Don't pay that bill yet.
80% of hospital bills in the U.S. have errors. That means yours probably does too. Most people pay whatever the hospital sends because they don't know they can dispute it. You can. Upload yours and we'll show you exactly what to dispute and write the letter for you.
See What I Actually OweMost people don't know you can dispute a hospital bill.
You can. And there are three common reasons you'll pay less when you do.
Your bill probably has errors. The same charge showing up twice. One service billed as three separate items to make the total higher. Billing errors show up on the majority of hospital bills and they almost always make the number bigger. Most people never look closely enough to notice.
If your hospital is a nonprofit, you might not have to pay at all. About 60% of U.S. hospitals are nonprofits. Federal law requires them to offer free or reduced-cost care to patients who qualify based on income. The cutoff is higher than you'd think. For a family of four, it can be as high as $124,000 a year. But hospitals still charge you full price because they're hoping you'll just pay it. You don't have to.
Just because a hospital charges you something doesn't mean you have to accept it. Hospitals set their own prices. There's no rule. But the U.S. government publishes what it actually pays hospitals for every service through the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. For a standard ER visit, that's around $450. If your hospital charged you $4,000 for the same thing, that's your argument. Hospitals would rather settle than fight you on it.
Here's what you'll get
Upload your bill and you'll get a full breakdown like the one below.
Analysis Complete
Valley Medical Center
Total billed
$12,847
Medicare rate, 3 priced charges
$374
Above the Medicare rate on the 3 priced charges (estimate)
$8,313 to $8,873
Medicare is a reference floor, not a fair price and not what you owe. Treat this as a starting point for questions.
We compared 3 of 6 charges to a federal benchmark. Based on gross charges, not what you owe after insurance.
Compared to Medicare (3)
Emergency room visit, Level 4
About 36 times the Medicare rate — worth asking about$4,200
Medicare: $116
CT scan, abdomen with contrast
About 17 times the Medicare rate — worth asking about$3,800
Medicare: $227
IV hydration, first hour
About 41 times the Medicare rate — worth asking about$1,247
Medicare: $30
No benchmark available (3)
Emergency room facility fee
Facility and emergency-room charges are paid per outpatient payment group, not per physician code.
$2,400
No benchmark
Blood panel, comprehensive
Lab tests are paid on the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule, which we have not loaded yet.
$890
No benchmark
Ondansetron 4mg injection
Drugs and injections are paid on the Medicare average sales price list, which we have not loaded yet.
$310
No benchmark
Example analysis. Your results will reflect your actual bill.
Then you get a dispute letter ready to send
A formal letter addressed to the hospital's billing department that requests an itemized statement and asks them to justify the specific charges worth questioning.
John Smith
1247 Maple Drive
Austin, TX 78701
May 12, 2026
Billing Department
Valley Medical Center
800 Hospital Way
Austin, TX 78705
Re: Dispute of Charges, Account #VMC-2026-44891
Dear Billing Department,
I am writing to formally dispute charges on my bill dated April 28, 2026, totaling $12,847.00. After reviewing the itemized charges and comparing them to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), I have identified significant discrepancies and billing errors that I am requesting your office review and correct.
Specific charges in dispute:
1. Emergency room visit, Level 4 (CPT 99284)
Billed: $4,200.00 | Medicare rate: $453.00
This charge is 827% above the federal benchmark. I am requesting an explanation of why this charge exceeds the Medicare reimbursement rate by this margin, and a reduction to a reasonable amount.
2. CT scan, abdomen with contrast (CPT 74177)
Billed: $3,800.00 | Medicare rate: $270.00
This charge exceeds the federal benchmark by over 1,300%. I am requesting justification for this rate.
3. IV fluid administration (CPT 96360)
Billed: $1,247.00 | Medicare rate: $89.00
This charge appears to be a duplicate. IV fluid administration was billed twice on the same date of service. I am requesting removal of the duplicate charge.
4. Blood panel, comprehensive (CPT 80053)
Billed: $890.00 | Medicare rate: $34.00
This charge exceeds the federal benchmark by over 2,500%.
The total amount billed is $12,847.00. The total Medicare reimbursement for these same services is $846.00, a difference of $12,001.00. I understand that hospital rates differ from Medicare rates, but discrepancies of this magnitude warrant review.
Under federal law, I have the right to receive an itemized bill and to dispute any charges I believe are incorrect. I am also requesting information about your hospital's Financial Assistance Policy, as required under Section 501(r) of the Affordable Care Act for nonprofit hospitals.
Please provide a written response to this dispute within 30 days. During this review period, I request that this account not be referred to collections or reported to credit bureaus.
Sincerely,
John Smith
Scroll to read the full letter. Your letter will name the specific charges on your own bill.
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Your rights
You can request an itemized bill. They have to give it to you. If you only got a summary, call the billing department and ask for the itemized version.
You can dispute any charge. You have the legal right to challenge any charge you think is wrong. The No Surprises Act also protects you from unexpected out-of-network bills for emergency services.
While your dispute is open, they cannot send your account to collections.
Medical debt under $500 no longer shows up on your credit report. Paid medical debt is removed from credit reports entirely.
Common questions
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How much should an emergency room visit cost?
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What is a chargemaster and why do hospital prices vary so much?
More on medical bills and healthcare costs
How to Read and Audit an Itemized Hospital Bill
What each line item means and which charges are most commonly wrong.
How to Negotiate a Hospital Bill
Scripts and tactics for getting a bill reduced after you've received it.
Hospital Charity Care: 501(r) Forgiveness Programs
How to find and apply for hospital financial assistance before you pay anything.
What Happens to Medical Debt on Your Credit Report
New rules changed what hospitals can report. Know your rights.
Can't Pay Your Medical Bill? Your Options
Payment plans, hardship programs, debt settlement, and when to contact a patient advocate.
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