Errors in medical bills can result in patients paying more for their medical care. Creative billing coding by some doctors, specialists and hospitals as a way to increase profits come at the expense of patients having to pay more out of pocket.

Common billing errors include incorrect dates of service, duplicate billings, charges for generic vs name brand medications, incorrect hospital room charges, unbundled and bundled charges, upcoding of procedures and balance billing.

Reviewing medical bills is of critical importance. Errors can increase the deductible, copay and coinsurance amounts. There are several ways to ensure that you don’t pay more than you have to:

Know your insurance coverage. This includes deductibles, copayments, coinsurance and covered and non-covered services.

Always get an itemized bill.

Keep all explanation of benefit summaries.

Keep detailed records of dates of service and the reason for the visit together with all information on tests and medications.

If you suspect any billing errors, you should contact a medical billing reviewer to have your bills checked for errors so that reductions can be negotiated and payment plans can be set up.

For more information, call Jill Macbeth of Medical Bill Reviewers, at 908-787-7279 or email [email protected].