Now that I'm paying a bigger share of my healthcare costs. (I have a high-deductible PPO plan and a Health Savings Account), I am more careful about reviewing bills from doctors and hospitals than I was back in the day when my employers health plan paid for everything. Even though I'm in the healthcare business, it's very difficult to for me know if there is a mistake in a bill. That's because everything is coded, making it practically incomprehensible for the lay person.

If you're faced with a huge hospital or doctor's bill, it may be worth getting an advocate to help you. There are a growing number of medical billing advocates to help people deal with healthcare billing issues. Fees for services can run from less than $50 an hour to more than $200. In some cases, advocates take a percentage of the amount they recover. Here is a good place to start: Medical Billing Advocates of America, 540-387-5870 Online Advocates Directory