New study finds it's worth it to challenge your medical bill cost

More often than not, disputing medical bills can reveal errors and potentially lead to a more affordable bill, according to a study published Friday in JAMA Health Forum.

Notice something odd on a medical bill? Don’t let it slide. 

More often than not, disputing it can reveal errors and potentially lead to a more affordable bill, according to a study published Friday in JAMA Health Forum.

“If there’s a bill that you receive that doesn’t look quite right or that you can’t afford, pick up the phone and call the billing office,” said lead study author Erin Duffy, director of research training at the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics. “When people do, most get positive results.”

According to the survey’s results, about 1 in 5 people said they got a medical bill they disagreed with or couldn’t afford over the past year, 61.5% of whom said they contacted billing offices to address their concerns. Most people who didn’t call billing offices said they thought it wouldn’t make a difference, Duffy said. 

“Most of the time, the bill was corrected,” she said. “And even people who just felt it was unfair, even if they could afford it, a lot of them were able to negotiate a lower price.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/medical-bills-cost-negotiate-errors-study-rcna168808

---