Medical bill dispute letter

When to use this letter

Use it once you have an itemized bill and have compared it to your Explanation of Benefits (see how to read an EOB). Putting the dispute in writing creates a paper trail. If your bill has gone to a debt collector, you generally have 30 days after first contact to ask the collector to verify the debt^source, and this letter does that.

The template

[Your name]
[Your address]
[City, State, ZIP]
[Date]

[Provider or billing office name]
[Billing office address]

Re: Disputed charges, account [account number], date of service [date]

To whom it may concern:

I am writing to dispute charges on the bill referenced above. After reviewing the itemized charges against my Explanation of Benefits, I believe the following items are incorrect:

  - [Item or service], billed [amount]: [reason, for example duplicate charge, service not received, wrong date, amount does not match the allowed amount on my Explanation of Benefits].
  - [Item or service], billed [amount]: [reason].

Please do the following:
  1. Provide a corrected, itemized statement of charges for this account.
  2. Place this account on hold while the dispute is reviewed.
  3. Respond to me in writing at the address above.

If this account has been referred to a debt collector, please treat this letter as a dispute and a request to verify the debt. I am requesting verification within the time allowed.

I can be reached at [phone] or [email]. I am keeping a record of my communications about this bill, including the date, time, and reference number of each call.

Sincerely,
[Your name]

How to use it

Replace every bracketed field. Be specific about each disputed charge and why it is wrong. Send the letter so you have a dated record, keep a copy, and then call to follow up. Record that call where your state allows it (see call recording laws by state), so you have both the written dispute and proof of what you were told.