Get answers to your questions on health care affordability.

Health care costs can feel confusing, especially when bills arrive. Not every medical bill is hospital-related, but below are answers to some common questions about hospital care. If you have a specific question about your bill, please contact your hospital directly.

Hospitals are focused on delivering the care people need, when and where they need it, but our health care system is complex and hasn’t always kept pace with today’s care. That’s why hospitals are helping people prevent and better manage illness, strengthening patient safety, and improving coordination so tests and services aren’t repeated unnecessarily — all steps that help lower the overall cost of care. 

  • Watch as Chris DeRienzo, M.D., chief physician executive and senior vice president at the American Hospital Association, explains why insurance billing can be confusing, with various factors affecting what you owe.

  • Claire Zangerle, DNP, R.N., senior vice president and chief nurse executive at the American Hospital Association (AHA) and CEO at the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL), explains why you should contact your hospital if you can't afford your bill.

  • Watch as Chris DeRienzo, M.D., chief physician executive and senior vice president at the American Hospital Association, shares the reasons why hospital bills are expensive.

  • Watch as Claire Zangerle, DNP, R.N., senior vice president and chief nurse executive at the American Hospital Association (AHA) and CEO at the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL), shares why health care costs are rising, and why systemwide collaboration is needed to find real solutions.

  • Watch as Chris DeRienzo, M.D., chief physician executive and senior vice president at the American Hospital Association, explains how to find out how much a service will cost in advance of a hospital visit.

  • Watch as Chris DeRienzo, M.D., chief physician executive and senior vice president at the American Hospital Association, explains why you might receive multiple bills for the same visit.

  • Watch as Chris DeRienzo, M.D., chief physician executive and senior vice president at the American Hospital Association, explains why health care costs keep rising, and why real solutions require looking at the entire system.

  • Watch as Claire Zangerle, DNP, R.N., senior vice president and chief nurse executive at the American Hospital Association (AHA) and CEO at the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL), explains how a variety of factors affect the costs of service.

  • Watch as Claire Zangerle, DNP, R.N., senior vice president and chief nurse executive at the American Hospital Association (AHA) and CEO at the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL), explains what a facility fee means on a hospital bill.

  • Chris DeRienzo, M.D., chief physician executive and senior vice president at the American Hospital Association, shares his thoughts on the fragility of the health care system and why we need to figure out a better way to address health costs.