Most people pay medical bills the way they pay a phone bill: open it, see the amount, pay it. Billing advocates say that habit is exactly how patients end up paying for charges they never owed.
This quiz walks through eight situations that land in real mailboxes every day. Each one has a right move that can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
How it works: read the situation, pick A, B, C or D, then turn the page to see the answer, why it matters and what to say on the phone. Keep score as you go.
Question 1 of 8: The early bill
Ten days after an outpatient procedure, a $2,400 bill arrives from the hospital. You have not received anything from your insurance company yet. What is the smartest move?
- A. Pay it now so it does not go to collections
- B. Ignore it until a second notice arrives
- C. Call the hospital, ask whether insurance has processed the claim, and wait for your Explanation of Benefits before paying
- D. Put it on a credit card and sort it out later