Who can help me understand my medical bills?

You do not have to sort out medical bills on your own. The National Cancer Institute lists several people who can help:

• someone in the billing office at the hospital
• a hospital social worker
• a trusted friend or family member, who can help make insurance calls or organize and track bills
• patient advocates and medical billing advocates, who help with bills and insurance for a fee and may save you money in the long run

If paying is hard, it is worth asking the billing office about options such as payment plans, reduced rates, or patient assistance. Asking early, before bills pile up, tends to make things easier. Being confused by bills is normal, so do not feel shy about asking questions until things make sense.