Frequently Asked Questions

Barley helps you find errors in your Medicare bills by checking for coding mistakes, duplicate charges, and billing rule violations. Upload your medical bill and Medicare statement (EOB or MSN), and we'll show you potential billing errors in plain English, along with letters and scripts to dispute them.

Every tool in this version is free right now — analysis, dispute letters, phone scripts, all of it. Nothing is being charged. Analysis stays free regardless. The action tools have eventual prices — Quick Action ($29) for a dispute letter and phone script, Full Action ($59) for complex situations with multiple tools and escalation strategy — but those are not in effect today, and we'll let you know clearly before any pricing changes take effect. We also offer free referrals to certified billing advocates if you prefer a professional handle it. Most people pay nothing — the free analysis alone resolves many questions.

You can analyze a bill without an account, but creating a free account lets you save your results, come back to your dispute scripts and letters, and track your progress over time. You can create an account after your analysis is complete, or anytime from the Sign In link at the top of the page.

SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) provides free, unbiased counseling about Medicare from trained volunteers. They can help you understand your bills, file appeals, compare Medicare plans, and apply for financial assistance programs. Call 1-877-839-2675 or visit shiphelp.org to find your local SHIP counselor.

Yes. Barley works for both Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage (Part C). We check for coding errors, duplicate charges, unbundling, and other billing rule violations regardless of which type of Medicare you have. One important difference: Medicare Advantage plans negotiate their own rates with providers, and those rates are not published — so we cannot verify whether the amount you owe is correct without your plan's Explanation of Benefits (EOB). For Original Medicare patients, we can compare bills against Medicare's published fee schedule. For Medicare Advantage patients, your EOB is the only document that shows what your plan agreed to pay. Some tools and deadlines also differ between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage — we'll guide you to the right process based on your coverage type.

Yes. Medicare rules are federal, but many consumer protections vary by state. Barley identifies your state based on your provider's location and includes relevant state-specific resources — such as your State Insurance Commissioner's contact information, state financial assistance laws (some states require all hospitals to offer charity care), and your local SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) counselor for free, personalized Medicare help.

Barley checks Medicare bills and denial letters for mistakes, so there is nothing for us to check until you have one. If you are joining Medicare, changing plans, or losing coverage, we have a free guide that walks you through what to do first and what to ask. It does not recommend a plan or sell you anything.Joining Medicare

If you have Original Medicare (Parts A and B), you receive a Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) every 3 months. If you have Medicare Advantage or private insurance, you receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from your insurance company, usually monthly. Both documents show what your insurance paid and what you owe — they're just called different names.

Yes, but the analysis will be more limited. We can still check your bill for coding errors, duplicate charges, unbundling, and phantom charges. However, we won't be able to compare your bill against what your insurance says you owe — and for Medicare Advantage patients, this comparison is especially important because plans negotiate their own unpublished rates. You can request a copy of your MSN by calling 1-800-MEDICARE or logging in to Medicare.gov. If you have Medicare Advantage, call the number on the back of your member ID card to request your EOB.

Take a photo of each page when you upload. The system will combine them into one analysis. Make sure all pages are clear and readable.

Yes! You can upload PDFs, JPEGs, or PNGs. If you received your bill electronically, you can upload the PDF directly.

We check your bill for coding errors, duplicate charges, unbundling, and other billing rule violations. For Original Medicare patients, we also compare charges against Medicare's published fee schedule. For Medicare Advantage patients, rate verification requires your plan's Explanation of Benefits (EOB) because plans negotiate their own unpublished rates. While we can identify likely errors and areas worth questioning, you should review each finding and decide which ones to pursue. Some findings may have legitimate explanations that aren't visible on the bill.

That's good news — it likely means your bill is correct! However, if you still think something is wrong, you can request an itemized bill from your provider and review it yourself, or consult with a patient advocate.

The analysis typically takes 8-12 seconds. We show you exactly what we're checking at each step so you understand the process.

No. Review each finding and decide which ones matter most to you. Focus on the larger amounts first. Some people prefer to dispute only errors over $100, while others want to challenge everything.

For simple, clear-cut errors (like duplicate charges), a phone call often works. For larger bills, multiple errors, or if you want a paper trail, send a formal letter via certified mail. You can do both.

If the provider won't correct the error, you can file a formal complaint with Medicare (1-800-MEDICARE), your State Insurance Commissioner, or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. We provide step-by-step instructions for each.

Simple errors may be resolved in a few days. Complex disputes can take 30-60 days or longer. Send your dispute letter via certified mail and follow up if you don't hear back within 30 days.

You still have rights — and options. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), you can request a debt validation letter within 30 days of first contact. The collector must prove the debt is yours, the amount is correct, and they have the right to collect it. While validation is pending, collection must stop. If the original bill had errors, those errors don't disappear just because the debt was sold. You can dispute the underlying charges with the original provider while simultaneously challenging the collector. Barley provides debt validation letters, cease-and-desist templates, and step-by-step guides for both paths.

Ask the provider to verify the Medicare payment was properly applied to your account. Sometimes payments are received but not credited to the right patient or visit. Request a payment posting history showing all payments received and applied. If your MSN or EOB shows Medicare paid, but the bill still charges you the full amount, this is likely an error that can be corrected with a simple phone call.

Providers who accept Medicare assignment are required to submit claims to Medicare — you should not have to do it yourself. Call the billing department and ask if the claim was submitted to Medicare. If not, provide your Medicare number and request they file it now. If they refuse, call 1-800-MEDICARE and ask Medicare to contact the provider. You can also file a complaint with your Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) if the provider continues to refuse.

In most states, family members are NOT personally responsible for a deceased person's medical debt unless they co-signed or are a spouse in a community property state. Send a debt validation letter stating the patient is deceased and you are not personally liable. Request proof of any co-signed agreement. If they continue collection attempts, send a cease-and-desist letter citing your state's laws on deceased patient debt. Do not make any payments, as this could be seen as accepting responsibility.

If you're a Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) or dual-eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, you should NOT be charged for Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, or copays. Federal law prohibits providers from billing you for these amounts — Medicaid covers them. If you receive a bill for these charges, call the provider immediately and inform them of your QMB or dual-eligible status. Request they submit the claim to Medicaid. If they refuse to correct the bill, file a complaint with your State Medicaid office.

With Original Medicare, you appeal to your Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) — you have 120 days to request a redetermination. With Medicare Advantage (Part C), you appeal to your plan first — you have 65 days to file. If your MA plan denies the appeal, it automatically goes to an independent review. Both paths have 5 levels of appeal. The deadlines and addresses are different, so make sure you know which type of Medicare you have before filing.

Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) help pay your Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance. The main programs are QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary — covers all cost-sharing), SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary — covers Part B premium), and QI (Qualifying Individual — covers Part B premium). Income limits vary by state. Apply through your state Medicaid office. Our Financial Assistance Screener can help you check eligibility.

Yes — most for-profit hospitals offer financial assistance or hardship programs, even though they are not required to by federal law. (Nonprofit hospitals are legally required to under IRS Section 501(r).) The program might be called a "financial hardship policy," "patient assistance program," or "charity care." Ask the billing department — they can tell you how to apply. In some states (including California, Illinois, New York, Colorado, and others), all hospitals are required by state law to offer financial assistance regardless of their tax status. Our Financial Assistance Screener can help you check eligibility and walk you through the application process.

Every Part D plan must have an exception process (42 CFR § 423.578). If your drug is denied because of step therapy, formulary restrictions, prior authorization, or quantity limits, you can request a coverage determination exception. Your doctor must provide a supporting statement. The plan has 72 hours to decide (24 hours if delay could harm your health). About 7 out of 10 exception requests with doctor support are approved. Use our Part D Coverage Determination Request tool to generate the letters you need.

When you switch Part D plans, your Extra Help (Low-Income Subsidy) status does not always transfer automatically. The pharmacy system may not have your LIS flag, so it charges full copays instead of the reduced amount ($1.60 for generics, $4.90 for brand-name). Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to verify your eligibility and request a "best available evidence" letter. Bring the letter to your pharmacy and call your plan. They must retroactively adjust your copays and refund the difference.

If the provider accepts Medicare assignment, they agreed to accept the Medicare-approved amount as full payment. Your 20% coinsurance must be calculated on the approved amount, not the provider's chargemaster rate. For Part B drugs (given in a doctor's office or infusion center), Medicare pays at Average Sales Price (ASP) plus 6%. If you are being charged coinsurance on a higher amount, you are being charged more than Medicare rules allow. Check your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) for the approved amount and compare it to what you were billed.

Starting in 2025, Medicare Part D has a hard cap on what you pay out of pocket for prescription drugs each year (approximately $2,100 in 2026). Once you reach this limit, your plan covers 100% of your covered drug costs for the rest of the year. Your copays, coinsurance, and deductible all count toward the cap. If you think you have hit the cap but are still being charged, call your plan and ask them to verify your True Out-of-Pocket (TrOOP) spending. You can also spread costs with the Prescription Payment Plan (no interest, no fees).

Not necessarily. An Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN) must meet specific legal requirements to be valid — it must name the specific service, state the specific reason Medicare might not pay, offer you three options (including the right to decline), and be signed before the service is provided. If the ABN was a blanket form covering "all services," was signed after the service, or was missing required elements, it may be invalid — and an invalid ABN protects you the same as no ABN at all. Use our ABN Validity Checker tool (under Tools > Dispute & Appeal) to assess whether your ABN meets Medicare's requirements.

This is one of Medicare's most costly coverage gaps. To qualify for Medicare-covered skilled nursing facility (SNF) care, you need at least 3 consecutive days of inpatient hospital stay. Time spent under "observation status" does not count toward those 3 days — even if you spent several nights in the hospital. This can leave you owing $6,000 to $18,000+ for SNF care that would otherwise be covered. Use our Observation Status Guide tool to understand your options, including requesting a status change (if you are still in the hospital) or appealing the decision after discharge.

Your billing documents are encrypted in transit and at rest. We never sell or share your information for advertising. We never ask for your medical records, Social Security number, or bank information. See our Privacy Policy for full details on how we handle and protect your data.

Yes. Documents you upload are encrypted, stored only as long as needed to deliver your analysis, and never sold or shared with advertisers.

You can print or email your results to yourself using the buttons on each screen. The printed version doesn't include any interactive features, just the information you need.