How to Dispute Medical Bills? | 6 Ways

How to Dispute Medical Bills? – Overview

Medical bills are an unavoidable part of our lives. You, or someone in the family, may end up going to the doctor and come home with a medical bill.

At times, medical bills can be erroneous, with extra charges and unrequired costs added to them.

So, if you find yourself with an erroneous medical bill, then here’s what you can do to dispute it and get the error rectified.

Disputing Medical Bills

How to Dispute Medical Bills

1 – Acquire itemized medical bill

Most times, clinics and hospitals provide a bill that shows the lump sum you owe. The first step to dispute a medical bill is to ask for an itemized copy.

With an itemized bill, you can check each charge you are paying for. Check this itemized bill line by line.

Make sure you have not been double-charged. Ensure that there are no coding mistakes or incorrect calculations on the bill.

Then compare the medical bill with your health insurance plan. This shows the charges you have to pay out of pocket. It also tells you which charges the insurance policy will cover.

Make sure that you have not been charged for something which the insurance provider is supposed to pay.

Apart from this, you should wait for the Explanation of Benefits report from your insurance provider. This report details the charges covered according to specific dates and hospital/clinic visits.

2 – Consult your doctor

If you think there’s been a calculation error in your medical bill, you can talk to your doctor too. You can ask them to review the bill once more and fix any mistakes.

In case your doctor points to charges that should be covered by your insurance provider, you can ask the doctor for a letter that disagrees with the insurer’s decision to deny.

Whenever you talk to anybody about your bills, make sure to note their name and designation, along with the date of conversations.

Apart from this, also keep a short but detailed summary of the decisions made during the conversations. Ensure that you deal with any issues promptly.

Most insurance providers get a 60 to 90-day window for bill payment. However, if you don’t pay within the stipulated timeline then your credit score may get affected.

3 – Talk to your insurance provider

After carefully reviewing your health insurance plan you can talk to your insurance provider. If you are confident that you deserve to be reimbursed or compensated, then you can file an appeal.

This needs to be done quickly, preferably between 30 to 60 days from the date of receiving the medical bill.

Ensure to include your medical records, the letter from your doctor disagreeing with the insurance company’s decision, and any other important relevant document.

Once again, make sure to keep a detailed record of the person you speak to, their designation in the company and the decision made after each conversation.

4 – Raise dispute with the bill collection agency

In case the unpaid medical bill is set to a collections agency for recovery in the middle of an appeal, then file a notice with the collection agency.

You need to send a letter under 30 days with the reason for disputing the medical bills clearly stated. Request the collection agency to delay legal proceedings while the matter is being investigated by the insurance provider.

Always send letters by certified mail, with a request for return mail. Make sure to keep a copy of the letters and receipts of postage.

5 – Consult with a medical advocate

In case your appeal is denied then you can contact a medical advocacy agency. These work with clients without charge. The medical advocates work with your doctor and insurance company to find a solution for you.

You can check local community resources for medical advocacy agencies nearest to you. Alternatively, you can contact a disease organization for information about the best and nearest medical advocacy group.

6 – Negotiate medical bill with a healthcare provider

If the above-given steps fail to resolve the issue you can negotiate with your healthcare provider before paying. You can request a discount with proof of income, proof of disability, and expenses.

You can also share copies of your tax records and bank statements. This way you can get up to 20% off the total bill.

In case you are unable to pay the required amount, you can consult with your doctor or hospital.

This way you can get in touch with financial assistance programs aimed at helping people pay off medical bills. You may even qualify to have part of your bill covered through financial aid.