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A significant share of medical bills contain errors. Surprise charges, duplicate codes, and services billed but never rendered show up every day. Do not pay a disputed bill until you know what you actually owe — you can dispute a charge before you pay it.
At stake: $200 – $50,000+
What we do with it
We read the letter. We explain it in plain English. In about 30 seconds you’ll know where you stand — and what to do next.
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Since January 2022, federal law prohibits balance billing for emergency care at any facility and for out-of-network providers at in-network facilities — including anesthesiologists, radiologists, and assistant surgeons you did not choose. If your bill falls into either category, you cannot legally be charged more than your in-network cost-sharing, regardless of what the provider billed. Most people who receive these bills never know this protection exists.
A score above 70 means you have solid grounds to dispute the charge. A score of 90 or higher — which we see frequently in No Surprises Act violations and clear billing code errors — means the charge is almost certainly incorrect and should not be paid.
These are the situations we see most often. Every one has legal grounds to challenge — and none requires a lawyer to dispute.
Surprise Bill · No Surprises Act
"Patient balance due: $4,200. Your insurance has processed this claim at out-of-network rates. The treating anesthesiologist is not a participating provider in your plan."
Why it overturns: This is exactly the situation the No Surprises Act was designed to prevent. If you received care at an in-network facility and an out-of-network provider treated you without your prior written consent and notice of their network status, they cannot bill you more than your in-network cost-sharing. The provider must work out the payment difference with your insurer — you are not responsible for the balance. File a complaint with the No Surprises Help Desk at 1-800-985-3059 and submit a formal dispute to your insurer citing the No Surprises Act protections.
Billing Error · Duplicate Charges
"Patient statement: Room charge x4 days — $6,800. Laboratory services — $1,240. Surgical supplies — $3,100. [Multiple line items with no description or unclear codes]."
Why it overturns: Medical billing errors are extraordinarily common. Duplicate charges occur when the same service is billed twice under different codes. Upcoding occurs when a higher-complexity service code is billed for a simpler service actually rendered. Services not provided appear on bills regularly due to administrative errors. Request a complete itemized bill from the provider and compare every line item against your treatment records and your Explanation of Benefits from your insurer. Any charge that does not correspond to a documented service is a billing error you have the right to dispute in writing, and the provider is required to correct accurate errors.
Balance Billing Dispute
"Your insurance has paid their portion of this claim. The remaining balance of $2,800 represents the difference between our billed charges and the insurance payment, which is your responsibility."
Why it overturns: Whether balance billing is permitted depends on the type of insurance, the provider's network status, and your state's laws. In-network providers have contractually agreed not to balance bill — if your provider is in-network, any balance billing beyond your standard cost-sharing is a contract violation you can dispute directly with your insurer. For emergency care, the No Surprises Act limits balance billing regardless of network status. Several states also have independent laws prohibiting or limiting balance billing in situations the federal law does not cover. Review your state's specific protections before paying any balance bill.
From confusing medical bill to formal dispute letter in about 3 minutes. Do not pay until you know what you actually owe.
Take a photo or upload a PDF — that's really all it takes.
Within seconds — No Surprises Act protections identified, billing errors flagged.
Legally cited, professionally written, ready to send — for $39.
See how to dispute a medical bill or upload the bill. In under a minute, you'll know whether the No Surprises Act protects you — and exactly what to dispute.
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