<prompt> Human: Sorry if the title sounds confusing. A recent post about reducing medical bills spurred me to make an account and ask this. I have read about these types of negotiations for years, and usually everyone online agrees, yes, all you have to do is ask, etc etc.I am in my 40s and have had a lot of medical problems over the past ten years which leaves me ever on the edge of financial ruin. I have never ever experienced this outcome, and I try nearly every time. My wife and I have made it a joke in our household because she is usually hears me failing at it. It makes me wonder what I am doing wrong.This isnt supposed to come across as woe is me, rather Im feeling like I might be approaching it wrong and wonder if anyone who has success can be specific about how this conversation goes. Generally I am on the phone with someone in the billing department and I will tell them straight, I dont make a lot of money and I really cant afford this, is there any way to discount or reduce... The responses range from no, to sorry no.If I push real hard I am usually offered a payment plan at full price if I push too hard, I am reminded that I have to pay for services and any unpaid bills will be sent to collection. This is primarily with medical institutions, though I have had the same level of success with my cable provider.Any thoughts?  <response>: I dont know if youre going to read this, but anyways my dad has a client that invests with him and this guy has a regular full time gig and on the side he calls theses service providers for people and his basic goal is to save people as much money as possible and over time hes been able to create a decent amount of business and become an expert at it. Now what do you think he charges? Well he says whatever amount youre going to save the next 6 months is his fee so he always has the incentive to save as much as possible for you. I dont know how you find a guy like that, but theyre out there. 