So you’ve received a medical bill in the mail for services, treatment, or a procedure that you had done–and when you open up that bill and actually try to understand it, you begin feeling stressed and confused. It isn’t always easy to understand all the terminology on a medical bill and what it means for you. It’s important to understand how to read a medical bill so you can determine if it is accurate before you make a payment. Keep reading to learn more about exactly what you need to know when you review your bill, and also what you can do if you think there’s a problem with the bill.
Here are the primary components you will likely encounter when reviewing your medical bills:
Date of Service – Indicates the date of your appointment or when services were provided. If you had multiple services done during a visit, you may see the date repeated for each individual procedure. Additionally, if you had testing or lab work done, the date may be later than your appointment if someone processed or reviewed your results following your appointment. Review the dates on your bill to ensure they make sense based on when you visited the provider and what services they provided.
Member – The bill will typically note who received the service, whether it was you or a family member.
Description of Service – This is a brief description of the service or procedure you or your family member received, such as an office visit or a specific lab test. If the service listed seems unfamiliar or incorrect, contact your provider’s office to verify.
CPT Codes – Along with the description of service will often be a Current Procedural Terminology, or CPT, code. This five-digit number corresponds to the service or procedure you received, helping your insurer determine how much they will pay the provider (and in turn, how much the provider will bill you). While CPT codes on their own may be difficult to verify, reviewing them along with the Description of Service can help identify any potential red flags or errors. You can also compare the codes on your bill to the codes noted on your Explanation of Benefits to make sure they match.
Charge – This can be a bit confusing because it is not the amount you’re responsible for (we’ll get to that soon). This is the full price your provider has set for the service or procedure, but this will likely be adjusted and reduced based on your insurance plan.
Payment/Adjustment – This column shows the discounted rate your insurance company and provider have agreed upon if they are in-network, as well as the amount your insurance company has already paid. It will also reflect if you paid a co-pay while at the provider’s office.
Patient Responsibility/Balance – Finally, this is the actual amount you owe. This may take into consideration whether or not you have met your deductible or are responsible for coinsurance as part of your plan. The total balance on the bill may also include any previous charges you have not yet paid or late fees. Do a quick check to make sure that the payment/adjustment and your responsibility add up correctly to the overall charge indicated.
If anything at all on the bill doesn’t look right or differs from what you had been told by the provider, it is well worth your time to follow up with the provider’s billing department to correct any errors. It could save you a lot of money!
