Medical bills are negotiable more often than people realize. With the right approach, you can fix errors, request discounts, and set up affordable payment terms.

Review Your Medical Bill

Before paying anything, carefully review your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) and medical bill. Compare line by line to catch errors or discrepancies.

Credit reporting tip: unpaid medical debt generally won’t appear on credit reports for 12 months, giving you time to resolve it.

Check For Billing Errors

Common mistakes include duplicate charges, upcoding, or charges for services you never received. If you spot errors, call the billing office and ask them to correct and resubmit the claim.

Request An Itemized Bill

Always ask for an itemized statement that lists CPT/HCPCS procedure codes, ICD-10 diagnosis codes, dates, and charges. Then, look up unfamiliar codes and verify they match the care you received.

See If You Qualify For Medicaid Or Charity Care

  • Medicaid may cover bills retroactively (often up to three months).

  • Hospital financial assistance programs (charity care) are legally required at nonprofit hospitals and available at many for-profit hospitals.

Ask For A Reduced Fee

Call the billing office and ask if you qualify for discounts or hardship reductions. Even if your income is too high for charity care, you may still qualify for a lower balance if you can prove financial hardship.

Appeal Insurance Denials

If your insurer denies coverage, you have the right to appeal:

  • Internal appeal: your insurer re-reviews its decision.

  • External review: an independent third party decides the outcome, and your insurer must comply.

Work With Patient Advocates

Patient advocates and nonprofit organizations can help you navigate negotiations, appeals, or financial assistance programs. They often know hospital policies and can speed up results.

Set Up A Payment Plan

If you can’t pay in full, ask for a 0% interest payment plan directly with the hospital or clinic. Avoid paying medical bills with high-interest credit cards.

If the bill is already in collections, you can still negotiate for an affordable settlement in writing.

A Quick Review

  • Compare your EOB and medical bill carefully.

  • Fix errors before paying.

  • Ask for charity care, discounts, or cash rates.

  • Appeal denied claims when necessary.

  • Use patient advocates and interest-free plans if needed.