Should I Dispute Medical Bills? How to Decide Before You Invest the Time

Should I Dispute Medical Bills

Data shows 74% of patients who formally challenge billing errors get them corrected, yet nearly 40% of patients never even contact their provider when a bill seems wrong. Disputing is worth the time if you have a specific, identifiable error (like a duplicate charge or wrong billing code) and the documentation to prove it. If … Read more

The Patient Who Almost Paid $34,000 She Didn’t Owe

Hospital Billing Mistake

A patient came to my desk having already paid $8,600 toward a $34,000 post-surgical hospital bill she assumed was mathematically correct. By reviewing her itemized statement, we found a No Surprises Act violation, duplicate charges, upcoded surgical fees, and a stalled charity care application. Her actual legitimate balance was $0, and the hospital owed her … Read more

74% of Patients Who Disputed a Medical Bill Got It Fixed. Here’s Why 38% Never Tried.

Dispute A Medical Bill

A 2024 JAMA Health Forum study reveals that 74% of patients who disputed a medical billing error had the mistake corrected. Despite this high success rate, 38.5% of patients with a problematic bill never contacted the billing office at all. Of those who stayed silent, 86% assumed calling would not make a difference. From inside … Read more