Navigating medical bills in the U.S.
$88 billion of outstanding medical bills are currently in collections Ð affecting one in five Americans. Medical bills are rife with errors, and billing systems are complex. Confirming an unpaid bill often depends on whether you contact the provider, the billing department, or the insurance company. Follow these tips to navigate the complex medical billing and collections system.
How did you hear about the debt?
If you heard about the debt from your credit report or a credit check, learn how to review your reports and dispute errors at consumerfinance.gov/credit.
If you heard about the debt from a debt collector, learn your rights at consumerfinance.gov/debt-collection.
If you heard about the debt from a health care provider, do you recognize the bill and service?
If you do not recognize the bill and service, contact your health care provider to request an itemized list of services and providers from your care.
If the provider or service is not listed, this debt may not be yours or it may be an old debt. Contact your provider to get more information.
If you recognize the bill and service but it is an unexpected bill, you may have protections under the No Surprises Act: cms.gov/nosurprises.
If you recognize the bill and service and the provider or service is listed, do you believe this service should have been covered by your insurance?
If you believe the service should have been covered by your insurance, contact your insurer for an explanation of benefits and an itemized list of payments.
If you do not believe this service should have been covered by your insurance, did you already pay the bill?
If you did pay the bill, call your provider with documentation that the bill has been paid.
If you do not believe the service should have been covered by your insurance, and you can pay your medical bill, then you should pay it. 
If you do not believe the service should have been covered by your insurance, but you are unable to pay the bill yourself, find out if payment plans, charity care, or other assistance programs are available through your provider, state, or advocacy groups.
If you cannot pay your bill, do you qualify for charity care?
If you do not qualify for charity care, but believe you should qualify, see if you can appeal the decision, enter into a payment plan, or find other payment assistance programs in your local community.
If you do qualify for charity care, follow the steps to enroll. Keep copies of all of your bills, correspondence, and paperwork. Follow up on your charity care application. If you are still contacted by a debt collector, tell them youÕve applied for charity care. You may also tell them to stop contacting you while your application is pending. If you are experiencing a problem with debt collectors or credit reporting, submit a complaint at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.
CFPB: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
To learn more, visit consumerfinance.gov/medicaldebt