One visit, in writing
What was charged, what insurance allowed, and what you may still owe — for one household and one bill, one EOB, or a matched pair.
One household · one bill or EOB
The hospital sent a bill. We write what it actually says.
A plain-English explainer of one medical bill or EOB — what was charged, what insurance allowed, what you may still owe, and what is worth asking about. California families, and the rest of the United States.
2 business days
typical after a usable file and payment
8th-grade English
written for the household, not the coder
Questions, not findings
3–7 items, confidence labeled
No card on this page
pay only after we accept the job
Example only · invented
Explanation of benefits
- Billed
- $10,866
- Allowed
- $3,538
- Est. remaining
- $1,827
Layered claims, same night. The sticker is not the balance. This card is a sample composition — not a real person or claim.
3–7 questions, labeled
Each item worth asking about is marked High, Medium, or Low confidence. It is a question, not a finding that someone made an error.
An optional draft letter
One patient-advocacy letter you edit and send yourself. We never mail it, never call the plan, and never file an appeal.
Out of scope — printed here on purpose
Questions are questions. Outcomes are unknown.
Bill Plain reads one household’s bill or Explanation of Benefits — or a matched pair for the same visit — and writes a memo you can use. We do not become your advocate, your lawyer, or your clinician.
No diagnosis.
No treatment advice.
No legal advice.
No guaranteed savings, refund, or write-off.
We do not call the insurer.
We do not send the letter.
We do not pay the bill.
We do not file appeals.
How it works
Four steps. Approval sits between quote and payment.
- 01
Send a redacted bill or EOB
One household. One bill, one EOB, or both for the same visit. Black out SSN, date of birth, street address, and the full member ID before you upload.
- 02
We quote from the billed amount
The sticker total on the document you have questions about sets the price. Use the calculator on this page. That number is the quote — not a guess.
- 03
We review, then send a pay link if we take it
There is no instant checkout. If we accept the job, you receive a Stripe payment link. Pay that, then we write. We never charge a card on this page.
- 04
You get the memo. You decide what to do.
A plain-English explainer, and an optional draft patient-advocacy letter that you edit and send yourself. You call, send, pay, or not. We do not.
Typical turnaround is 2 business days for the explainer after a usable file and payment, 3 business days if you add the letter, and next business day if you buy rush and we have capacity. The letter is a draft. We never send it.
Examples
Three invented readings. Every dollar is made up.
These cards show the shape of a memo — billed, allowed, estimated remaining, and a short list of questions. They are not case results, savings claims, or anyone’s real record.
Example only — invented dollars, not a real person or claim
ER visit
Facility charge plus a professional (physician) claim
Patient Maya R. (invented)
- Billed
- $10,866
- Allowed
- $3,538
- Est. remaining
- $1,827.60
Quote at this billed amount: $89 explainer / $119 explainer + letter
Worth asking
- HighTwo sterile-supply lines look the same. Ask whether one is a duplicate.
- MediumTwo 99285 (level-5 ER) claims. That split is often normal — confirm you are not being asked to pay the billed amount twice.
- MediumWas the visit coded as level 5 when the notes read more like a level 4?
Not a finding that the bill is wrong.
Example only — invented dollars, not a real person or claim
Hospital outpatient MRI
Imaging on a hospital campus, not a freestanding center
Patient Jordan T. (invented)
- Billed
- $6,162
- Allowed
- $1,878
- Est. remaining
- $1,015.60
Quote at this billed amount: $89 explainer / $119 explainer + letter
Worth asking
- HighThis was billed as hospital-outpatient. Ask what the same scan costs at a freestanding imaging site your plan lists.
- MediumThe code is with-and-without contrast. Check that against the order and what was actually scanned.
- MediumContrast appears as its own line. Ask whether that is already inside the MRI code.
Not a finding that the bill is wrong.
Example only — invented dollars, not a real person or claim
Specialist follow-up
Hospital-owned clinic, not an independent office
Patient Nadia K. (invented)
- Billed
- $1,218
- Allowed
- $464
- Est. remaining
- $236.80
versus a $50 desk copay they were told to expect
Quote at this billed amount: $69 explainer / $99 explainer + letter
Worth asking
- HighA provider-based facility fee is stacked on the office visit. Ask why a follow-up in a clinic carries a hospital outpatient charge.
- HighThe desk quoted a $50 copay. The EOB applies coinsurance. Ask which one the contract uses for this place of service.
- MediumAn EKG is split onto its own line. Confirm it was ordered and that it is not already in the visit.
Not a finding that the bill is wrong.
Dynamic pricing
The quote is keyed to the billed (sticker) amount.
Use the total printed on the document you want explained. Payment happens later, on a Stripe Checkout link, only after we accept the job. This page never takes a card.
$
Enter the sticker amount from the bill or EOB.
Live quote
—
- Explainer
- Rush $0
- Band prices: $49 / $69
| Billed amount | Explainer | + letter |
|---|---|---|
| Under $1,000 | $49 | $69 |
| $1,000–$4,999 | $69 | $99 |
| $5,000–$14,999 | $89 | $119 |
| $15,000–$49,999 | $119 | $149 |
| $50,000+ | $149 | $179 |
Rush is $29 on any band, next business day if capacity allows.
Enquire
Request a reading. We reply if we can take it.
File upload lives on the Google Form. This form is not a HIPAA portal. Redact before you upload. The Google Form and a private Drive Clients folder live outside this website.