Understanding Your Medical Bills During Cancer Care

The simple versionExplain▾

Medical bills during cancer care can be hard to read, and it is normal to feel confused by them. You do not have to accept a bill just because it arrived. Checking your bills, asking questions, and getting a little help can save you money and stress.

Bills and EOBs are two different thingsExplain▾

Your insurance company sends you an Explanation of Benefits (EOB). It lists the services you received and how much your plan paid. It is not a bill. A separate bill comes from the hospital or doctor's office asking for the part you owe. Understanding the difference is the first step to checking your costs.

Always check your bills against your EOBExplain▾

The National Cancer Institute suggests matching each bill you receive to the EOB from your insurance company. If you see a difference between the two, ask about it. Bills can contain mistakes, and matching them to your EOB is how many people catch problems.

Comparing your bills and EOBs is how billing errors get found.

It is your right to question a billExplain▾

If you think a bill is wrong, speak up. As the National Cancer Institute states, it is your right to question your bill with the doctor or the insurance company. Keeping a record of your conversations — who you spoke with, when, and what they said — can help if you need to follow up.

Who can help youExplain▾

You do not have to figure bills out alone. You can ask:

• someone in the billing office at the hospital
• a hospital social worker
• a trusted friend or family member who can help make calls or organize paperwork
• patient advocates or medical billing advocates, who charge a fee but may save you money in the long run

If paying is hard, the billing office may offer options such as payment plans, reduced rates, or patient assistance.

Keep everything organizedExplain▾

A simple system makes bills easier to manage and problems easier to spot. You might:

• keep all medical paperwork in one folder, binder, or computer file
• set up a separate email account just for medical issues
• keep a separate folder for each month, or for each kind of paperwork

A little organization now makes it much easier to catch mistakes later.

Set up a system just for medical paperworkExplain▾

A little structure makes bills far easier to manage. The National Cancer Institute suggests keeping all your medical paperwork in one place — a single folder, binder, or computer file. If you get bills online, it can help to print hard copies to store separately, and to set up a special email account used only for messages with the hospital and insurance company. Some people keep a separate folder for each month, or for each kind of paperwork.

If paying feels out of reachExplain▾

If the amount you owe feels impossible, do not ignore the bill — ask about options. The billing office may offer payment plans, reduced rates, patient assistance, or help from charities. Asking early, before a bill goes to collections, usually gives you more room to work something out.

A note before we beginExplain▾

This information is educational and is not a substitute for medical, legal, or financial advice. For your own situation, talk with a hospital social worker, a financial counselor, or your plan.

Reviewed sourcesExplain▾

This article is based on public information from the National Cancer Institute:

• NCI — Managing Cancer Costs and Medical Information