The hospital levied fraudulent charges, a trick by the patient resulted in a bill of Rs 1 lakh being halved. Learn the full story.

News Topical, Digital Desk : Have you ever thought that just five minutes spent checking your hospital bill could save you thousands of rupees? One patient proved just that. In January, after a minor outpatient procedure, he received a bill of ₹1 lakh.

Even after the insurance deductible, he was about to make a payment plan, but a colleague advised him to ask for an itemized bill first. This single step saved him 44,000 rupees.

Two major mistakes were found in the six-page bill.

The hospital gave the patient a six-page, detailed bill. Upon reading it carefully, his eyes widened. The bill listed a charge of ₹31,430 for an anesthesia consultation the patient had never received. Furthermore, a supply kit had been charged twice.

The patient said, "I called the billing department. I expected a fight, but the woman there was very calm. She said she would flag it for review."

The bill was reduced to 57,000 after the wrong charge was removed. 

Two weeks later, the hospital removed both incorrect charges. The bill, which had been 100,000 rupees, was reduced to 57,000 rupees. The patient said, "I had the money, so I paid the full bill. But if I hadn't asked for an itemized bill, this mistake would never have come to light." Billing errors are very common, and hospitals hope you won't check.

The patient advised everyone on social media to always ask for a full itemized bill, not just a summary bill. It only takes five minutes, but can save thousands of rupees. Billing errors are incredibly common, and hospitals rely on people not noticing them.

Heated debate on social media

As soon as the post went viral, comments poured in. People responded, saying this wasn't a mistake, but a deliberate move. One user wrote, "Ask for an itemized bill and watch as it drops by 20%."

A third person commented, "The most frustrating thing is that the insurance companies don't even care. I called them to let them know, but they were like, 'Whatever. We've already paid.'"

Meaning, you'll argue with me about premiums and proper coverage, but won't fight the hospital that's outright scamming you.

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