Here's one piece of the healthcare system we would love to see reformed:  medical bills.  Mistakes on hospital bills are running rampant.

One study estimates that 8 out of every 10 hospital bills contain an error.   

But many of those errors go undetected because it is darned near impossible to make sense out of your medical bills.  It's like they are written in another language, full of billing codes and medical jargon. 

Don't get ripped off by medical bill mistakes!  Checking every bill you receive--especially if you or a family member have spent some time in a hospital--can save you a pretty penny. 

To help you spot medical bill errors, here are some of the more common mistakes:

1. Excessive charges for the admission process.
2. Charged for a private room when you stayed in a semi-private room.
3. Charges for medication when you turned it down or it was not prescribed by your doctor.
4. Lumping a number of tests together on your bill. Each test should be itemized.
5. Charges for personal items such as toothpaste, combs and slippers that usually covered in the room charge.
6. Duplicate billing. Make sure you haven't been charged twice for the same service supplies or medications.  You would not believe how often this happens.
7. Being charged for the wrong number of days in the hospital. Check the dates of your admission and discharge. Also, make sure you weren't you charged for a full day the day of your discharge.

Be sure to check your medical bills carefully. The sooner you find mistakes, the better.  Call your hospital or doctor to work through any mistakes and don't hesitate to ask questions about anything on your bill you don't understand.

Let us show you a dozen more ways to fight rising medical expenses.