How To Track Of Your Claims For Medical Bills: A Simple Method

Step 1. After your visit, get a copy of the bill or make a record of what happened.

• If your provider will give you a bill at the end of your visit: Review it right away and ask any questions on the spot.
• If your provider is going to mail you a bill: Write down the specifics of what happened during the visit in your Health Journal, including any lab work or other procedures performed. When you receive your bill, check it.
• If the bill is correct, put it in the "Unpaid Bills" folder.
• If the bill is incorrect, put it in the "Questionable Bills" folder and follow up with the doctor's office.

Step 2. When you receive your bill, check it against your Journal or other notes for accuracy.

• If your bill is correct: Put it in your "Unpaid Bills" folder.
• If your bill does not seem correct: Contact your provider's office for an explanation and/or corrected bill. Place the bill into the Questionable Bills folder until you receive a corrected bill. Make sure the provider sends a corrected bill to the insurance company. Note this on the bill so you know you'll be receiving two EOBs: one for the incorrect bill and one for the corrected one.

Step 3. When you receive an Explanation of Benefits, place it in your "EOB" folder until you can review it.

Don't leave an EOB lying around. It's way too easy for things to get lost.

Step 4 . Review your EOB.

• Find the matching bill in your unpaid bills folder. Use the date of service, provider information, and dollar amounts to make sure you're checking the right bill.
• Make sure the procedures and amounts billed on the EOB match those on the bill.
• Check to see that the entire bill was processed. If it wasn't, attach the EOB to the bill and file it in the unpaid bills until you get an EOB addressing the remainder of the charges.
• Check to see whether the insurance company allowed the full charge or something less. If less, contact the insurance company.
• Verify that the deductible was only taken once.
• Verify that the right co-insurance percentage was applied.

If everything on the EOB is correct: Staple it to the bill and file it in your Completed Claims folder. If there is a portion remaining for which you are responsible, note that. You don't need to pay this money until the doctor bills you for it, or you arrive at an agreement with the doctor's billing clerk on how much you owe. (If the bill is large, consider negotiating the amount as well as payment terms). See Uninsured.

If your EOB is incorrect: Contact the insurance company for an explanation. File the bill and EOB together in the Questionable EOBs folder until you are able to resolve the errors), and you receive a corrected EOB.? For guidance, see: Questioning An EOB and Talking With Your Insurance Company.

Step 5. Periodically review your Unpaid Bills file.

Set a rotating alert in your computer or note follow up dates in your diary to remind you to review your Unpaid Bills file every few weeks.

If a bill has been in the file for more than four weeks without receiving a matching EOB, call the insurance company to check on the claim's status. Some companies also allow you to check the status of your claim online.? If so, that will often be the quickest and easiest way of following-up.

You may want to wait until you have three or four claims assembled with questions before calling the insurance company -- but don't wait more than 30 days from receipt of the EOB. A longer delay may provoke a "if he/she doesn't care, why should I?" attitude which may hamper your getting what you're entitled to.

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