We kept seeing the same story in news reports, Reddit threads, and nonprofit guides: someone gets sick or injured, then spends years untangling confusing bills, fighting with collectors, and making life decisions around a number they never agreed to.
Cut My Medical Debt exists to change what happens next.
What this site is—and isn't
This site is:
- A plain-language library of guides, scripts, and stories about negotiating medical bills
- A way to collect what actually works from patients, advocates, and experts in one place
- A starting point for people who feel overwhelmed and don't know their options yet
This site is not:
- A law firm or financial advisor
- A replacement for legal aid, credit counseling, or emergency help
- A guarantee that your bills will be reduced or forgiven
You'll see external links to official agencies, nonprofits, and expert resources throughout our guides so you can go deeper when you need to.
Why we focus on negotiation and assistance
Again and again, research, nonprofits, and real-world stories show:
- Many bills contain errors, duplicate charges, or inflated prices.
- Hospitals often have financial assistance / charity care policies that people don't learn about until they ask.
- Patients who call, ask questions, and apply for help regularly get significant reductions—even on five-figure bills.
We built this site to make that playbook easier to find and use, especially when you don't have the energy to dig through PDFs and scattered advice.
Where BillBot fits in
As we pulled all this research together, one thing became obvious: doing this yourself can feel like a part-time job.
You're expected to:
- Learn billing codes and hospital policies
- Track down itemized bills and EOBs
- Call, document, and follow up multiple times
That's why we also helped create BillBot, a separate service that:
- Lets you upload your bills
- Uses software and human negotiators to check for errors, assistance options, and overcharges
- Contacts billing departments on your behalf, using many of the same tactics described in these guides
Cut My Medical Debt is the education and empowerment side. BillBot is the “do this for me because I'm exhausted” side.
Who this site is for
This site is for you if:
- You've opened a medical bill and thought, “This makes no sense.”
- You're afraid of collections but can't pay what's being asked.
- You'd like to push back, but you want language and a plan, not just vague advice.
You'll get the most value if you:
- Are willing to read a guide or two
- Can make a call or send a letter (or ask someone you trust to help)
- Want to understand your options before making big decisions
If that's beyond your capacity right now, that's okay too. Just knowing you have options is a good first step.
How to use this site
A simple way to get started:
- Go to Start Here and walk through the basic steps.
- Pick one guide that matches your situation (new bill, collector call, charity care, ER visit) from the Guides page.
- Keep the Scripts & Templates page open so you can copy phrases instead of inventing everything yourself.
If you reach the point where you know what should happen but you don't have the time or energy to do it, you can see how BillBot approaches negotiation for people in exactly that spot.
If you have ideas for topics we should cover or resources we should link to, the best way to “request” them is just to notice what questions you still have after reading—and look for them in future updates.