How to get an itemized hospital bill (free request letter)
Why you need an itemized hospital bill, what it must show, and a free letter to request it.
Check my bill freeWhat an itemized bill is
A summary bill shows a few totals, such as "pharmacy" or "laboratory". An itemized bill shows every service on its own line, with its date, its CPT or HCPCS code, its revenue code, the quantity and the price.
Why it matters
Duplicates, tests billed on top of their panel and prices far above Medicare only show up on an itemized bill. With a summary, you cannot check anything.
How to ask
Call the billing office, then send the request in writing. Ask them to hold the account and keep it out of collections until you receive the itemized bill and have time to review it. Ask for the financial assistance policy and application in the same letter.
The request letter
Please send me a fully itemized bill for this account. For every line, please show the date of service, the CPT or HCPCS code, the revenue code, the quantity and the price. Please place this account on hold, and do not send it to collections, until I have received the itemized bill and had time to review it. Please also send me your financial assistance policy and application. Please reply in writing within 30 days.
BillCheck fills in this letter for your bill, free.
When it arrives
Check it line by line, or take a photo and let BillCheck compare every line with Medicare prices.
More guides
- How to negotiate a hospital bill: a step by step plan
- Hospital bill errors: what to look for on each line
- ER bill without insurance: what to ask for
- Out-of-network ER bill: your protection under the No Surprises Act
- Prices by service