Americans Show Much How Their Hospital Bills Decrease After Requesting Itemized Receipts

By Anthony McLennan / Truth Theory

American citizens are claiming to have saved hundreds and even thousands of dollars on their hospital bills after requesting itemized billing.

After a Twitter user called Yolanda posted about how her bill was slashed from $4000 to $950 after she had asked for a breakdown of everything she had been charged for, a whole lot of other people shared similar experiences of their own.

My hospital bill went from $4,000 to $950 all because I asked them for a receipt and list of everything I was being charged for SMFH they lowered my bill by 76%
Our health care system is a SCAM.

— Yolanda (@icutyolawnduhh) April 24, 2020

Another individual told of how it was possible to get a 70 percent reduction on the bill. Just by phoning the hospital and telling them that he couldn’t afford it.

Holy shit. I just got a huge ER bill knocked down by SEVENTY PERCENT because I listened to a Tumblr post that said to call and tell them you can't pay that. I know we all know this but truly, America is a SCAM.

— akwaeke emezi (they/them) (@azemezi) April 23, 2020

It really seems that just a simple query – asking for more details of what one is paying for, could change your life in terms of not getting into debt.

This was the case with Lyss, who says she saved over $10K.

ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS ask for an itemized bill y’all !! My hospital bill was over $11,000 and I just received my itemized bill today and guess how much it was? $108. Yes, you read that right. If I didn’t call and ask for that, I would be in debt right now

— Lyss (@goddesslyss_xo) April 24, 2020

It makes one wonder what the medical institutions are really up to, and how much they actually overcharge patients and get away with it.

As this Twitter post below pointed out, hospitals don’t seem to have much problem hugely reducing their bills – when asked to.

I got a hospital bill for $20,000. after I told them that I would never be able to pay that, it was lowered to $2,000. I still can’t afford to pay it off, but the fact they were able to lower it by 90% is proof that they just ask for as much as they think they can get away with

— saddest little baby in the room (@cutestcryptid) April 25, 2020

Don’t fall into the same trap –  always query your hospital bills

If you didn’t know before, now you know! Don’t settle for what the invoice says – query it, request itemized billing. Or as some have suggested, take it up the chain of command, ask to speak to a supervisor or manager.

Check your bill for issues like double charges, extortionate prices for basic items. Or charges for procedures which never took place.

And be wary of accepting basic medication such as a headache tablet for which you could be seriously overcharged. Or of being taken in for tests which are irrelevant to your condition.

every time i go to a doctor (even when i was 15 and thought i was gay, or even when i'm not sexually active at all!!) they insist that i'm pregnant and try to test me for it. i ALWAYS refuse

— bria🌹🌹 (@briia_lewiis) April 25, 2020

The issue of medical aid fraud is another factor to consider when you find your invoice vastly more expensive than expected.

In some instances, people have even achieved results by threatening to take their stories to the media.

Yep. Best things to do are keep a notebook & write every treatment, ask if treatments are optional, never ask for aspirin or lip goo ($100+ ea), and get an itemized bill at the end. Then threaten to go to media when you find all the overbilling. Been there done that. Saved $8k.

— Stacy Gold has a new book coming out 5/2 (@AuthorStacyGold) April 25, 2020

As you can see in some of these posts below, it pays off to fight for your rights!

I got charged over 10 grand when I got shot. I was 18. I never paid it. They stopped calling me. It’s not on my credit report. It vanished.

— TRAUMA QUEEN 👑 (@checkyourtrauma) April 25, 2020

I'm in agreement with you on that Yo. 2007 my hospital said I owed $172K from a $750K total bill because they used the wrong code for the surgeon. Turns out the surgeon has 4 different rate codes. They thought my open-heart was "elective surgery". I was brought in by helicopter! pic.twitter.com/fbECVF0ByJ

— BIG DUB (@BIGDUB6) April 25, 2020

They want me to pay $500 from my last pregnancy for a urine test, a quick ultrasound, and for the doctor to talk to me for five minutes and say “you’re pregnant. You’re this far along. See you next month.” My insurance was supposed to cover it.

— MoonWitch (@MoonWitch547) April 25, 2020

Yep. Needed a sleep study. High deductible policy meant they would charge insurance $700, which would be passed directly on to me. Asked for a cash price…$300.

Always ask about a cash price, then you can still file the claim yourself and have it applied to your deductible.

— Homer's Crayon (@Homers_Crayon) April 25, 2020

Post my op and whilst recovering in the ward I was handed an invoice for R40k+ by the accounts department. Had to get my surgeon to intervene and only then was the invoice brought down to R10k. Always question everything no matter the country you’re in.

— Tals (@theblue_lily) April 25, 2020

Read more: Spain Could Become First European Nation To Implement Universal Basic Income

Written by: Anthony McLennan

I’m an experienced journalist who has written for some of South Africa’s biggest publications. Also a photographer, soccer coach, dog-lover and surfer, I enjoy spending time outdoors in beautiful Cape Town. I believe that a new approach is needed to sustain our planet and that it is important to put this message out. Read More stories by Anthony McLennan