Hospital Bills to Wilderness Survival: Real-Life Stories That Could Save Your Money or Your Life

This week we cover topics from watching Hospital Bills and how to save money to news of Wilderness survival and new policy, record-breaking hunts to mythbusting jellyfish. Real-life stories that could save your life or keep money in your wallet. Join radio hosts Rebecca Wanner aka ‘BEC’ and Jeff ‘Tigger’ Erhardt (Tigger & BEC) with the latest in Outdoors & Western Lifestyle News!

How to Save Money on Hospital and Insurance Bills — Even When You're Fully Covered

When you're diagnosed with a serious illness like cancer, the last thing you want to worry about is money. But between insurance coverage, hospital billing departments, and ongoing treatments, out-of-pocket costs can spiral — even when you're fully insured.

In 2021, I was diagnosed with cancer. I underwent 12 rounds of chemotherapy and 8 weeks of daily radiation. While my insurance was a blessing, I quickly discovered that being covered doesn’t mean you’re not vulnerable to costly billing mistakes — ones that could cost you thousands if you're not paying attention.

Why You Must Compare Your EOB With Hospital Bills — Line by Line

One of the most important lessons I learned: Always compare your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from your insurance provider to the bill from your hospital or healthcare provider.

Here’s what happened to me:

• Even after I had hit my out-of-pocket deductible, I noticed monthly hospital charges averaging around $900 in my online billing portal.
• After comparing the EOB to the hospital bills, I saw that some treatments weren’t even being submitted to my insurance company.
• Instead, I was being billed directly — as if I had no coverage at all.

I called my insurance company, who confirmed they hadn’t received claims for those charges. Then I contacted the hospital’s billing department and was told each time that it was a “mistake,” and they would resubmit.

Had I not caught this, I could have paid over $10,000 in wrongful charges — with little chance of a refund later.

Pro Tip: Don’t Automatically Pay Medical Bills Without Verifying

It’s tempting to just pay the bill and be done with it — especially when you're overwhelmed and just trying to get through treatments. But trust your gut.

Instead:

• Wait to receive your EOB before paying anything.
• Compare dates, services, and costs between the EOB and your hospital bill.
• Call your insurance company if anything doesn’t line up.
• Then, contact your healthcare provider’s billing department and request that charges be re-submitted if needed.

Always Ask: "Has This Been Submitted to My Insurance?"

Make it your mantra when speaking to any healthcare billing department: “Has this claim been submitted to my insurance company?”

If they say no or “it was a mistake,” ask for proof of submission and a timeline. It can take weeks or even months for a corrected bill to show up — so document every call and keep all emails or confirmations.

Human Error and AI Mistakes Are More Common Than You Think

In today’s digital world, hospitals and insurers often rely on automated systems for billing. But that doesn’t mean the process is error-free. In fact, it may be worse.

You might encounter:

• Incorrect coding of procedures
• Claims not submitted at all
• Duplicate billing
• Coverage miscalculations

That’s why your personal oversight is essential — especially when you're dealing with ongoing care.

How to Protect Yourself from Costly Healthcare Billing Mistakes

Here’s a quick checklist to help you save money and protect your finances during a medical journey:

• Know your deductible and out-of-pocket maximum
• Track every treatment and procedure in a personal log
• Check your EOBs monthly and match them with bills
• Dispute errors right away — don’t wait
• Keep records of every call and conversation
• Ask for itemized bills from providers
• Request written confirmation of any billing correction

Final Thoughts: Be Your Own Advocate — It Could Save You Thousands

Between AI systems, human error, and overloaded billing departments, even those with full insurance coverage can fall into financial traps. The stress of calling weekly to fix these issues took a toll, but in the end, it saved me thousands of dollars.

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