Debt Validation Letter for Medical Debt — Free Template

Compare the bill with your insurer's explanation of benefits for the same date of service. Many medical collections exist because a claim was never submitted, was submitted with the wrong code, or was denied for a reason that can be appealed.

If your insurance should have paid, call the insurer and the provider's billing office, and ask the provider to recall the account from collections while the claim is fixed. Mention this in your notes, and include the explanation of benefits if you send documents later.

The validation letter asks for an itemization of the amount. For medical debts, you can also ask the original provider for an itemized bill listing each service and charge. Look for duplicate charges, services you did not receive and incorrect patient information.

If you received emergency care or care from an out-of-network provider at an in-network facility, federal surprise billing protections may limit what you can be charged in many situations. Check whether they apply.

Nonprofit hospitals are generally required to have financial assistance policies, and many offer reduced or free care based on income. You can often apply even after a bill has gone to collections. Ask the hospital for its financial assistance application.

The major credit bureaus have changed their medical debt reporting in recent years, including removing paid medical collections from reports, and the rules have shifted more than once. Check your credit reports and dispute any medical collection reported incorrectly.

If you disputed in writing within the 30-day period, a collector that keeps collecting the disputed debt without first mailing you verification may be violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Keep a written record of every call, letter and text you receive after it got your letter, with dates and times.

You can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov and with your state's consumer protection office. Complaints are free, and the CFPB forwards them to the company and asks for a response.

The FDCPA also lets consumers sue collectors that violate it, for actual damages and statutory damages, plus court costs and legal fees in a successful case. If a collector sues you over the debt, never ignore the court papers: respond by the deadline, or you risk a default judgment. A legal aid organization can help if money is tight.