Question 1

How can I save money on my medical bill?

Accepted Answer

The first thing you want to do is get an itemized bill — not the summary statement they usually send. Once you can see every charge, you're looking for duplicates, procedures billed at the wrong level, and anything that seems inflated compared to what Medicare would pay. From there, call the billing department and ask about financial assistance, prompt-pay discounts, or just point out the specific charges that don't look right. It's more common than people think — somewhere around 80% of bills we review have at least one issue worth addressing.

Question 2

How do I check my medical bill for errors?

Accepted Answer

You need the itemized version, not the summary. The itemized bill shows individual charges with CPT and ICD-10 codes. Cross-reference it with your EOB from insurance. Common things to look for: duplicate line items (especially for labs or imaging), upcoding (where they bill a level 5 office visit but it was really a level 3), charges for supplies or services you don't remember getting, and facility fees that seem out of proportion. You can also compare charges to published Medicare rates to see if anything is wildly out of range.

Question 3

Can I negotiate my medical bill?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Hospitals deal with negotiations constantly — it's built into the system. The sticker price on a hospital bill is almost never the final number. You can call the billing department, ask about self-pay discounts, point to specific charges that are above fair market rate, and apply for the hospital's financial assistance program. Most billing reps have the authority to offer 10-30% off, and supervisors can sometimes go further. The key is having the data to back up your ask.

Question 4

How do I negotiate a hospital bill down?

Accepted Answer

Get your itemized bill and know what you're looking at before you pick up the phone. When you call, be polite but specific — reference the exact charges that are inflated, mention that you've compared them to Medicare rates, and ask what financial assistance programs they have. If the first person says no, ask for a supervisor or the patient financial services department. A lot of people don't realize you can also ask for a prompt-pay discount — many hospitals will take 15-25% off if you can pay the reduced amount upfront.

Question 5

What should I do if my medical bill is too high?

Accepted Answer

Don't pay it right away — you have more time than you think, and paying immediately can actually work against you if there are errors. Request the itemized bill and your EOB from insurance. Look for charges that don't match up, or procedures you don't remember. Then call the billing department and ask about financial hardship programs. Even if you make decent money, many hospitals set their thresholds at 300-400% of the federal poverty level, which is higher than most people expect. If nothing else, you can almost always get on a zero-interest payment plan.

Question 6

How much does Repriced Health cost?

Accepted Answer

Way less than a traditional medical bill advocate. Those folks typically take 20-40% of whatever they save you, which on a large hospital bill can mean $1,000 to $2,000+ in fees. We charge a flat rate for the analysis, and if you negotiate the bill yourself using our guidance, you keep every dollar of the savings. We also offer a hands-free option where we do the negotiating for you.

Question 7

Can I reduce my hospital bill after I've already paid?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes, yes. If there are legitimate billing errors — duplicate charges, wrong codes, services you didn't receive — the hospital has to refund you regardless of when you catch it. Financial assistance is trickier after payment, but a lot of hospitals will still consider retroactive applications, especially nonprofits. It's worth requesting your itemized bill and reviewing it even after you've paid. We've seen people get refunds months later.

Question 8

How much can I save on my medical bill?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the bill. A small outpatient visit might have $200-500 in overcharges. An ER visit or surgery can have thousands. The biggest savings usually come from financial assistance programs (which can wipe out 50-100% of the bill), followed by correcting coding errors and negotiating inflated charges down to fair rates. We've seen everything from $300 adjustments to bills cut in half.

Question 9

What is charity care and do I qualify?

Accepted Answer

Charity care — officially called 'financial assistance' — is something every nonprofit hospital is required to offer under the ACA. The income thresholds vary by hospital, but they're often more generous than people realize. A family of four earning $75,000-$120,000 can still qualify at many hospitals for a partial discount. The application usually requires proof of income and maybe a recent tax return. It's always worth checking — the worst they can say is no.

Question 10

Can I dispute a medical bill I think is wrong?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and you should. Get the itemized bill, compare it against your EOB, and put your dispute in writing to the billing department. Be specific about which charges you're contesting and why. If your insurance denied something that should have been covered, that's a separate appeal process with your insurer — and those appeals actually get overturned more often than most people think. The No Surprises Act also gives you protections if you were billed out-of-network at an in-network facility.

Hospital Financial Assistance & Charity Care Directory

What Is Charity Care?

How to Apply