Understanding Medical Bills After A Hospital Visit

Illnesses and accidents happen, and dealing with medical bills afterward can add stress to an already difficult time. This guide will help you make sense of the bills you may receive after a hospital stay.

Why You Might Receive Multiple Bills

After you leave the hospital, you might get a few bills that look the same—like two bills for an X-ray. It can be confusing, but these bills are usually for different parts of the same service. For example, the hospital might charge you for using the X-ray machine and the supplies, while the radiologist (the doctor who looks at the X-ray) sends a separate bill for reading it. This is called separate billing.

What Is Separate Billing?

Separate billing means that different people or places are charging for their part of the care, like anesthesiologists, radiologists, or specialists. They may be able to bill separately from the hospital. These doctors may not be hospital employees, even though they work there. So, you may receive:

A bill from the hospital (for room, supplies, ER use, etc.)

Separate bills from each specialist who treated you

One bill for both hospital and provider charges

Understanding Billing Language

These are things you will likely see on a medical bill.

Statement date. This is the date your provider’s or facility’s billing office printed the bill.

Name and address of the provider(s) or facility. Make sure you understand which provider or facility is billing you. If you don’t see your provider’s or facility’s name or medical practice on the bill or you see a different name, call the number on your bill and ask them whose care is being billed.

Account number. This number is assigned by the provider or facility and is unique to you. Use it to pay your bill so you get credit for your payments. You might also need to give this number to your provider or facility if you have billing questions.

Date(s) of the service. Make sure you received services on the date(s) listed.

Description of services or supplies. Make sure the services or supplies listed are the ones you received on those dates. Sometimes the descriptions are very general, have abbreviations, or include complex medical terms or billing codes. If you don’t understand the listed service or supply, contact your provider or facility.

Total charges: The full price for the service(s) and/or item(s).

Allowed amount: The maximum amount a health plan will pay for a covered health care service. The allowed amount may also be called “eligible expense,” “payment allowance,” or “negotiated rate.”

Adjustments: An amount your provider or facility subtracts from the total charges because they have agreed to discount or charge a lower amount for that service.

Insurance payment: The amount your health plan paid or is expected to pay (if you have insurance), up to the allowed amount, after you pay your share of the cost.

Patient payment: Any amount you may have already paid to your provider or facility when you got the service or supply, like a copayment.

Balance due/Patient responsibility: The amount you still owe the provider or facility based on that bill, like a deductible or coinsurance.

How to pay the bill. This is usually found at the very top or bottom of the bill, sometimes on a detachable payment slip. Look here to find the different ways to pay your bill (like mail or online) and who to pay.

How to obtain financial assistance or payment plan. Most Maryland hospitals and some hospital providers are required to provide financial assistance to lower-income Marylanders, and income-based payment plans to all Marylanders. Look for information on the bill about how to apply.

Hospital Billing Statements

In Maryland, hospitals are required to:

Send a summary financial statement within 30 days of discharge

Provide an itemized bill within 30 days of request

Steps to Resolve Billing Issues

Identify the Provider: Check who sent the bill—some provider groups have names similar to the hospital.
Verify Accuracy: Confirm that the dates and services match your hospital stay.
Contact the Billing Office: Call or email the provider’s office to ask questions. A simple question to start with is: “Can you walk me through each charge and why it applies to my visit?” Keep records of all conversations.
Send a Certified Letter: If unresolved, write to the provider with copies of relevant documents. Request a reply within 10 days.
Match Bills to Insurance EOBs: Review your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) and contact your health plan with questions.
Dispute Insurance Payments: If you think your health plan underpaid, ask for a detailed explanation.
Seek Help: If issues persist, contact the Health Education and Advocacy Unit. Don’t ignore the bill.

Need Help?

For assistance with medical billing issues, contact the Health Education and Advocacy Unit of the Consumer Protection Division:

📞 410-528-1840
📞 Toll-Free: 1-877-261-8807

heau@oag.maryland.gov