FAQ

Common questions about ER bills

Why ER bills are so high, what facility fees actually are, and how to dispute charges that don't look right.

Why is my ER bill so high?

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ER bills typically include a separate hospital facility fee (often $1,500–$3,000+), a separate physician charge, plus individual charges for every lab, image, supply, and hour of observation. Each is coded individually and billed at the highest rate by default, which is why even a short visit can total thousands of dollars.

What is a hospital facility fee?

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It's a charge from the hospital itself, just for using the ER room and resources — separate from the physician's bill. Facility fees are coded from Level 1 (simple) to Level 5 (most complex). The level is assigned by the hospital, which is why this is one of the most commonly disputed ER charges.

Can you dispute emergency room charges?

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Yes. You can request a fully itemized bill, ask the hospital to verify charges, dispute duplicate or unclear items, request a coding review, and apply for financial assistance. Out-of-network ER physician charges may also be protected by the federal No Surprises Act.

How do I read an itemized ER bill?

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Each line should have a CPT code (5 digits) or HCPCS code (a letter + 4 digits). Charges with no code, vague labels like "misc supplies" or "room kit," or duplicates of the same code on the same date are the most worth reviewing. If your bill isn't itemized, request one — hospitals are required to provide it.

What is the No Surprises Act and how does it apply to ER bills?

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The federal No Surprises Act protects you from most surprise out-of-network bills for emergency care. If the hospital was in-network but the ER physician group wasn't, you generally can't be billed at out-of-network rates beyond what an in-network provider would have cost you.

What kinds of files can I upload?

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We accept PDF, JPG, and PNG. Itemized ER bills work best. EOBs and statements also work. If our parser can't extract the data, you can enter the line items manually and still run the review.

How does the ER review work?

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We run a deterministic rules engine focused on ER-specific issues: high facility fees, duplicate labs and imaging, vague supply charges, out-of-network indicators, upcoding suspicion, repeated monitoring fees, and price outliers. Each issue is shown with severity, confidence, and what to ask the hospital.

Will you contact the hospital for me?

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Not in this version. We give you a ready-to-use ER-specific call script and a draft dispute letter. You stay in control of the conversation.

Is Check My ER Bill giving me legal or medical advice?

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No. Check My ER Bill identifies common ER billing patterns that may deserve a closer look. Our reviews are not legal, medical, or insurance advice and don't guarantee accuracy or savings. Always confirm with your provider or insurer before taking action.

What if you flag something that turns out to be correct?

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That's expected. The point of the review is to help you ask better questions. A flag is a prompt for review, not an accusation. Many flagged items will turn out to be legitimate after a quick conversation with the billing office.

Is my data private?

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Yes. Your ER bills are stored in private buckets that only you can access. We never sell your data or share it with hospitals, insurers, or advertisers.

Can I delete my data?

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Yes. You can delete any bill or review from your dashboard at any time. Deleting a bill removes the file and all related review data.