How to Negotiate Medical Bills

Step-by-step guide to reducing your medical bills, with proven strategies and template letters to help you save thousands.

70%

of patients who negotiate see bill reductions

20-50%

average discount achieved through negotiation

80%

of medical bills contain errors

5 Steps to Negotiate Your Medical Bills

Use this template when first requesting a bill reduction or payment plan.

When experiencing financial difficulty, use this template to request assistance.

Found billing errors? Use this template to formally dispute charges.

Yes! You can negotiate bills even with insurance, especially for out-of-pocket costs, high deductibles, or out-of-network services.

Discounts vary widely but typically range from 10-50%. Lump-sum payments often receive 20-30% discounts.

Negotiating itself won't hurt your credit. However, unpaid medical bills can be reported after 180 days. Always get payment agreements in writing.

Start as soon as possible. Most providers are more willing to negotiate before the bill goes to collections (typically 90-180 days).

Explore our grants database, learn about life settlements, and discover other financial resources to manage medical costs.