Body · Paying for care
Medical bills and EOBs: check before you pay
Don't pay a medical bill the day it shows up. Wait for your insurer's explanation of benefits (EOB), match it to the bill, ask for an itemized bill, and push back on errors and surprise out-of-network charges. Then ask about financial assistance.
You'll need
- The bill
- The EOB from your insurer (paper or in the app)
- Your insurance card
- A notebook or notes app to log every call
What to know
- Wait for the EOB before you pay. Then match it to the bill. The information on the EOB should match the hospital bill, and if it doesn't, call your insurance company. Source: MedlinePlus2
- Ask for an itemized bill, with every charge listed separately. Source: MedlinePlus2 Check that the bill is yours, with your correct name, insurance information and address, and that you actually got each item on it. Source: CFPB3
- Look for the common mistakes: a charge listed twice, a service you didn't get, or the wrong number of days or doses. If you find one, ask the billing department to fix it. Source: MedlinePlus2
- Spot a surprise bill. For most people with private insurance, the No Surprises Act limits out-of-network bills for most emergency care, for some out-of-network providers at in-network hospitals and surgery centers, and for air ambulances. Source: CMS4 Questions go to the No Surprises Help Desk at 1-800-985-3059. Source: CMS4
- Claim denied? Appeal it. You must file an internal appeal within 180 days of the denial notice. If the plan still says no, you can ask for an independent external review within 4 months. Source: HealthCare.gov5
- Can't afford a correct bill? Ask the provider about financial assistance before you sign up for any payment plan or medical credit card. Source: CFPB7 Nonprofit hospitals are required by law to offer financial assistance programs, Source: CFPB3 and must post the policy and application on their website. Source: IRS9
Reading an EOB, line by line
| Line on the EOB | What it means |
|---|---|
| Amount billed (charges) | What the provider asked for |
| Allowed amount | The most your plan will pay for that service. A network provider agrees to it. |
| Plan paid | What insurance paid |
| Deductible, copay, coinsurance | Your share, by type |
| You may owe | What the provider can bill you. This number should match the bill. |
| Remark or denial codes | Why something wasn't paid. Look them up on the back of the EOB or call the number on your card. |
Terms from HealthCare.gov's glossary. Source: HealthCare.gov and CMS Source: CMS1
Calling the billing office
Hi, I'm calling about a bill for [patient name], date of service [date], account number [number]. Before I pay, can you send me an itemized bill? I'd also like to know whether this has gone through my insurance, and whether you have a financial assistance program. Can you email or mail me the application?
An email you can copy
Subject: Itemized bill and financial assistance, account [number]
Hello,
I received a bill for $[amount] for care on [date]. Please send an itemized bill listing each charge. My explanation of benefits from [insurer] shows I owe $[amount], so please also confirm the claim was billed to my insurance.
Please send your financial assistance policy and application too. I'd like to apply before setting up any payment plan.
Thank you,
[name] · [date of birth] · [phone]
A text to keep yourself honest
Reminder: don't pay the [provider] bill until the EOB comes. Then match the "you may owe" line to the bill.
See it done
Video by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Government
No More Surprise Medical Bills: 5 Things to Know
Full title on YouTube: “No More Surprise Medical Bills: 5 Things To Know about the No Surprises Act Taking Effect in 2022”2022 · Checked October 3, 2026
From HHS in January 2022, when the law took effect. It covers surprise bills and estimates for self-pay patients. For reading an EOB, use the table in this lesson.
Video won't load at school or work? No problem. Everything you need is in the steps; the video's just a bonus. Watch it on YouTube later.
If it doesn't work
- A debt collector calls about a bill you think is wrong? Ask them to verify the debt in writing. You have that right. Source: CFPB3 See Debt collectors: your rights.
- Worried about your credit? Unpaid medical debt that's more than 365 days past due and over $500 could appear on your credit reports, so check them. Source: CFPB8 See Reading your credit report.
- Paid without insurance and the bill is way over the estimate? If it's at least $400 more than your good faith estimate, you may be able to dispute it. Source: CMS10
Good to know
The details, if you want them. Tap a line to open it.
Hospitals have counselors
Many hospitals have financial counselors who can explain a charge you don't understand. Source: MedlinePlus2 Ask for one by name when you call.
Collectors and the No Surprises Act
If a collector tries to collect more than the No Surprises Act allows for out-of-network emergency care, dispute the debt in writing as soon as possible. Source: CFPB
Take it with you
Printable cardDownload card (PDF)Sources
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Health insurance terms you should know
- MedlinePlus Understanding your hospital bill
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Know your rights and protections when it comes to medical bills and collections
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services No Surprises Act key protections (PDF)
- HealthCare.gov Internal appeals
- HealthCare.gov External review
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Medical credit cards and payment plans
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Do medical bills affect my credit?
- Internal Revenue Service Financial assistance policies (FAPs)
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Medical bill rights
Lesson B5.2 · Last checked October 3, 2026 against the sources listed.
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