The first hospital bill you receive is rarely a real bill — it’s a tactic designed to intimidate you. Hospitals send out massive “chargemaster” bills that list astronomical prices for every service you received. But those numbers aren’t set in stone — they’re inflated to scare you into paying quickly. Behind the scenes, insurers negotiate discounts, and patients can often dispute these charges. But many don’t know this and end up paying far more than they should. Hospitals rely on the confusion and fear to collect money upfront. This “list price” has no bearing on what they’ll accept later. Knowing this is the first step to protecting yourself from being overcharged. But most people never learn it until it’s too late. #Health #MedicalBill