Upon receiving a medical bill that seems unaffordable or perplexing, it is advisable to reach out to the healthcare provider for assistance. Recent research indicates that there is a significant likelihood of obtaining help if you make the effort to communicate your concerns. In a study conducted by researchers, a survey was administered to 1,135 individuals, revealing that approximately one-fifth of the respondents had encountered a medical bill they found either unaffordable or in dispute. These issues were most commonly associated with charges from a physician's office, emergency room visits, or urgent care centers, as reported in the study published in JAMA Health Forum.

Out of those who faced issues with their medical bills, a little over three-fifths contacted the billing departments of their healthcare providers to address their grievances. In doing so, about one-quarter of them managed to have their bills rectified, while roughly one-seventh received a discount or a payment arrangement. Erin Duffy, PhD, MPH, the lead study author and director of research training at the Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, stated, "Many individuals are reluctant to make a call to challenge the accuracy of a problematic medical bill or to explore financial alternatives, but our research suggests that it is beneficial and typically takes less than an hour to do so."

Especially when it came to addressing billing discrepancies, errors were corrected 74 percent of the time. Furthermore, three-quarters of those with unaffordable bills received some form of financial relief, and 62 percent of participants who attempted to negotiate a discount were successful in obtaining a reduced price. Karan Chhabra, MD, an assistant professor of surgery and population health at New York University and NYC Health+Hospitals/Bellevue, who was not part of the study, commented, "These findings suggest that some astute patients are already aware that they should make inquiries and clarify details when a bill appears incorrect. The study also demonstrates that this approach has a high probability of reducing the bill or at least making it more manageable."

The study further revealed that the majority of individuals who did not seek assistance in resolving their billing issues believed that doing so would be futile. Those without a college degree, less familiarity with financial documents, and those without insurance were less likely to contact billing offices for support compared to those who were more educated and had health benefits. The research also indicated that introverts and people with agreeable personalities were less likely to contact billing offices than extroverts and individuals with less agreeable personalities.

Duffy suggested, "If someone is too shy to make the call themselves, they could enlist the help of a friend or family member who is an assertive extrovert to make the call on their behalf." One limitation of the study is its relatively small sample size, which may not accurately represent how all Americans respond to medical billing issues or the outcomes they achieve when they attempt to resolve their concerns.

Nevertheless, the findings should serve as an encouragement for individuals to ask questions whenever they encounter a medical bill they do not understand or cannot afford, according to Anupam Jena, MD, PhD, a professor of health policy at Harvard Medical School in Boston, who was not involved in the study. He said, "Healthcare practices could better inform patients that if they have questions about a bill, they should reach out to the provider's office. I am surprised by the number of people who found resolution through contacting a provider, but that is reassuring."

When faced with a medical bill that is either unaffordable or difficult to comprehend, it is highly recommended to contact the hospital or doctor's office for support. The research suggests that there is a substantial chance of receiving assistance if you take the initiative to communicate your concerns. In the study, 1,135 individuals were surveyed, and it was discovered that nearly one in five participants had received a medical bill they disagreed with or found unaffordable. These issues were most frequently related to charges from a doctor's office, emergency room visits, or urgent care centers, as detailed in the study published in JAMA Health Forum.

Among those who had issues with their medical bills, slightly more than three-fifths reached out to the billing departments of their healthcare providers to address their concerns. As a result, about one in four of them managed to have their bills corrected, while approximately one in seven received a discount or a payment plan. Erin Duffy, PhD, MPH, the lead study author and director of research training at the Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, stated, "Many individuals are hesitant to make a call to question the accuracy of a problematic medical bill or to explore financial options, but our findings indicate that it is worthwhile and typically takes less than an hour to do so."

Especially noteworthy is that when individuals addressed billing errors, the error was corrected 74 percent of the time. Additionally, three-quarters of those with unaffordable bills received some form of financial relief, and 62 percent of participants who attempted to negotiate a discount were successful in obtaining a reduced price. Karan Chhabra, MD, an assistant professor of surgery and population health at New York University and NYC Health+Hospitals/Bellevue, who was not part of the study, commented, "These findings suggest that some savvy patients are already aware that they should make inquiries and clarify details when a bill appears incorrect. The study also demonstrates that this approach has a high probability of reducing the bill or at least making it more manageable."

The study further revealed that the majority of individuals who did not seek assistance in resolving their billing issues believed that doing so would be futile. Those without a college degree, less familiarity with financial documents, and those without insurance were less likely to contact billing offices for support compared to those who were more educated and had health benefits. The research also indicated that introverts and people with agreeable personalities were less likely to contact billing offices than extroverts and individuals with less agreeable personalities.

Duffy suggested, "If someone is too shy to make the call themselves, they could enlist the help of a friend or family member who is an assertive extrovert to make the call on their behalf." One limitation of the study is its relatively small sample size, which may not accurately represent how all Americans respond to medical billing issues or the outcomes they achieve when they attempt to resolve their concerns.

Nevertheless, the findings should serve as an encouragement for individuals to ask questions whenever they encounter a medical bill they do not understand or cannot afford, according to Anupam Jena, MD, PhD, a professor of health policy at Harvard Medical School in Boston, who was not involved in the study. He said, "Healthcare practices could better inform patients that if they have questions about a bill, they should reach out to the provider's office. I am surprised by the number of people who found resolution through contacting a provider, but that is reassuring."