Pop quiz: Of the scores of hospital bills sent and received everyday, how many do you think contain errors? Two in 10? half? You might not believe it but the answer is a remarkable nine in 10 of medical bills contain erroneous data. That comes from the US Government Accountability Office no less so you can't just dismiss that report just like that. Really, with that error rate you have to really check your records and make sure you are paying the true value of your medical bill debt.

This is not saying that the hospitals are in some grand conspiracy to deliberately cheat Americans of their hard-earned cash to rake huge profits, but there are just so many variables involved in the process. First, the system of recording itself is a mess and that's because too few patients bother to check their hospital bills and compare the itemized costs with the actual procedures received. Second, the explanation of benefits sent by your insurance company to you is too vague for an ordinary family to understand.

For example, you need to ask for unbundled bill to check and counter-check the encoded items there. Did you really receive the laboratory fee for sugar count that is enclosed in your bill? What about the services of the nurses assigned to you, were you billed for a separate fee or they come with the room package? Did you count how many times they changed your dressings? How about medicines?

If you can't make heads and tails of the medical jargon, your insurance company will only be too glad to help because it can save money in the process. You can even ask your hospital's billing department for a meeting with your insurance account officer to rationalize and justify your medical bill debt.

The insurance company is not totally off the hook, however. You also have to study your manual particularly your insurance coverage and cross-examine that all the procedures are duly accounted and your medical bill debt paid for. There are medical professionals and even lawyers who are experienced at examining the hospital's statement of account and the insurance company's explanation of benefits. They should be able to assist you in reducing your medical expenses.