This, start with your EOB for the visit. It will be more useful than trying to ask for an itemized bill.

You do not need a lawyer to reduce your property taxes, or to fight increases. Talk to your assessors office about the process and it is something you can do. There are different methods of appealing based on the why your assessment is changing, ie a reassessment or equalization.

Here when it is a reassessment there is the option of talking to the assessor and having them do an informal assessment, basically coming out and walking around the property and giving you a number. You can either agree with the number or disagree. If you agree with the new number you simply sign off and its done. If you disagree you can still do a formal written protest to the board of review.

If the increase is a result of equalization, your only option is to submit a formal written protest.

When talking to the assessor, or in your written protest tell why your taxes should not be increased. For example one time I argued that my taxes were being increased twice in two years while other houses in the area were not. Another time i protested that the increase was greater than what other houses of similar age, size, and design were selling for in my area.

The key point of this article is that the patient in the article's wife is the manager of a medical office and her duties include billing. In other words she has knowledge of medical billing.

Following tip 2 getting an itemized bill will not get the average person the same result. The average person will not understand a detailed medical bill, this is even stated in what a term or code means, knowing whether or not that was performed.

Nor will following tip 3 comparing your charges to those at other hospitals work like comparing gas prices at nearby stations, hospitals don't compete like gas stations. Depending on the area you are there may or may not be multiple hospitals in your immediate area and those hospitals may be different sizes all affecting what they charge. Hospitals also have negotiated contracts with each insurance carrier that affects what you pay, some insurance companies get better/worse deals than others.

Again, the key point of the article should be if someone wants to investigate their medical bill, not requesting an itemized bill, or comparing prices, but having knowledge of medical billing.