pruned my Money Tree severely.

The kind of slideshow you're making in Microsoft PowerPoint may or may not benefit from the use of music. You can wish to use a lively exuberant music on a slide or a delicate, understated melody all through the presentation.

We'll go over a few alternative methods for adding music to PowerPoint before demonstrating how to use a single song on a slide or play background music continuously.

Upload a song from your computer

Uploading a song from your PC is most likely the simplest approach to include music in your presentation. This song may be one from your playlist or one you've saved and frequently listen to.

Step 1: Open your PowerPoint presentation and select a slide to add the music.

Step 2: Go to the Insert tab and choose the drop-down arrow for Audio on the right side of the ribbon.

Step 3: Pick Audio on my PC, browse for the music file, and select Insert.

Step 4: You’ll then see an audio icon on your slide for the song.

Step 5: Use the Play button to listen and the Playback tab to adjust the playback options.

Download free music

Perhaps you already know the kind of song you desire, but your computer doesn't contain a copy of it. There are a few web sources where you may get free tracks with no royalties for presentations.

Fesliyan Studios Inc.: Choose a genre at the top such as commercial, happy, sad, or relaxing. Press the Play button to listen, then check out alternate versions where available. Choose Download to get the song.

Chosic: You’ll see a slew of songs for presentations from upbeat to soft. When you hear the song you want, select Download > Free Download.

SoundCloud: If you’re already a SoundCloud listener, this is a good option for presentation music. Type “free downloads” or similar into the search box and review the results. When you find the song you want, select More or the three dots to download the tune.

There are a few ways to download MP3s from YouTube if you can also discover free music there.

Once you've downloaded a music from this list, store it to your device and then upload it to the slideshow as previously mentioned.

Record music while creating the slideshow

You can record a song right in PowerPoint if you're fortunate enough to be musically talented. Make your own presentation music by warming up your voice chords or picking up a guitar.

Step 1: Open your PowerPoint presentation and select a slide to record the music.

Step 2: Go to the Insert tab and choose the drop-down arrow for Audio on the right side of the ribbon.

Step 3: Pick Record audio. Note: You must have either a built-in or external microphone for your computer.

Step 4: When the Record Sound box appears, select the red, round Record button to start recording.

Step 5: Press the square Stop button when you finish. To listen to the recording, press the green Play button.

Step 6: When you finish, select OK to insert it onto the slide.

Step 7: You’ll then see the audio icon just like with an inserted audio file. Press the Play button to hear the recording.

Add an offscreen video

Sometimes a video is associated with the perfect song for the circumstance. There is a workaround to include that song in your show even though you can't currently just play the audio and you definitely don't want the video as part of your presentation.

Step 1: Open your PowerPoint presentation and select a slide to add the video.

Step 2: Go to the Insert tab and choose the drop-down arrow for Video on the right side of the ribbon.

Step 3: Pick This Device, Stock Videos, or Online Videos and follow the prompts to insert the video.

Step 4: When the video appears on the slide, drag a corner or edge to make it smaller and then drag it off of the slide to one of the sides.

With this, you can play the video to hear the audio only—you won't be able to view it in your slideshow.

Step 5: Select the video and use the Playback tab to adjust the options for playing it when clicking the slide or automatically.

Play the song or use as background music

Once you've added the music to PowerPoint, you can decide whether it should play continuously during the presentation or only on one slide.

Step 1: Go to the slide containing the music and select it.

Note: Depending on your preference, you'll probably want the file on the first or second slide if you want the music to play continuously throughout the slideshow.

Step 2: Head to the Playback tab and choose to play the song with the slide or as background music.

Step 3: To play the song only on that slide, choose the Start drop-down box in the Audio options section of the ribbon and pick how you want the music to begin. You can select In click sequence, Automatically, or When clicked on. When you advance to the next slide, the song stops playing.

Step 4: To play the song throughout the presentation, select Play in background in the Audio styles section. This automatically checks the boxes for Play across slides and Loop until stopped. You can also choose an option in the Start drop-down box for how to begin playing the song.

Remember that the method mentioned before, which uses video files, does not apply here; only audio files do.

Step 5: Adjust any other options on the Playback tab per your preference. You can increase or decrease the volume, rewind the song after it plays, or add a fade in or out effect.

After you've included the music, don't forget to practice your presentation to make sure it sounds the way you want it to. You can also think about including closed captions for hard of hearing people.

Consumers who are faced with medical bills that their insurance doesn't cover can get financing through Synchrony's CareCredit Card. Americans struggle a lot with medical debt; in June 2020, 17.8% of Americans had medical debt that was in collections, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Although more than 225,000 providers accept the CareCredit Card, it is not a general-purpose card that you would use for non-medical transactions.

Five things concerning the CareCredit Card are listed below.

1. You can only use it for specific medical purchases.

At healthcare and wellness organizations that have signed up with CareCredit, you can use the CareCredit Card. The CareCredit Card is accepted by a wide range of healthcare professionals and establishments, although your preferred doctor might not. You can look for local doctors who accept the CareCredit Card if you're expecting a medical bill that you'd like to finance.

The following list of enrolled providers is not exhaustive:

• Specialists in medicine, dentistry, optometry, dermatology, and cosmetic surgery.
• Hospitals, operating rooms, imaging centers, and lab work.
• Pharmacies, medical equipment, and supplies.
• Spa treatments and fitness equipment.
• Routine and emergency veterinary care.

2. It's a card with delayed interest.

There is a catch with no-interest promotional periods offered by deferred interest cards like the CareCredit Card. You will be responsible for paying interest on the whole amount of the original loan, not just the outstanding balance, if the balance is not paid in full by the end of the promotional period.

These short-term financing options are available with the CareCredit Card: no interest for 6, 12, 18 or 24 months on purchases of $200 or more. A staggering 26.99% annual percentage rate (at of this writing) will be charged on every dollar you initially funded if you don't pay the loan back in full.

3. It may also be a low-interest credit card.

You can choose longer-term financing with a reduced interest rate for higher medical bills instead of a 0% introductory APR promotion. Purchases of $1,000 or more as of this writing are eligible for:

• APR of 14.9% for 24 months.
• APR of 15.9% for 36 months.
• APR of 16.9% for 48 months.

A 60-month loan at 17.9% may be available for purchases costing $2,500 or more. Until your balance is paid in full, you must make fixed monthly payments for each of these financing choices.

4. Upon approval, your account is immediately accessible.

Unpredictable though it may seem, you can start using a new CareCredit Card account as soon as your application is accepted, even if your physical card hasn't yet arrived in the mail. Therefore, you are able to apply from the doctor's office and pay your bill using the card.

5. You can use it as one of various options to pay for medical bills.

For significant medical costs, the CareCredit Card is unquestionably a possibility, but depending on your circumstances, you might want to examine alternative options.

Start by looking for methods to save costs. Through your health insurance plan, you can be qualified for discounts on specific treatments, medical supplies, and wellness initiatives. Make sure you're being charged accurately before you pay a medical bill, as mistakes might cost you money. You might be able to bargain with the provider for a lower price.

Here are some alternative payment options after receiving your final bill:

• A payment schedule. Directly through your provider, you might be eligible for a monthly payment plan that is possible fee- and interest-free. To discuss your eligibility, get in touch with your provider.
• A credit card with 0% interest. A credit card offering 0% interest on new purchases can provide you time to pay off a balance for anticipated medical costs. And unlike the CareCredit Card, if you don't make your payments on time, these cards won't charge you interest on the original amount borrowed. You will only be responsible for paying interest on the unpaid balance.
• A charge card for balance transfers. If you've already put a medical cost on your credit card, you can transfer your debt to a credit card that offers 0% APR balance transfers. To qualify, you usually need outstanding or excellent credit, and you might have to pay a transfer fee. However, once more, if you still owe money after the 0% APR promotion expires, it will only be on the remaining balance and not on the entire amount you originally transferred.
• Possibilities for flexible financing with an active credit card. You can now split a single card transaction into predictable monthly payments or convert your available credit line into an installment loan with several sizable credit card providers (at a lower ongoing APR).
• A private loan. The CareCredit Card offers longer loan terms at reduced interest rates, but a personal loan may offer you even better terms based on your credit history and financial position.