dimeanddollar

Health care costs, in plain English

Check every medical bill. Pay only what you really owe.

Plain-English guides to choosing a health plan, paying less for prescriptions and care, matching bills to your insurer's statement, asking for financial assistance, and your rights against surprise bills.

Decode a medical bill Compare two plans

First bill received$1,840

  • 1Asked for an itemized bill: duplicate charge removed-$310
  • 2Matched to the insurance EOB: adjustment not applied-$620
  • 3Applied for the hospital's financial assistance: 50% off-$455

Actually owed$455

An illustrative example. Results depend on your bill, your plan and the provider's policies.

Start with one of these

DecoderMedical bill termsAnd a routine for checking any bill. CalculatorCompare two plansPremiums plus what you'd actually pay. ChecklistHealth CostsSixteen steps to paying less.

15 health care cost guides

Choose and use your plan

Pay less for care

Check your bills

Know your rights

Free download, no email needed

The Medical Bill Workbook

Note your plan's key numbers, match every bill to your insurer's statement, log every call, check financial assistance and track your yearly costs.

Get the free PDFSee the Health Costs checklist

Coming soon

Check, question and pay medical bills with confidence

Medical Bill Toolkit: a bill tracker spreadsheet, an EOB matching worksheet, letter templates and phone scripts for itemized bills, financial assistance, payment plans and appeals.

$14 once, for the whole toolkit. 30-day refund.

See what's in it