To make things easier, have a giant folder that you can throw bills into once you have looked over them. You can also scan bills so that you have a PDF of the bill on your computer. All bills should be itemized, i. e. , broken down by individual charge. These are called “line-item” or “detailed” bills. Call the hospital and request a detailed bill if you are not sent one. [1] X Research source
Make sure that the hospital doesn’t charge you for medications you brought from home. Also, check that the hospital does not charge the full-day rate for the room if you were discharged in the morning. Also look to see if you were charged for supplies like sheets, gowns, or gloves. These supplies should already be included in the cost of the hospital room.
Your insurer might claim that your policy does not cover certain drugs or procedures. Take out your policy and check. You can appeal any rejection by a health insurer. For more information, see Resolve a Claim Dispute With Your Health Insurance Provider.
You also might want to use the Medicaid rates as a guide. They can be found at https://www. cms. gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends-and-Reports/Medicare-Provider-Charge-Data/index. html. If you find that your hospital is charging more than other hospitals in your area, offer your hospital what other hospitals in your area are charging. This is a great way to cut your costs and having other hospitals’ pricing is great evidence of what your cost should be.
Wen you negotiate an all cash deal, start with a lower offer, maybe around 1/4 the original bill. You and the other party will negotiate from there. If you cannot pay everything up front and you have to create a payment plan, be prepared to pay a little bit more. However, never be afraid to negotiate.
Keep careful notes of who you talk to. Note the person’s name, the day and time, as well as the substance of the conversation. You need to keep careful notes because you are likely to talk to a new person each time you call the hospital. [4] X Research source
Your account information. State your name and whatever patient identification number the hospital gave you. The charges you are disputing. Make reference to specific charges on the bill. For example, “In particular, I don’t think I should have to pay the charges of $24. 55 for rubber gloves on both March 21 and 22. ” The reason why you are disputing the charge. You might write, “As I explained over the phone, items like rubber gloves should be included in the room rate, as they are standard items used. ” Supporting documents. Here, you can print off any information that shows what other hospitals charge. You can reference them in your letter. “As you can see, the average cost for the other two hospitals in the city is less than half what you have charged me. I have included a print-out of costs for your competitors. ”
Some advocates may also be willing to work for an hourly fee. Typically, they can charge from $50 to $175 an hour. [6] X Trustworthy Source Consumer Reports Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing Go to source You can find a patient advocate online or in your phone book. They can be listed under different names, including “claims assistance professionals,” “medical-claims professionals” or “health-care claims advocates. ”[7] X Trustworthy Source Consumer Reports Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing Go to source You might also want to hire an attorney instead of a patient advocate. Like advocates, many attorneys will work on contingency, and they will charge around 30% of whatever savings they get for you.
Refuse to pay for anything you didn’t use. If a charge appears on the bill erroneously, refuse to pay. Ask the hospital to look at your medical reports to confirm that the doctors and nurses actually used the item you have been charged for. If the hospital made a mistake, then insist that they pay for it. For example, if you got an infection while in the hospital, try to get the hospital to cover the extra time spent in the hospital. Be frank about your financial situation. If the bill is so high you don’t think you can ever pay it, say so. Offer to pay a lump sum in exchange for a discount. Some hospitals might agree to cut the bill significantly if you can pay it all at once. [8] X Research source
Even if you used a for-profit hospital, you should still ask about potential financial assistance programs. These programs can reduce the overall amount that you owe or offer flexible repayment plans.
Don’t ever be afraid to put your cards on the table and tell the other party what you are looking into. You will be surprised at the deals you can make if you try.
