That confusing document after your doctor visit — what it means and why it's not a bill.
After you receive medical care and a claim is processed, your insurance company sends you an Explanation of Benefits — or EOB. It's one of the most confusing documents in healthcare, mostly because it looks like a bill but isn't.
The EOB almost always says this at the top — because it isn't. The actual bill comes from your doctor or hospital, usually a few weeks later. The EOB tells you what to expect that bill to say.
Billing errors are surprisingly common. Check that the services listed match what you actually received. Look for duplicate charges, procedures you didn't have, or services billed under the wrong codes. If something looks wrong, call the provider's billing department before paying.
Your EOB also shows your running deductible and out-of-pocket totals for the year. This helps you know how close you are to hitting your deductible — useful when deciding whether to schedule care before year-end.
Save them for at least a year. They're your documentation if there's ever a dispute about what was billed or paid.