Medical Bill Negotiation Service
Bill Defense by CareRoute
You only pay if we save you money
Professional medical bill negotiators who work directly with hospitals and providers to reduce what you owe — through financial assistance, billing error corrections, and direct negotiation.
Start Your Bill Reduction25% of savings, or just 18% for CareRoute Premium members (max $1,000)
Average savings*
Upfront cost
Fee if no savings
*Savings are not guaranteed and depend on individual circumstances.
How Bill Defense Works
A simple process to lower your medical bills
Enroll online
Complete a simple form with your bill details
We get records
We request itemized bills and account details from your provider
We negotiate
Our team fights for discounts, financial aid, and error corrections
You save money
Pay your reduced bill — or pay us nothing if we can't help
What Our Negotiators Check
Every bill gets a comprehensive review for savings opportunities
Coding Errors
Upcoding, unbundling, duplicate charges, and services not rendered
Insurance Processing
Verify that benefits, adjustments, and in-network rates were correctly applied by your insurer
Out-of-Network Issues
Balance billing disputes and No Surprises Act protections
Price Transparency
Compare against published rates and negotiate to fair market pricing
Negotiated Settlements
Direct negotiation with providers to secure a lower total amount owed
Financial Assistance
Hospital charity care programs and income-based discounts (often 100% forgiveness)
How We Reduce Your Bill
Apply for Financial Assistance
Most hospitals have charity care programs. We identify eligibility and submit applications on your behalf.
Find Billing Errors
We review itemized bills for duplicate charges, upcoding, and services not rendered.
Negotiate Directly
We work with hospital billing departments to secure discounts and fair pricing.
Handle the Paperwork
We manage all communications, documentation, and follow-ups with your provider.
Why Professional Medical Bill Negotiation Works
Most patients don't realize how much room there is to negotiate medical bills. Hospitals routinely charge 2–5× what insurance companies actually pay for the same services, and billing errors appear on an estimated 80% of medical bills. Without professional review, these overcharges go unnoticed and unchallenged.
A medical bill negotiation service works because negotiators understand the billing system from the inside. They know how to read itemized bills, identify CPT coding errors, and compare charges against fair market rates using the same data insurers use. They also know which hospitals have financial assistance programs, what the income thresholds are, and how to submit applications that get approved.
Perhaps most importantly, professional negotiators have leverage that individual patients don't. They handle volume, know the right departments to contact, and understand what discounts hospitals are willing to offer versus what they advertise. Hospitals expect negotiation from professionals — they often have dedicated teams for handling these conversations.
The result: patients who use a medical bill negotiation service typically save significantly more than those who negotiate on their own, and they avoid the stress of navigating a system designed to be opaque.
Who Benefits Most From Bill Negotiation
Uninsured or Underinsured Patients
Without insurance, you're often billed at the highest chargemaster rates. Negotiators secure self-pay discounts and apply for charity care programs that can reduce or eliminate your bill entirely.
High-Deductible Plan Holders
If you haven't met your deductible, you're paying most costs out of pocket. We verify that in-network rates were applied correctly and negotiate the remaining balance down.
Emergency Room Visits
ER bills are among the most error-prone and expensive. Out-of-network providers, facility fees, and surprise bills are common — and all are negotiable.
Hospital Stays and Surgeries
Complex bills with dozens of line items have the most room for error. Longer stays and surgical procedures are where negotiators find the largest savings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a medical bill negotiation service?
How do medical bill negotiators reduce bills?
Do I need an itemized bill to get started?
How much do people typically save with hospital bill negotiation?
How long does the process take?
Can I use Bill Defense if I'm uninsured?
Will this affect my credit?
How much does Bill Defense cost?
Example: Your $3,500 bill is reduced to $2,500 by Bill Defense — you save $1,000.
- Premium member fee: $180 (18% of savings)
- Non-member fee: $250 (25% of savings)
On larger bills, fees are capped at $1,000 — so the more you save, the better the deal. No upfront costs, and no fee if we can't save you money.
Ready to reduce your medical bill?
It takes just a few minutes to get started. No upfront payment required.
Start Your Bill Reduction