Took on a medical bill or a collectorMedical bills$1,500
He Fought a $1,500 MRI Bill and Lost: What He'd Do Differently
An MRI at a hospital left him owing about $1,500 even with insurance. He walks through six things he tried to lower the bill, why none of them worked, and what he plans to do differently next time.
Video by Jeremy's Journey - Navigating a Chronic IllnessPublished January 17, 2022Breakdown updated September 15, 2026
Key moments
“I fought a $1500 hospital bill and lost...Here's what I learned so you can lower your hospital bills” by Jeremy's Journey - Navigating a Chronic Illness. We didn't make this video; it loads from YouTube when you press play.
Where they started
In fall 2021, numbness and tingling sent him to a neurologist, who ordered MRIs of his brain and cervical spine. He booked them at a hospital that could fit him in within a week or two. The hospital billed about $13,000, and after the in-network discount and his insurer's payment, his 20% coinsurance left him owing about $1,531.
What they did
- 1
He checked that his insurer had applied his benefits correctly, including his 20% coinsurance, and it had.
- 2
He asked for an itemized bill and looked up each CPT code, confirming he was billed for the MRIs he actually had.
- 3
He compared the charges against the hospital's published price list and found they matched.
- 4
He called the billing office to ask for a discount, but the only one offered was the discount printed on the bill for paying early and in full.
- 5
He applied for the hospital's financial assistance and was denied.
- 6
He asked his insurer to appeal the claim, which failed, and asked the hospital to accept the Medicare rate, which it refused because he isn't on Medicare.
What you can learn from it
Check the insurance math first
His first step was confirming his insurer applied his coinsurance correctly. The CFPB also suggests checking that a bill reflects what insurance paid.
Read the itemized bill line by line
He looked up each CPT code to confirm the services happened and were coded correctly. The CFPB suggests asking for an itemized list of charges to catch errors.
Ask someone who can say yes
The first billing representative turned down his discount request. Looking back, he wishes he'd asked for a supervisor, since the person answering the phone may not have the authority to change a bill.
Apply for financial assistance anyway
His application was denied, but he still thinks it was worth trying even with a decent income. Nonprofit hospitals must have a written financial assistance policy that explains who qualifies and how to apply.
Ask about price before the next procedure
His biggest lesson is to ask for a discount or a cash price up front, and to price imaging at a private center instead of a hospital. He says simply asking once cut a brain scan analysis from $500 to $200, though results vary.
In their words
“Just make sure your insurance company applied your benefits correctly and calculated things correctly.”
“It never hurts to get a discount or ask for a discount. The worst thing that they can say is say no.”
Before you copy this path
His bill didn't come down, and his tips on cash prices and private imaging centers come from his own experience. Hospital prices, financial assistance rules and appeal outcomes vary by insurer, hospital and state.
Medical debt basicsCommon questions
Do hospitals have to publish their prices?
Yes. CMS says that starting January 1, 2021, each hospital operating in the United States has to post pricing information online, both as a machine-readable file of all items and services and as a consumer-friendly display of shoppable services.
Source: cms.govCan you appeal when a health insurer denies a claim?
Yes. HealthCare.gov says people whose claim is denied have the right to an internal appeal with the insurer, and the right to take the appeal to an independent third party for external review.
Source: healthcare.govWhat should you check on a medical bill before paying it?
The CFPB suggests asking for an itemized list of charges if something doesn't look right, negotiating the bill down to an amount you can afford, and asking whether the provider will accept an interest-free repayment plan.
Source: consumerfinance.govSources
By DebtCheckUSAEditorial Team. This is our summary of a video we didn't make, and nobody paid us to include it. It's one person's experience, not financial, tax or legal advice. Advertiser disclosure
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