By: Shannon Sparks
Women in America face unique challenges when it comes to healthcare costs. Medical debt is a growing issue, and studies show that women are more likely than men to experience financial hardship due to medical bills. From maternity care to reproductive health services, women often bear the brunt of high healthcare costs, unexpected charges, and insurance complexities. A study found that 14.3% of women aged 18-35 who recently gave birth have medical debt exceeding $250, nearly double the rate of their peers who did not recently give birth. Another study revealed that one in eight women carries medical debt, compared to one in eleven men. Despite these financial burdens, less than one-third of women challenge their medical bills, often because they don’t know they can or believe the process is too complicated. Patient Fairness – found online at: http://patientfairness.com – was created to change that, providing women with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to fight back against unfair billing.
Founded by Matt Ungs, a veteran of the health insurance industry, Patient Fairness was designed to give patients power in a system where hospitals, insurance companies, and provider networks often work in ways that financially benefit them at the expense of patients. “I witnessed first-hand in my prior career running health plan provider networks how hospital systems, medical groups, and health insurance plans financially thrived while healthcare prices and insurance costs soared for patients,” says Ungs. “Patients got saddled with unaffordable medical prices and insurance premiums because insurance networks benefited providers and health plans at the expense of patients.” He created Patient Fairness as a way to give patients leverage, using decades of industry knowledge to help individuals dispute unfair bills.
Women, particularly those seeking reproductive healthcare, maternity services, and mental health treatment, are more likely to face billing issues. Maternity care is one of the most expensive healthcare services in the U.S., with costs often exceeding $10,000 for an uncomplicated birth, and surprise bills from out-of-network providers are common. Women also rely more on reproductive health services like birth control, fertility treatments, and gynecological care, yet these services are frequently subjected to inflated costs and coverage limitations. Mental health services pose another challenge, as women are more likely than men to seek mental health care but often struggle with denied claims and high out-of-pocket costs. “Studies indicate that women are more adversely affected by medical bills and debt than men,” Ungs explains. “Incidence of, delays in care due to, anxiety over, and negative mental health impacts from medical debt are all more significant for women. That’s why Patient Fairness is such an important resource.”
Patient Fairness simplifies the process of challenging unfair medical bills. The platform allows users to upload their medical bills and answer a series of questions about the charges, insurance coverage, and the circumstances of their care. From there, the system identifies potential reasons to dispute the bill, such as surprise billing, excessive charges, or services not rendered. If the patient chooses to dispute the bill, Patient Fairness generates a customized dispute letter that is sent directly to the provider, formally notifying them that the bill is in dispute. This formal process is key to success, as it forces the provider to acknowledge the dispute and address the concerns before attempting to collect payment. “Patient Fairness uses a formal dispute process because it helps the patient exercise her rights and emphasizes that she is serious about receiving fair treatment,” Ungs explains. “This gives the patient leverage to get a fair outcome with the medical bill. That’s why we say, ‘When it comes to problem medical bills, don’t ask for mercy. Demand fairness.’”
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Unlike other services that negotiate medical bills on behalf of patients, Patient Fairness equips patients with the tools and knowledge to dispute bills themselves, ensuring they are negotiating from a position of strength. This is particularly important for women, who often feel powerless when dealing with medical billing departments and insurance companies. Many patients are unaware that they have the right to challenge a bill, and even when they do, they may lack the confidence to do so effectively. By providing structured support, Patient Fairness helps women take control of their financial well-being. “Less than one-third of women say they have fought a problem medical bill,” says Ungs. “Patient Fairness helps women with the strategies, tools, support, and confidence to mitigate potential barriers to challenging those unfair bills.”
Affordability is another crucial aspect of Patient Fairness’s mission. Many women facing medical debt assume that hiring a billing advocate or attorney is too expensive, leaving them without options. Patient Fairness eliminates this barrier by offering its services at low, fixed fees, making it accessible to women of all income levels. “Patient Fairness serves a very broad swath of patient types and charges low, fixed fees so they are affordable even to those of modest means,” says Ungs. “By making it easy and affordable to challenge problem medical bills, Patient Fairness especially helps lower-income and other disadvantaged segments.” This is particularly important for women from underserved communities who are more likely to be uninsured or underinsured and who often face inflated charges for medical care.
Despite the scale of the medical billing problem, many women remain unaware that they have the right to dispute a bill or that services like Patient Fairness exist to help them. One study found that 25% of patients don’t know they can challenge a problem medical bill, and another 36% don’t know how to go about it or believe the process is too complicated. Patient Fairness aims to change this by increasing awareness and expanding access to its services. “That is a huge opportunity for us,” says Ungs. “Patient Fairness’s focus is to get the word out to the public that there is an easy and affordable service to help patients challenge problem medical bills.” The company serves patients in all 50 states and supports disputes for nearly all types of medical bills, positioning it to help many of the 70 million Americans who receive problematic medical bills each year.
For too long, women have been forced to navigate a healthcare system that frequently leaves them with unfair bills, excessive charges, and financial stress. Patient Fairness provides a much-needed solution, giving women the power to demand fair treatment and protect themselves from predatory billing practices. In a system that often prioritizes profits over patient rights, tools like Patient Fairness are essential for ensuring that women are not left paying more than they should. With its easy-to-use platform, structured dispute process, and commitment to affordability, Patient Fairness is helping women across America reclaim control over their healthcare costs.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, legal, or medical advice. Patient Fairness is not a law firm, financial advisory service, or medical provider and does not offer legal representation, financial counseling, or medical services. While Patient Fairness provides tools and guidance for disputing medical bills, results may vary based on individual circumstances, provider policies, and applicable laws. Users should consult with a qualified legal, financial, or medical professional before making decisions regarding their healthcare bills. Additionally, the statistics and studies cited in this article are based on publicly available data and are subject to change. Patient Fairness is an independent service and is not affiliated with any healthcare provider, insurance company, or government entity. By using Patient Fairness’s services, users acknowledge that they are solely responsible for their own financial and healthcare decisions.
Published by Tom W.
