If your hospital bill seems impossible to decipher, have no fear. Ask the hospital's ombudsman, patient representative or billing department for help in understanding your bill. If you still can't figure out your bill, here are two services that can help sort things out:

• MedBillManager.com: $25/year. Manages medical bills; you can also see what others in your area pay for similar services.


• SmartMedicalConsumer.com: Free. In addition to helping you manage your medical bills, it has automatic error detection and an online forum of medical billing experts.

Also, check out a very helpful software product - Quicken Medical Expense Manager 2.0.