Plain-English guides to medical bills
Short, practical guides for people with Medicare and the families who help them.
How to Read Your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN), Line by Line
A plain-English guide to the Medicare Summary Notice: what each column means, what you may owe, and what to do if a service was denied.
What Does 'Maximum You May Be Billed' Mean on a Medicare Notice?
What 'Maximum You May Be Billed' on your Medicare Summary Notice means, why it can differ from your bill, and what to do if a provider asks for more.
Medicare Part B Deductible and 20% Coinsurance, Explained With an Example
The 2026 Medicare Part B deductible is $283. See how it and the 20% coinsurance work on actual doctor bills, with a worked example you can follow.
How to Read a Medicare Advantage Explanation of Benefits (EOB)
What each part of a Medicare Advantage Explanation of Benefits means, how to match it to your bills, and what to do if a claim was denied.
Why Did I Get a Bill After Medicare Paid?
The common reasons you get a bill after Medicare pays: deductible, 20% coinsurance, denied services, and billing mistakes, plus how to check.
What to Do When a Doctor Bills You More Than Medicare Allows (Balance Billing and Limiting Charges)
When a doctor can charge more than the Medicare-approved amount, how the 15% limiting charge works, and what to say if a bill looks too high.
What Is a CPT Code, and How Do I Look One Up?
What CPT and HCPCS codes are, where to find them on your bills and Medicare notices, and simple ways to look one up and check it against your care.
Medicare Part A Hospital Bills: Deductible, Benefit Periods, and Daily Coinsurance (2026)
How Medicare Part A hospital bills work in 2026: the $1,736 deductible, benefit periods, daily coinsurance after day 60, and how to check your bill.
Medicare Part B Premium Deductions From Social Security: Reading Your Premium Notices
How Part B premiums come out of Social Security, what the 2026 standard premium is, why a Medicare bill may still arrive, and what to check on notices.