Bill PushbackHow to dispute a medical bill: the steps
Bill Pushback / How to dispute
How to dispute a medical bill, step by step
Work through the steps in order and tick each one off. Every step that needs a letter links to a free one you fill in and print.
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General information, not legal, medical or financial advice. Ask a lawyer before acting on it.
A worked example
A $4,210 emergency room bill arrives as a total. The itemized bill shows a CT scan billed twice at $1,180 each. Disputing the duplicate line would bring the bill to $3,030 if the billing office agrees. The EOB then shows what the insurer says you owe for the rest.
Call, and write
A call can get a quick answer; a letter leaves a record. Do both, and note each call on the call log.
Questions people ask next
How long do I have to dispute a medical bill?
It depends on the provider, your insurer and where you live. Send the dispute as soon as you can, and ask the billing office for its deadline in writing.
Can I dispute a bill that is already in collections?
Yes, you can ask the collector to prove the debt in writing. Use the collections letter.
Should I call or write?
Both: a call for a quick answer, and a letter so there is a record. Log every call.
What if the bill is correct but too high?
You can offer to settle for less, ask for a payment plan, or ask the hospital for its financial assistance policy.
For the phone calls
The Medical Bill Fight Kit
A 9-page PDF you print: the order of steps, word-for-word call scripts for the billing office, your insurer, financial assistance and a collection agency, five letters with blanks (the three free ones here, plus a financial assistance request and a payment agreement confirmation) and a call and mail log.
$9 Buy the kit
If the file doesn't work or isn't what this page describes, write to us within 14 days for a full refund.