What to Do When You Receive a Medical Bill: A Step-by-Step Guide

Opening a medical bill can feel overwhelming—especially if it’s unexpected or unclear. Before you reach for your wallet or toss it aside in confusion, follow these steps to make sure the bill is accurate and handled correctly.

Step 1: Review the Bill Carefully Check for the basics:

• Your name or your dependent’s name

• Date of service

• Provider or facility name

• Description of services provided

• Total charges and any payments or adjustments shown

  
  

If any of this information looks unfamiliar, or you don’t recall receiving that service, flag it for follow-up.

Step 2: Wait for (or Pull Up) Your EOB Before paying any bill, make sure you’ve received your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from your insurance carrier. The EOB is not a bill—it’s a document that shows:

• What was billed to the insurance

• What the insurance paid

• What discounts or adjustments were applied

• What you might owe (if anything)

  
  

Compare the EOB to your medical bill. The totals should match. If they don’t, contact your provider or insurance for clarification.

Step 3: Confirm It’s a Final Bill Some providers send bills before they’ve received the final word from your insurance. If you don’t see insurance adjustments or if it’s labeled “preliminary” or “statement,” don’t pay it yet.

You have the right to:

• Request a final, itemized bill

• Ask the provider to submit the claim to insurance (if they haven’t)

  
  

Step 4: Check for Errors Billing mistakes are more common than you think. Watch for:

• Duplicate charges

• Incorrect service dates

• Services you didn’t receive

• Out-of-network pricing when the provider should have been in-network

  
  

If something seems off, don’t hesitate to call the provider’s billing department or ask your benefits contact for help.

Step 5: Use Your HRA or HSA Wisely Once you’ve confirmed the amount due, determine which account to use:

• HSA: Tax-free funds for qualified medical expenses

• HRA: Funds provided by your employer, often with restrictions or claim submission processes

  
  

Be cautious during the rollout period—don’t use new plan year funds to pay old year bills. Always check the date of service first

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Step 6: Get Help if Needed Still unsure? That’s what we’re here for. At S+H Benefit Solutions, we walk clients through confusing bills every day. Our goal is to make sure:

• You’re not overpaying

• Your claims are processed correctly

• You get the benefits you’re entitled to

  
  

You don’t need to navigate the system alone.

When in doubt—send it to us. We’ll take it from there.